A lot of stunned friends right now at racetracks from Michigan and beyond who knew Larry.
A genuine good natured personality with a smile that will be missed forever.
A man so knowledgeable he helped create the Michigan Racing Law of 1995, which legalized full-card simulcasting for the states tracks. Elected President of the MIHBPA in the late 90s he would hold that position through the early 2000’s.
I will never forget watching Pongo Boy’s races at the Detroit Race Course in the mid 90’s. He would bring trainer Larry Uelmen 12 stake wins.
On Hazel Park’s opening night he would be one of the first faces I’d see, great big smile and welcoming handshake and hug. In 1996 the trainer I worked for was across from his barn. In all the years I worked on the backside I never ever heard one unkind word said about this man because it was never warranted.
Larry had a great sense of humor and always offered a helping hand to anybody who needed it. You never had to ask, he’d just was there for people. When Pinnacle Race Course opened, for me it had been ten long years since I had seen anybody since I didn’t travel to GLD. So many us shared a story or two from DRC that brought laughter.
The last time I saw and spoke to him was about four weeks ago. So learning of his sudden death last Sunday was more than just shocking. You feel heartbroken that he just won’t be around anymore to see.
I feel for his wife Ginny, son Jason (who took over the training duties two years ago after Larry retired from that aspect of the game) and his other children Nick & Katie.
Larry turned into a jockey agent, with his personality he had no trouble getting mounts for both Brittany Vandenberg and Glenmore Mayhew.
He had something that in reality was a rarity at the track, honesty. He was a man of his word. He was trusted, respected and most of all loved.
All of us grieve the heartfelt pain and tears shared by his family, for this tribe of thoroughbred horsemen & women are their secondary one.
His memory and smile will live on within our hearts forever, we will see him and be seen by him through the eye’s of every single horse that we’ll look into.
This has been a very difficult blog to write.
Thoughts and Prayers to all,
May God Speed.
“God forbid that I should go to any Heaven where there are no horses.”
R. B. Cunningham-Graham
That customary box of donuts to the winning trainer from Jockey Agent whose jock won.
Bobby Barron on left, Larry on right. (click onto picture, it will be bigger & clearer)
Chrissy Haas pic.
With the angels now, the Lord had a horse awaiting him.
In Memory Guest-book.
1976-2012 …One very proud career.
Career Statistics:
Starts: 7,738
Firsts: 1,190
Seconds: 1,143
Thirds: 1,078
Earnings: $9,677,103
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Michigan Mourns The Loss Of Beloved Thoroughbred Horsemen, Larry Uelmen.
A lot of stunned friends right now at racetracks from Michigan and beyond who knew Larry.
A genuine good natured personality with a smile that will be missed forever.
A man so knowledgeable he helped create the Michigan Racing Law of 1995, which legalized full-card simulcasting for the states tracks. Elected President of the MIHBPA in the late 90s he would hold that position through the early 2000’s.
I will never forget watching Pongo Boy’s races at the Detroit Race Course in the mid 90’s. He would bring trainer Larry Uelmen 12 stake wins.
On Hazel Park’s opening night he would be one of the first faces I’d see, great big smile and welcoming handshake and hug. In 1996 the trainer I worked for was across from his barn. In all the years I worked on the backside I never ever heard one unkind word said about this man because it was never warranted.
Larry had a great sense of humor and always offered a helping hand to anybody who needed it. You never had to ask, he’d just was there for people. When Pinnacle Race Course opened, for me it had been ten long years since I had seen anybody since I didn’t travel to GLD. So many us shared a story or two from DRC that brought laughter.
The last time I saw and spoke to him was about four weeks ago. So learning of his sudden death last Sunday was more than just shocking. You feel heartbroken that he just won’t be around anymore to see.
I feel for his wife Ginny, son Jason (who took over the training duties two years ago after Larry retired from that aspect of the game) and his other children Nick & Katie.
Larry turned into a jockey agent, with his personality he had no trouble getting mounts for both Brittany Vandenberg and Glenmore Mayhew.
He had something that in reality was a rarity at the track, honesty. He was a man of his word. He was trusted, respected and most of all loved.
All of us grieve the heartfelt pain and tears shared by his family, for this tribe of thoroughbred horsemen & women are their secondary one.
His memory and smile will live on within our hearts forever, we will see him and be seen by him through the eye’s of every single horse that we’ll look into.
This has been a very difficult blog to write.
Thoughts and Prayers to all,
May God Speed.
“God forbid that I should go to any Heaven where there are no horses.”
R. B. Cunningham-Graham
That customary box of donuts to the winning trainer from Jockey Agent whose jock won.
Bobby Barron on left, Larry on right. (click onto picture, it will be bigger & clearer)
Chrissy Haas pic.
With the angels now, the Lord had a horse awaiting him.
In Memory Guest-book.
1976-2012 …One very proud career.
Career Statistics:
Starts: 7,738
Firsts: 1,190
Seconds: 1,143
Thirds: 1,078
Earnings: $9,677,103
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Tagged as Detroit Race Course, Former MIHBPA President dies, Great Lakes Down, Hazel Park Raceway, Horse Racing, In Memory of Larry Uelmen, Jockey Agent, Larry Uelmen, Michigan Racing Law of 1995, Michigan Thoroughbred Racing, Pinnacle Race Course, Pongo Boy, Trainer Larry Uelman dies