Iowa Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITBOA)
20 Questions with Trainer Leroy Gessman
By Dennis L. Bracewell
Dennis Bracewell: Congratulations on being re-elected as President of the Iowa HBPA. As president you were instrumental in helping get the new gaming law passed in the state of Iowa. Can you explain what benefits we as owners/breeders are going to receive from the Account Deposit Wagering?
Gessmann: ADW will increase the handle proceeds for Prairie Meadows. The portion of handle proceeds that is derived from ADW will be split 50/50 with Prairie Meadows and the horse purse account. This will increase the horse purse fund which will in turn increase the breeder’s supplement fund.
Bracewell: Can you also explain the Sunset Clause and why it was so important to get that removed?
Gessmann: When the bill was passed to implement that 11% of Prairie Meadows Adjusted Gross Revenues would go to horse purses, the county inserted the Sunset Clause. Which meant in 2021 the law would go away and the horseman would be faced with no guaranteed funding for horse purses. With the elimination of the Sunset Clause the 11% goes on indefinitely.
Bracewell: Iowa horsemen were also guaranteed a minimum of 67 racing days. Can you describe the importance of that for Iowa owner/breeders and do you ever think we will go beyond the minimum?
Gessmann: I have been involved with the HBPA for over 12 years now and I have watched the number of days shrink a little every year. In 2009 Tom Whitney was suggesting changing our meet to 45 days! So I feel getting 67 days in the law is a major victory for horseman. Yes I do think we will eventually get more than 67 days. As long as we can provide horses to fill races and get trainers to fill the backside we can get additional days.
Bracewell: What are the greatest challenges facing horseman today in Iowa and throughout the United States?
Gessmann: Getting the younger generation excited about racing. Building the fan base and finding new owners, is going to be crucial to the future of racing in both Iowa and the United States.
Bracewell: How did you get your start in horse racing?
Gessmann: Brad Johnson approached me about being a partner several times. I remember Jack Van Berg telling me not to get into the business until I could afford an allowance horse. So I put Brad off several times until we purchased a yearling in Kentucky named Keel Creek although he did not turn out to be an allowance horse he gave us the cash to buy Fleet Flyer. Fleet Flyer then gave us the cash to buy some other horses including Sure Shot Biscuit.
Bracewell: You once owned a really nice Iowa-bred, Fleet Flyer, who won the Iowa Cradle Stakes, the GraysLake and the Iowa Derby and bankrolled nearly $280k. First, what are your best recollections of Fleet Flyer? Second, did you ever think you’d follow up his success with the greatest Iowa-bred of all-time in millionaire Sure Shot Biscuit?
Gessmann: The thing I remember about Fleet Flyer is his white eye and red coat he was a beautiful horse. He gave me my first Stakes win! His battles with Roselle Native made for some great races at Prairie Meadows! I never thought I would have a horse better than Fleet Flyer, let alone a horse as good as Sure Shot Biscuit.
Bracewell: Sure Shot Biscuit catapulted you into a new stratosphere among Iowa horse owners. What was your favorite memory of Sure Shot Biscuit?
Gessmann: The race at Keeneland was the greatest race! Pat Day aboard, and it was his only race on the turf. Day held him back in last place all the way around till the head of the stretch then let him go and he flew around the field for a win! Being in the win circle at Keeneland was amazing! All the wins he had were amazing but to do it at Keeneland against horses the caliber of Night Dreamer was really special!
Bracewell: You own a lot of horses in partnership. How do these partnerships come about? Do you seek out friends that you want to get involved in horse racing and then put them in on a good horse? Are these people coming to you? Do you ever have any regrets having to deal with certain personalities in a partnership?
Gessmann: I have been in several partnerships and have enjoyed all of them. Some I have sought out but mostly people have come to me. As in life and horses some are harder to deal with than others, but I have enjoyed all of them!
Bracewell: Aaron Kennedy, a former Director on the ITBOA Board, was putting together a group of guys including a former classmate of mine, Jeff White, into a partnership wanting to purchase a race horse or two. Do you have any advice for a group of new owners or breeders wanting to get started in the game?
Gessmann: I will refer back to the Jack Van Berg quote from earlier have enough money to buy a good horse! And enough money in the fund to last through the first year for expenses. That makes managing a partnership a lot easier.
Bracewell: Maya’s Storm, a home-bred, was another great Iowa-bred that you owned in partnership. He retired with four stakes wins, earnings nearing $310,000 and he also hit the board in 12 of 13 life-time starts. Do you still own Maya’s Storm and how did he do in his first year as a stallion? Where is he currently standing?
Gessmann: Maya’s Storm was one of my favorite horses. I spent a lot of time studying nicks before deciding on Stormy Atlantic. It is very rewarding when you pick the mare, pick the sire and have that kind of success. We tried to stand him for a stallion but he was not cooperating, we took him to ISU for testing and found his fertility rating was low. We gelded him and gave him to a lady in Texas for a fox hunting horse. She loves him!
Bracewell: Miss Macy Sue took you all the way to the Breeders’ Cup where she ran third in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Can you describe the trip she took you on since she raced in such places as Prairie Meadows, Hawthorne, Mountaineer, Laurel, OaklawnPark, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, Presque Isle and Monmouth?
Gessmann: Macy Sue was a wild trip! To run at all those tracks and be so good was amazing. We were constantly receiving offers for her and if it wasn’t for my partners, I would have never made it to the Breeders Cup. I am so thankful that we passed on the money and had the experience!
Bracewell: Miss Macy Sue drew off to a 15-length lead going a half in 44 and change in her lone try routing yet faded to run fourth in the Panthers Stakes. As an owner, what were you thinking when she was 12-lengths in front after the first quarter? What was the post-race conversation like with the jockey?
Gessmann: Running her in the Panthers was an experiment and it proved to be a mistake when I saw 44 in route race I knew we had made a mistake. It was not the jockey’s fault it was the only way Macy knew how to run.
Bracewell: Was it a hard decision selling your interest in Miss Macy Sue? Do the Albaugh’s still own her first foal, a filly by AP Indy, and have you seen or heard any information on that foal?
Gessmann: It was the only decision I could make. I could not afford the stud fees that Macy deserved so I had to sell. Albaugh’s still have both the AP Indy yearling filly and the Unbridled Song weanling colt. They send me pictures periodically and keep me updated on their progress. The filly looks like Macy and the colt is very handsome he will be a runner!
Bracewell: You just had the sales topper at the ITBOA Fall Sale and you’ve sold horses at sales in Kentucky. How do you decide which horses go to which sales? How do you decide which horses you keep and race yourself? Do you ever have any regrets after selling?
Gessmann: I never regret selling a horse because you never know what tomorrow may bring. I wish everyone the best of luck after their purchase. My decision on Iowa and Kentucky depends on the individual and their sire. I know the Iowa market and the Kentucky market so I go where I feel I have my best shot.
Bracewell: Okoboji Grill is you main business. How many locations do you currently have? When did you start franchising? And how did you get your start in the restaurant business?
Gessmann: Ann and I currently own five locations and have four franchisees for a total of nine restaurants. I franchised my restaurant in Iowa City in 2001. My brother worked for Clyde Woods in Omaha at his cabinet shop and they had done some work for Philadelphia Bar & Grill. My brother introduced me to the owners and we formed a partnership and opened a restaurant in West Des Moines. Three years later I had opened five restaurants. In 1992 I changed the name to Okoboji Grill.
Bracewell: Okoboji Equine Transport has really filled a niche needed here for Iowa horsemen. How did you decide to get into the equine transport business and what sets Okoboji apart from the others in the business?
Gessmann: When I bought my first mares at Keeneland I had a hard time finding someone to take them back and forth to Kentucky at that time we also wintered our racing stock in Florida and it was difficult to find someone to come through Iowa. Being in the trucking business in my earlier life I decided to get a truck and trailer and haul myself, and then I found I was hauling for other people as well. Then I found Vicky Godwin and the rest is history. Vicky is what sets us apart from other companies. Vicky is excellent at handling horses and people know when their horses are in Vicky’s care they are well cared for!
Bracewell: Mutti Blues had a very successful year for your Umbrella Stables, LLC. winning the John Wayne Stakes and the Iowa Classic Sprint Stakes. He did, however, finish off the board in his three allowance starts at Prairie Meadows. Was this simply a case of a fondness for facing state-breds?
Gessmann: Mutti Blues has been an interesting horse. He was very slow maturing and has been lightly raced. He had injuries at 2 and 3 and really came into his own at 4. His lack of success in the two open allowance races was bad racing luck in the first race and physical problems in the second race. But he made up for it by his win on Classic Night!
Bracewell: Bookaparty has been quite a broodmare having produced stakes winners Irish Party, Go Milan Go and Timetobook. Do you still own her and who did you breed her to this year? Do you think the E Dubai colt that went through the ITBOA Fall Sale is her next great stakes winner?
Gessmann: Bookaparty has been the best mare I have owned. In 2010 I bred her to Afleet Alex and she did not get in foal. Since she was 20 years old I think she was telling me enough is enough so I retired her and gave her to a lady for a pet. I think both Sweet Dancin Mari and The E Dubai colt have Great racing futures! Hopefully we see some more Stakes wins from a Bookaparty foal.
Bracewell: What do you and your wife Ann like to do when you happen to get away from your businesses and the horses?
Gessmann: First I would like to take this opportunity to say Thanks to my wife Ann for all the support she gives me in being the IAHBPA President!! I could not do it without her supporting me. We like to play golf together, travel and spend time with our granddaughter Mia!
Bracewell: What is your favorite horse racing movie?
Gessmann: I enjoyed all of them! Let it Ride and Seabiscuit were the top two.
Thank you for your time, Leroy. I wish you continued success as the leader of the IAHBPA, as a horse owner and breeder, and as the owner/President of Okoboji Enterprises. Let your beautiful wife Ann know that I love the Boji Fries!