Prominent Maryland owner/raider, James P. Ryan, who bred and raced with the 1983 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and is a strong advocate for backstretchers, has passed away on March 11. Home builder and philanthropist living in Glenwood, Md., 89 years old. .
Ryan was born on December 4, 1932 in Pittsburgh. He served in the United States Air Force and graduated with a master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College.
In 1967, he moved to Columbia, Md., a planned city that his start-up Ryland Homes company helped develop. A few years after founding Ryland Homes, Ryan purchased a 300-acre farm near Mount Airy, Md., which he named Ryehill Farm. One of the first mares he bought was a Quibu winning daughter named Smartaire, who had only given birth to two winners by the time Ryan bought her for $36,000 at the November Breeding Stock Sale. 1972 in Keeneland from Leslie Combs.
Since the stout 3-year-old Susan’s Girl, the 1972 champion, was Quadrangle’s from a Quibu daughter, Ryan crossed the Smartaire with the Quadrangle and earned the 2nd place winner, the Quadratic. His fortunes with Smartaire continued with the next mating with Cyane producing a 1st ranked Smarten, multiple class 2 winners and a third mating returning to the Quadrangle producing a 1st class winner Smart Angle .
Ryehill Farm bred 69 black type performers including 18 graded bet winners. Seven horses bred by Ryan became level 1 winners, led by a thoroughbred Belmont winner Caveat. Ryan races ponies with classmate Bob Kirkham, who runs a lumber business on Long Island. Their first stallion together was Smarten, who became the top stallion in Maryland.
Caveat wins Belmont Stakes 1983 at Belmont Park
Other Ryehill elite athletes include Awad, a 1st place winner, whose best win includes 1995 Arlington Million (G1T); 2-year-old Maryland champion, chubby Bemissed; 1980 United States Champion Dirty 2-year-old United States Cause; and, the US Champion in 1979 Smart Corner 2 years old chubby.
By 1988, Ryan’s passion for racing was starting to wane, partly because he was more aware of the backseat working conditions at racetracks. After widening my eyes and worrying about Laurel ParkRyan began advocating for better living conditions and implementing programs to help workers treat alcohol and drug addiction.
He dispersed most of his stock in 1988 and set aside part of the proceeds to found the Ryan Family Foundation. With an initial $1 million investment, he began providing corresponding $20,000 tax-free grants to racecourses to initiate treatment programs. Throughout 1989, the foundation secured commitments from 54 US racetracks. The fund also secured low-interest federal loans to build backstretch apartments. In April 1991, Ryan’s efforts were recognized by the International Association of Racing Commissioners with the William H. May Award, the organization’s most prestigious award.
Two years after founding the foundation, Ryan donated an additional $1.25 million to topical treatment programs, according to a 1992 article by Andy Beyer in the Washington Post.
Ryan finally found his way back to the track with a much smaller stable in 1992.
Ryan told the Washington Post: “I don’t race less, but I enjoy it much more.
According to Ryan’s family, his foundation has improved the lives of thousands of people by supporting more than 100 different organizations, especially those related to disability, housing for the poor and programs. inner city for the homeless.
“His love of people and his unflinching generosity are among his main qualities. He is always ready to smile at anyone and enjoys giving advice no matter what in life. or business,” Ryan’s family said in a tribute to him.
The ultimate 1st grade winner raised and advocated by Ryan is Ops Smile , called “Operation Smile”, an organization of plastic surgeons he supports to help children with facial disfigurement caused by malnutrition and war trauma around the world. In the Middle East, he met his wife Mariam and became a friend of the Palestinian people. He built houses, opened a dental clinic, financed loans and other missions in Palestine, the Middle East and Africa.
Ryan still lives with his wife Mariam, 27 years old, 5 children, 2 stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, 2 stepchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and ex-wife Linda Ryan. Before the deaths of their brother, Ed Ryan, Bill Ryan and sister Adele Moritz. Before the death of his ex-wife and mother of five, Eleanor Ross, he was also killed.
