John C. Harris, California horse-racing mogul, had a selected love for the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector of his firm, Harris Farms.
A number of horses that have been raised and educated at Coalinga-based Harris Farms went on to change into nationwide champions, together with Tiznow, the 2000 Horse of the 12 months, and California Chrome, a nationwide Corridor of Fame racehorse. A detailed pal recounted Harris’ response to the latter thoroughbred profitable the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
The second California Chrome sprinted over the end line, tears streamed down Harris’ face.
“It was simply understanding that his farm had such a significant function,” stated his good pal Doug Burge. “It was most likely essentially the most enjoyable we ever had.”
Harris, who owned the multimillion-dollar agribusiness Harris Farms, has died. He was 81.
Those that knew Harris described him as an acclaimed rancher, farmer and horse-racing fanatic who devoted himself to his passions to the top. Harris Farms confirmed his demise in an announcement shared on July 3. No particulars, together with reason for demise, have been offered.
Harris was born on July 14, 1943, and resided in Fresno County all of his life. He earned a level in agricultural manufacturing at UC Davis earlier than serving within the U.S. Military for 2 years.
Harris took possession of Harris Farms following his father’s demise in 1981. He oversaw all operations of the ranch, which encompasses a thriving farm that produces greater than 30 sorts of crops together with garlic, pistachios and wine grapes, in addition to the horse-breeding operation, in keeping with its web site. Harris Farms was identified for the meat it produced, however the cattle-raising portion of the enterprise was offered in 2019.
One other offshoot of the enterprise is the Harris Ranch Resort, a well known pit cease midway from Los Angeles to San Francisco with a resort and eating. “Aficionados of beef started stopping for choice-grade steak and eggs, or steak and virtually something, when the restaurant and occasional store opened subsequent to the freeway in 1977,” The Instances wrote in 1995.
Harris nurtured a steadfast ardour for horse racing and the thoroughbred breeding business in Northern California, in keeping with family and friends. He was a former president and board member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn. and served on the board of the Thoroughbred Homeowners of California and the Nationwide Jockey Membership. Based on those that labored with him, he formed the horse-racing business into what it’s immediately.
“He had a love for the land, every little thing from farming to elevating horses,” stated Burge, the present president of the CTBA, who knew Harris as a mentor and pal for greater than 30 years.
Harris was a longtime, devoted advocate for the agricultural business, in keeping with Oscar Gonzalez, the vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who beforehand served as assistant secretary of Agriculture in the course of the Biden administration.
“Mr. Harris was only a cellphone name away,” he stated. “After I was in Washington, D.C. … and I wanted some extent of reference or background info on a problem involving agriculture, or water or immigration, he was all the time anyone that had context in that background.”
He was additionally identified in political circles as a significant Republican donor. He held a personal fundraiser in 2024 attended by JD Vance, then the vice presidential nominee, as ABC 30 reported.
Most just lately, Harris’ advocacy centered on reinstating dwell horse racing on the Huge Fresno Honest. The proposal was in the end unsuccessful.
“We’ll by no means hand over persevering with this storied custom of Fresno racing,” Harris stated on June 19, in keeping with the Enterprise Journal. “In the present day’s story isn’t the top — we are going to come again once more subsequent 12 months.”
Justin Oldfield, a thoroughbred breeder and a boss of the CTBA, stated that Harris needed everybody within the business to achieve success, all the time providing mentorship and assist to those that wanted it.
“For as profitable as a businessman as he was, you’d have by no means have identified it from the best way he handled you,” Oldfield stated. “John was an especially humble, down-to-earth person who handled everybody with respect, handled everybody like they’d worth.”
He stated that he as soon as went to a horse racing business occasion honoring Harris with greater than 3,000 attendees.
“I can’t even think about how many individuals are gonna be at his funeral,” Oldfield stated.
Harris is survived by his spouse, Cookie, and others “whose lives have been enriched by his energy of character and enduring compassion,” the assertion from Harris Farms stated.
