Owner/breeder and longtime magazine publishing executive Peter Callahan died May 9 in New York, according to family members and trainer Kenny McPeek, who spent nearly two decades association with Callahan, including campaigning the 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Swiss skydiver . He was 82 years old.
“He was a truly special man to work with,” said McPeek, who purchased the Swiss Skydiver at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $35,000. He is both a father and a customer to me.”
“We have had a lot of good horses over the years and have had a lot of fun together,” he continued. “(Swiss Skydiver) proved to be a good girl at 2 years old but what she did at 3 years old was unbelievable. A guy like Peter deserves it.”
The Swiss jockey would be named 2020 champion with the 3-year-old filly, going on to win third in the 2021 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and retire with earnings more than 2.2 million dollars. Callahan then sold the filly to Katsumi Yoshida for $4.7 million through a Runnymede Farm consignment at the Fasig-Tipton November 2021 Sale.
First reported by Thoroughbred Daily News, Callahan had a brain tumor. His daughter, Carolyn Callahan, said the family will celebrate life but it’s a necessary time to regroup after a difficult few months.
“He is loved by many and he loves a good party, so it will take us a while to plan something that suits the man,” she said.
In addition to Callahan’s success in publishing and with other business ventures, he also became an enthusiastic participant in thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. He told BloodHorse in 2020 that getting involved with horses was not at the top of his mind but he was guided to do so by his late business partner and mentor David Gellar. With Gellar’s help, Callahan built a career that included being the majority owner of the National Enquirer for 10 years, owning shares of the Daily Racing Form and owning multiple trade magazines. In the 1980s, Gellar approached Callahan with an offer to buy three horses.
“You have to be lucky in life and have some mentors to help you along the way,” Callahan told BloodHorse. Mr. Gellar is one of my mentors.” “I’m not sure what I would do without my mentors. I wouldn’t be living the life I’m living, I’m sure of that.”
Callahan quickly embraced all the challenges and excitement that thoroughbred breeding and racing brought. A native of Astoria, NY, in Queens, the son of an Irish father and an Italian mother. According to Carolyn, he once said that it was the Irish that attracted him to horses.
“He loved being the boss, he loved being a breeder, he loved being around people and he loved horses,” she said. He loves all of that.” “I’ve joked in recent years that besides his grandchildren, the horses were the things he cared about most.”
Callahan achieved extraordinary success as a breeder during nearly four decades of association with the Clay family’s historic Runnymede Farm in Bourbon County, Central Kentucky. With Runnymede he has bred grade 1 winners and millionaires Digital Agnes (an older horse who won the Japanese championship in 2001 and earned more than 8 million USD), Great gem And Collected . He also raised himself in New York Palace winner of the 2014 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) and Forego Stakes (G1) on his way to earnings of more than $1.5 million.
“In his early career, he was a certified public accountant, so he was a numbers person,” Carolyn said. He loves statistics.” “He always said, if you’re smart in breeding, it can keep you in the race, from a business perspective. He’s a real student and very good at bloodlines. “
Swiss Skydiver would take him to the pinnacle of racing as an owner. Daughter of reckless became the sixth person to win the Preakness over 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) Real .
“The experience of skydiving in Switzerland breathed new life into him and it was the thrill of his life in the horse business,” says Carolyn.
Peter Callahan told BloodHorse after Swiss Skydiver’s Preakness victory: “At this stage of life, not many things reach the level of real enjoyment, but this is one of them. I wish for something like that This can happen to everyone.” “I can tell you, I feel for the people on the other side of the equation. I’ve had many close finishes, but to win by a dirty nose is unbelievable okay, especially on a stage like that.”
Swiss Skydiver (inside) defeats Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in the 2020 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
One of the closest losses for Callahan was against Beauty expert who passed right in front of the fence She’s wild in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). These difficult losses, the years of underachieving breeding programs and the wins all provide important lessons that Callahan shared with his children.
“They had some great years, some solid years and some not so great years, but that’s what he taught us — that you have to look at it over the long term,” Caroyln said. .
“Over time, he had more free time and most of that time was spent in the thoroughbred industry,” she continued. “He read about the industry, watched the races from the couch if he couldn’t make it to the races. He was crazy about everything and he encouraged us to keep going. On Most of all, he lives every day to the fullest and is a great example of that.”
