Stephen A. DiMauro
Encyclopedia
Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro (born November 29, 1932) is a retired jockey
, Champion
trainer
and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred
horse racing
.
A native of Camden, New Jersey
, in 1952 DiMauro was an apprentice jockey riding at racetracks in Florida
and the New York area. Ten year later he began making his mark in the industry as a trainer, earning his first New York stakes race win on November 28, 1962 in the Remsen Stakes
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. In his early years conditioning Thoroughbreds, DiMauro had considerable success with horses belonging to the Golden Triangle Stables of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
businessman, Tom Eazor. Among their successes was with the filly Lady Pitt
who was voted the 1966 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. For other owners, DiMauro would train two more Champions during his career, both coming in 1975. That year, Dearly Precious
earned American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors and Wajima
was voted the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. In 1975, DiMauro was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
. He bred numerous winners including two New York Bred Champions. He also received the award for the New York State Broodmare of the Year and was presented with the New York Breeder of the Year award in 1986. As part of his breeding and training programs he was part owner (with Harold Syner of Wajima fame) of Alamare Farm in Lexington and joint owner of Meadow Wood Training Center in Ocala, Florida.
DiMauro is responsible for mentoring and developing many of the horsemen involved in Thoroughbred racing today. His experience and insight into the sport has earned him much respect among many. He gave Richard Migliore a chance, and Richard "The Mig," was a well-known jockey for many years until his retirement in June 2010, and is still involved in the sport with the New York Racing Association. He gave Dominic Galluscio horses to train when he was just starting out on his own as a professional trainer. Dominic is today one of the more well-known claiming trainers in the New York circuit. DiMauro also took young exercise rider, Karen Shiels, under his wing, and gave her a chance when she was fresh out of college, grooming her to train on her own one day. Karen, under DiMauro's guidance and tutelage, ended up breaking many of Steve's yearlings who went on to become stakes winners. Menifee, a Kentucky bred, out of Anne Campbell, by Harlan son of Storm Cat went on to run 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and 2nd in the Preakness in 1999. Besides mentoring and being busy with his training, breeding and farm management, he always found time to give back to the sport he loves so much. His service to the industry included Board of Director positions with the New York Horsemens's Benevolent and Protection Assosciation, the New York Backstretch Pension Fund, Breeder's Cup Ltd. and the New York Thoroughbred Breeding Fund (serving as President in 1982 and 1983).
Because of the multitude of accomplishments over a large number of years, Stephen DiMauro was nominated to the Racing Hall of Fame in February 2012. DiMauro is retired and resides in Florida with his wife Kathryn. His son, Stephen L. DiMauro has followed in his footsteps.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
, Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
.
A native of Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, in 1952 DiMauro was an apprentice jockey riding at racetracks in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and the New York area. Ten year later he began making his mark in the industry as a trainer, earning his first New York stakes race win on November 28, 1962 in the Remsen Stakes
Remsen Stakes
The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. In his early years conditioning Thoroughbreds, DiMauro had considerable success with horses belonging to the Golden Triangle Stables of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
businessman, Tom Eazor. Among their successes was with the filly Lady Pitt
Lady Pitt
Lady Pitt was an American Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse. She was bred by John Greathouse at his Glencrest Farm near Midway, Kentucky. She was out of the mare Rock Drill, a daughter of the 1941 U.S. Triple Crown champion and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Whirlaway. Her sire was Sword...
who was voted the 1966 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. For other owners, DiMauro would train two more Champions during his career, both coming in 1975. That year, Dearly Precious
Dearly Precious
Dearly Precious was an American Champion Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Bred by Mrs. Jean R. Pancoast, she was out of the mare Ironically and sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Fager. Richard E. Bailey, a cable television executive, purchased her as a yearling for $22,000 and...
earned American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors and Wajima
Wajima (horse)
Wajima was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Bull Hancock's renowned Claiborne Farm of Paris, Kentucky. He was out of the French mare Iskra, a daughter of Le Haar, the Leading sire in France in 1963. Wajima was a son of one of America's greatest sires, Bold Ruler...
was voted the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. In 1975, DiMauro was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer....
. He bred numerous winners including two New York Bred Champions. He also received the award for the New York State Broodmare of the Year and was presented with the New York Breeder of the Year award in 1986. As part of his breeding and training programs he was part owner (with Harold Syner of Wajima fame) of Alamare Farm in Lexington and joint owner of Meadow Wood Training Center in Ocala, Florida.
DiMauro is responsible for mentoring and developing many of the horsemen involved in Thoroughbred racing today. His experience and insight into the sport has earned him much respect among many. He gave Richard Migliore a chance, and Richard "The Mig," was a well-known jockey for many years until his retirement in June 2010, and is still involved in the sport with the New York Racing Association. He gave Dominic Galluscio horses to train when he was just starting out on his own as a professional trainer. Dominic is today one of the more well-known claiming trainers in the New York circuit. DiMauro also took young exercise rider, Karen Shiels, under his wing, and gave her a chance when she was fresh out of college, grooming her to train on her own one day. Karen, under DiMauro's guidance and tutelage, ended up breaking many of Steve's yearlings who went on to become stakes winners. Menifee, a Kentucky bred, out of Anne Campbell, by Harlan son of Storm Cat went on to run 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and 2nd in the Preakness in 1999. Besides mentoring and being busy with his training, breeding and farm management, he always found time to give back to the sport he loves so much. His service to the industry included Board of Director positions with the New York Horsemens's Benevolent and Protection Assosciation, the New York Backstretch Pension Fund, Breeder's Cup Ltd. and the New York Thoroughbred Breeding Fund (serving as President in 1982 and 1983).
Because of the multitude of accomplishments over a large number of years, Stephen DiMauro was nominated to the Racing Hall of Fame in February 2012. DiMauro is retired and resides in Florida with his wife Kathryn. His son, Stephen L. DiMauro has followed in his footsteps.