Paul Pompa Jr., original owner of Big Brown, dies at 62

ELMONT, N.Y. – Paul Pompa Jr., best known as the original owner of dual classic winner Big Brown but also known in New York racing circles as a generous and down-to-earth man, died Friday of an apparent heart attack. He was 62.

Pompa, who recently sold his Brooklyn-based trucking company, Truck-Rite Corp., started owning Thoroughbreds in 2000. In 2007, he purchased for $190,000 a 2-year-old son of Boundary who became Big Brown, a horse who in 2008 won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before being eased in the Belmont Stakes.

The horse began his career with trainer Pat Reynolds. After Big Brown won a maiden race on turf by 11 1/4 lengths at Saratoga, Pompa sold part of the horse to a new syndicate, IEAH Stables, run in part by Mike Iavarone. Big Brown was transferred to Richard Dutrow Jr. who trained him to victories in the Florida Derby and then the Kentucky Derby, which he won from post 20, and Preakness.

“Paul was a throwback, a complete gentlemen, and a class act,” Iavarone wrote in a text. “It was an honor to have shared the Big Brown experience with him. Myself and my family have no words that can ease the pain his family must be dealing with. I pray for them and know that we are all fortunate to have crossed paths with him.”

In recent years, Pompa raced mostly on his own and utilized Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher as trainers. He also had horses in New York with trainer Linda Rice.

With Brown, Pompa campaigned the likes of stakes winners Connect, Country Grammer, Beautiful Lover, and Regal Glory, the latter a horse Pompa bred.

“He was all about New York racing,” Brown said. “Not only a very loyal client, but a very loyal and supportive friend, always. He’d be the first guy to ask how your family was before he’d ask about the horses. Huge loss not only for me personally, but for New York racing.”

Brown said that Pompa was understanding of the highs and lows of the sport “and he was extremely appreciative of the highs. He was an extremely generous person.”

With Pletcher, Pompa campaigned stakes winners Rose Catherine, Tommy Macho, Send It In, Hard Study, and Rally Cry. Pletcher had two runners for Pompa entered Saturday at Belmont, including Fifth Risk in the Grade 1 Frizette and the 2-year-old filly Spirit Maker in a maiden race. Both had to be scratched.

“Devastating loss for everyone, great man, great owner,” Pletcher said. “He always saw the bright side of everything. Shocking news this morning.”

Pompa is survived by his wife, Lisa, and two sons.

Arrangements were pending.