Retired California and Minnesota racing executive Nat Wess dead at age 81

Nat Wess, who spent more than 45 years as an executive at racetracks and horsemen’s organizations in California and Minnesota, died on Thursday as a result of complications from a recent fall, according to his daughter, Deborah.

Wess was 81.

In a career that spanned from 1964 to 2009, Wess held a variety of jobs in racing, beginning as a publicity assistant at Santa Anita, and later holding management titles at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, Bay Meadows in northern California, Hollywood Park in Southern California, and with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Wess retired at the end of 2009 and for years split his retirement years between Southern California and Minnesota.

Wess began his racing career in publicity at Santa Anita and migrated into executive roles, including day-to-day running of a racetrack.

In the 1970s and into the 1980s, Wess was publicity director at Hollywood Park. In 1980, Hollywood Park introduced the pick six, which revolutionized jackpot betting in the United States. That year, Hollywood Park became the first track in the nation to average more than $5 million in handle at a time when there was no simulcasting.

Wess was the assistant general manager at Canterbury from the track’s launch in June 1985 until 1988. Wess later returned to California where he was the general manager of the CTBA and part of the team that developed the California Cup series of stakes for statebreds that began in 1990 at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.

In the 1990s, the California Cup was one of the best-attended race programs each year at Santa Anita. A version of the series continues at Santa Anita with five stakes for statebreds scheduled for Saturday.

Later in the 1990s, Wess was assistant general manager at Bay Meadows.

Wess retired briefly and relocated to Minnesota, but rejoined Canterbury – initially in horse recruitment for the Claiming Crown series of races and later as director of live racing.

The Claiming Crown was held frequently at Canterbury Park in the years after its formation in 1999.

Wess is survived by Ellen Wess, his wife of 58 years; children Deborah and David Wess; and four grandchildren.