Terry Lovingier’s relationship with Lovacres Ranch in California dates back more than 30 years. But his love and dedication to breeding and racing runs deeper. He is a board member of Purebred Owners of California and president of the California Purebred Breeders Association.
“I’m committed to horse racing. I’m committed to horse racing in California,” Lovingier said.
The longtime breeder’s rising star, John is thirsty started his 2-year-old campaign in style—breaking his girlhood back in May in the first question-and-answer session at Santa Anita . Park. After the chip was drawn, the son of Thirsty returned on January 7, to win the California Club Derby in the second start. Lovingier took the time to discuss his horses, ranch, and hopes for 2023 with BloodHorse MarketWatch.
MarketWatch: How long have you been with horses?
Terry Lovingier: My whole family is from Oklahoma, and we’ve raised horses all our lives. I still ride to this day. I started with Quarter Horses but then switched to Thoroughbreds, just because I liked Thoroughbreds a bit more.
MW: What can you tell me about Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs, Calif.?
TL: We’ve had Lovacres for a few years since the mid-1980s. My family lives in Marietta, Calif., and my dad, brother, and I bought a large Texas ranch in the years 1989-90 , right at a time when the country was going through a world savings and loan crisis, and everything was falling apart. We bought a large ranch out of bankruptcy just outside Waco, Texas; We’ve had that for several years. We sold it, I moved here to the farm in Marietta, and then the government exercised its famous power – they needed water. So I took the ranch I had in Marietta and moved to my current location in Warner Springs, where I live.
Terry Lovingier at the Fasig-Tipton California Annual Sale at Los Alamitos . Racecourse
MW: Thinking about making the transition from Quarter Horse to Thoroughbred, what were the different challenges you faced in making that transition?
TL: I think the challenge is the quality of the horses. You try and compete at a higher level, you try and get higher quality horses, and good mares are always hard to come by. You know, they’re always expensive and very hard to buy. It was a challenge for me, because I love to breed horses – I love breeding and I will always do – but trying to get those good stallions is quite difficult to do.
MW: How many ponies do you have per year at Lovacres Ranch?
TL: We give birth on the farm, maybe 150 babies, give or take, in any given year.
MW: Tell me a little bit about Thirsty John and what do you like about him?
TL: I judge every child the moment they are born. My dad used to tell me I was an idiot because I didn’t know what I was talking about. But I have been quite successful. Those good babies that catch your eye when they’re born, they’ll be up in 15 minutes; they’re the right size for them, the center of gravity is great, and they usually make pretty good racehorses. And he is one of them.
MW: Were you surprised at the beginning of his racing career? He was the winner in both of his starts.
TL: He’s a really, really good horse. He just is. The only small setback we had was after his first race. We plucked a chip, a small chip. It’s really a small chip, and we decided to get rid of it. And it may take us a little longer to get him back in the race than I would have liked, but we did the right thing with the horse and took our time.”
Thirsty John wins the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita Park
MW: What’s next for him? Where are you aiming?
TL: Hopefully, he continues to improve. We will nominate him for the stake races here on the West Coast. It is possible to nominate him for the Kentucky Derby (G1), and hopefully he will continue to improve. So I’m not sure where (coach) Peter Miller wants to take him next, but I’m sure we’ll nominate him for the equity races; Let’s look at them.
MW: Tell me a little bit about the partnership on Thirsty John. I know Tom (London) and Eugene (Zondlo) bought him as a wish from you, or at least part of him from you, during the Fasig-Tipton California Fall 2021 sale and Horses for All Ages. year old.
TL: Both have been with him for a few years now. Tom London’s dad is a very, very good friend of mine. He died at a very young age. But Tom has been riding with me since his father died.
MW: You stand two stallions at the ranch, they have some pretty good credentials in their own right. Ghost boss via Shackleford was a 3rd place winner in the Bashford Manor Stakes, and Thirsty , by Bernardini, is the 1st place winner in both the Travers Stakes and the Cigar Mile Handicap. Tell me about them and what they mean for your operations.
TL: Stay Thirsty is said to be one of the finest stallions in California. He overcame every stallion in California at a young age to earn accrual at the age of 2. No one has even come close in the history of California. He’s young, and he still has a ton of crops to come. That’s how good Stay Thirsty is. Mike Repole still owns a part of him, he still thinks enough of him to own a part. Of course, he won a Cigar Mile for Mike, so that’s great.
Mike Repole owner with Stay Thirsty after winning the 2012 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct
MW: As you are looking forward to the rest of 2023, what are you envisioning? What are your hopes for the year?
TL: Hopefully Thirsty John continues to improve. You know, people always hope that they get a little better after each start. And you have to hope that they do. So hopefully he will keep moving forward and we can run in higher level races with him. We have some other horses that are pretty good horses that are still coming. The ones we had to spend time researching, are launching and collaborating with Thirsty John. So we’ve got other good horses coming to him, but hopefully we’ll continue to have success with the horses we have.
