Herb Moelis, a pioneer in supporting the growing industry for Thoroughbred aftercare and a longtime owner/raider, passed away October 6 at his beloved Candyland Ranch in Delaware . He was 91 years old.
Moelis was a businessman in New York before he and his wife Ellen bought Candyland in 1986. They would make their biggest contribution to the Thoroughbred community in 1989, when they contacted Allaire duPont about organizing a fundraiser. at their farm to support an Atlantic post-care initiative. . Moelises was responding to a letter from duPont published in the journal Maryland Horse, urging the Mid-Atlantic Riders to create and fund an organization similar to the New York Mastery Retirement Fund.
Moelises and duPont held a stallion auction with five stallions sold through a silent auction in the living room of Moelises’ home in Candyland in 1990. The fledgling event raised funds. get $15,000.
Moelis told BloodHorse in 2015. “Listen, even raising $15,000 was a lot of money at the time.” happenning. It eventually rose to become the event of the year. “
The auction evolved into Purebred Charity of America, and its impact was felt immediately.
“You don’t know what you’ve done,” said one owner of a small rescue operation as she watched Moelises in the lobby of a movie theater a few years after their fundraiser began.
The event has generated momentum and supporters. Finally, the TCA was established as an advocate to support charities related to rescue, care education and research.
In 2000, TCA joined forces with the Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, which held its own winning season fundraising auction. TCA retained the name of the event, and TOBA received a portion of the proceeds from the auction to help make up for what it would lose by not hosting its own event. In 2008, TCA officially became a charity branch of TOBA.
Since its inception, TCA has raised more than $26 million and provided support to over 200 organizations.
The Moelises are also passionate about the horses they breed and raise, and together they run Candyland Ranch. They named the farm Candyland after the board game to entice their grandchildren to visit them and named the lawns after features in the game, like Gumdrop Garden or Field of Dreams, according to Mike Palmer, who have worked with Moelises manage their farm for nearly 30 years.
The farm name is unusual, but they are serious owners/raiders. Since 1999, they have bred and/or raced over a dozen stake winners. They campaigned for the 3rd grade winner Cat Be Nimble and as an owner/raider racing to bet on the winners Deputy Five Stars, Five-star dream , Scary Bob , Funky Express and Time to dream . They also bred many Japanese graded bet winners American boss.
“He likes to be at the barn every day with his dog. We would talk for hours,” Palmer said. “Neither Herb nor Ellen treated me like an employee. They treated me like family, and he was a friend.”
A funeral service was held on October 9 in Larchmont, NY He was interred at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ
