Trainer Seewald dies at age 62

Trainer Alan Seewald, whose top 3-year-old Uptowncharlybrown is scheduled to run Saturday in Keeneland's Coolmore Lexington Stakes, died in his sleep early Monday morning of unknown causes at his home in Middletown, N.J., according to his assistant Linda White. Seewald was 62.

"We received the news a couple of hours ago and we're just reeling right now," a distraught White said by phone from Tampa Bay Downs, where Seewald has been stabled this winter and spring. "We're in total shock."

Bob Hutt, the managing partner of Fantasy Lane Stables who owns Uptowncharlybrown, said the horse will run as scheduled Saturday. Uptowncharlybrown, winner of Tampa's Pasco Stakes earlier this winter, has not started since finishing a troubled fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby.

"I've owned horses with Alan for 25 years, and he's been my best friend for all that time, he was like a brother to me, and I know he'd be yelling at me right now saying you know what to do," Hutt said. "So we're going to run this horse Saturday for him. Alan was one of the good guys in this business. He was beloved by everybody. With him, the horse always came first."

Seewald, a mainstay on the New Jersey circuit for more than 20 years, won 962 races during his career, including 22 stakes. His best horse during that period was Teddy Drone who is a member of Monmouth Park's Hall of Champions.

Seewald is survived by his wife Kathleen, sons Ryan and Shane, and grandson Blake. Funeral arrangements were still pending Monday.