The Washington community continues to mourn the loss of longtime owner and breeder Howard Hammer, who died Nov. 23 at age 103.
Born in Dee, Ore., Hammer was the fourth of 13 children and was the oldest-recorded living man in the Hammer family since the 1500s. He resided in Stanwood, Wash., before his death.
Hammer was a longtime horseman. In the late 1930s, he began his logging career with horses before working with towers and heavy equipment.
His involvement in Thoroughbred racing career started in 1965 at British Columbia’s Sandown Park. His first horse was Hokay’s Wonder, purchased for $500 and named the horse of the meet, according to Hammer’s family.
Later, his horses went to Longacres and Emerald Downs in Washington and to tracks in California and Arizona under the stable name of Remmah Racing (Remmah is Hammer spelled backward.)
Remmah Racing has won 183 races and nearly $3 million since the turn of the century, not counting horses owned in partnership.
His top runners included Bold Ranger, Whatcom Warrior, Silver Gem, Toobusytoocall, Tom’s Surprise, Infosec, Hot Rageous, and A Man’s Man.
Jack Steiner is Remmah Racing’s present trainer in California. Past trainers have been Frank Lucarelli, Blaine Wright, Jorge Rosales, and Mark Molina.
Emerald Downs issued a press release celebrating his 100th birthday in 2020, noting his horses had won 52 races there by the early summer of 2020. Emerald Downs began racing in 1996.
Hammer owned several companies and employed around 200 people in his lifetime. The main company, Washington Loggers Corp., shipped millions of logs to Japan, China, and Korea. Hammer competed in many logging contests, winning 73 trophies. In Whatcom County, the 208-acre Bakerview Valley Industrial Business Park was developed by Hammer. Thousands of people work in manufacturing, transit, lumber, and concrete businesses within the park.
Howard is predeceased by his first wife, Kay; son, Vernon; and two grandsons, Vince and John. Surviving family members include his wife, Dee; son, Howard Jr.; daughter, Judy; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Dee Hammer said Remmah Racing would continue to race in California following her husband’s death, with five or six horses scheduled to head to Santa Anita Park.
