Racing reacts to racist comments by horseman whose farm was birthplace of American Pharoah
The Thoroughbred racing industry moved swiftly this week to condemn racist social media posts circulating under the name of a prominent Thoroughbred breeder in Lexington, Tom VanMeter.
VanMeter, a veterinarian, is a well-known figure in the horse industry and in Central Kentucky. His brother is Laurance VanMeter, a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Laurance VanMeter issued this statement Tuesday: “I first heard about this yesterday afternoon. These statements are absolutely outrageous and do not reflect my values in any way.”
Tom VanMeter owns Stockplace Farm, where 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was born, as well as Pretty Run Farm in Clark County where American Pharoah spent time as a foal. VanMeter has had a long and lucrative working relationship with American Pharoah’s owner, Ahmed Zayat, who invited VanMeter into the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs after the horse won the Kentucky Derby.
On Tuesday, The Thoroughbred Daily News published a statement from Tom VanMeter apologizing for the comments.
“Over the weekend, comments I made on a private page of a social media platform surfaced which have since come under scrutiny due to their racist nature. I will not attempt to deny that I wrote the comments, nor will I attempt to justify my actions,” Tom VanMeter said in the statement. “Certainly, I am frustrated with the current social situation in our country, however, what I wrote was unjustifiable. I was wrong and am disgusted by my actions. Contrary to what these comments might suggest, in no way do those responses represent my true feelings towards my friends and community members of color. Moving forward I am committed to listening and learning as to how I can be a better ally and advocate in my community and within the racing industry as to how we can better foster inclusivity for all.”
VanMeter said he had made a donation to the NAACP “as a gesture of goodwill” and he said, “I am hopeful all the industry stakeholders and the community at large can forgive me. I can and will do better.”
The apology came a day after screen shots of comments posted on Facebook under VanMeter’s name began flying around the industry, including one using a racial slur.
“Defund the n-- Football league,” VanMeter commented on a post by Donnie Snellings, another prominent Thoroughbred breeder asking followers to “Re-post if you are still boycotting the NFL.”
There have been calls to boycott the National Football League after it publicly reversed policy on allowing players to kneel during the national anthem. The shift came in the wake of protests across the country after the killing of George Floyd by a police officer, as well as the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville by police officers.
In other posts on his own Facebook page, VanMeter has defended police actions.
Snellings is yearling manager at Denali Stud, is president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club and has worked at other top Kentucky farms, including Mill Ridge Farm.
Further down in the comments on Snellings’ post was another comment under VanMeter’s name, which also was shared widely on social media: “Put em back in their cage!!!”
The remarks apparently were made June 30. On Monday, they went viral on Twitter.
Racing industry reaction
The Jockey Club, which co-owns a platform for racehorse ownership called OwnerView, announced it had shut down VanMeter’s account “pending further review, based upon offensive content posted on social media under the same name. There is no place in racing or our society for racially hateful language.”
Keeneland, which owns the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction, and Fasig-Tipton, another auction house, where VanMeter and partners routinely sell million-dollar horses, condemned the remarks but stopped short of saying he would be barred from their sales.
“There is no place for racism in our sport or our society and his words are antithetical to Keeneland’s values of respect, community and equality,” the track said in a statement.
Denali Stud, where Snellings works, also issued a statement on Twitter saying the farm doesn’t condone the comments. Like VanMeter, Denali also is a major consignor of Thoroughbred horses.
Several in the industry were calling on a boycott of VanMeter’s horses in upcoming sales.
“Simple — if you buy a horse from Tom VanMeter in September, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. End of story,” posted Thoroughbred owner Robert Masiello on Twitter.
Wellbourne Stud retweeted a screengrab of the original comments saying, “I’d like for all racists in the racing industry to go ahead and let their freak flags fly so we can know who you are.”
Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, also condemned the remarks on Twitter, saying his organization would no longer accept financial contributions from “him or others who share his views.”
Sue Finley, who publishes the Thoroughbred Daily News, announced that “out of respect to our staff, advertisers and readers, the @theTDN will no longer accept advertising from the farm in question.”
The Stronach Group, which owns racetracks including Santa Anita, Gulfstream and Pimlico, where the Preakness is run, said in a statement that they were “appalled by Tom VanMeter’s comments.” And that such speech “will not be tolerated at our tracks,” but it is unclear if that means any action will be taken against VanMeter or his horses.
On Tuesday, Bob Elliston, Keeneland vice president of racing and sales, was asked if the track would allow VanMeter to bring his horses to the upcoming September yearling sale. Elliston indicated that is still up in the air despite the apology.
“We’re looking at all the avenues that are in front of us to appropriately respond to that behavior on Tom’s part,” Elliston said. “Encouraged quite honestly that he made an apology today. That’s a first good step, but it doesn’t erase what was said. And we’re evaluating all those consequences right now and we’ll look forward to bringing those forward as we have a decision on that.”
Son Griffin VanMeter comments
Tom VanMeter’s son, Griffin, addressed the comments on his Facebook page late Monday.
“Today my Dad wrote racist comments on a racist post on Facebook. Luckily for him he got called out for it as he should have. I’m glad that it was public because his racism is a conversation I wanted to have with him for over 20 years but never had the courage to start. I am sorry to both of us and all of us for that. I care deeply about my dad, and also care deeply about fighting racism,” Griffin VanMeter said. “As white people, especially overly privileged white people, we must do our part to change oppressive individuals and systems. Luckily, my Dad will have that opportunity and I will do my part to support him on his anti-racism journey.”
Griffin VanMeter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tom VanMeter is also the father of Thomas Field VanMeter III, who in December pleaded guilty to shooting at a helicopter and police in 2017 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
