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Grave Matters: Hooper Farm, Ocala, Florida
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Photos by Barbara Livingston © Barbara Livingston 2003; all rights reserved. |
HOOPER FARM in Ocala, Florida, was owned by Alabama road builder Fred W. Hooper, who entered the thoroughbred business in 1943. His first purchase was a yearling colt by *Sir Gallahad III - One Hour by *Snob II, for which he paid $10,200. The colt, named HOOP, JR. for Hooper's son, won the Wood Memorial and Kentucky Derby, but bowed a tendon running second in the Preakness, and was retired to stud. Hooper's first farm was in his home state of Alabama, and he would ship his mares to Florida to foal. Another early purchase, the brilliant sprinter OLYMPIA (1946 by *Heliopolis) became a foundation sire for Hooper. OLYMPIA stood in Kentucky at Danada Farm until his retirement from stud, then was moved to Florida. In 1966, Hooper purchased the farm in Ocala and relocated his breeding stock on a permanent basis. His son GREEK GAME was a top 2yo. His daughter MISS OLYMPIA produced the talented CROZIER. Another daughter, HEAVENLY SUN was the dam of QUAZE (by Hooper's imported Argentinian sire *QUIBU), herself dam of the multiple champion mare SUSAN'S GIRL and QUAZE QUILT, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. SUSAN'S GIRL is, in turn the dam of the top colt COPELAN, who was a son of another Hooper homebred, TRI JET.
According to photographer Barbara Livingston, Hoop Jr.'s "is the only stone -- the rest of the Hoopers' horses, whether buried complete (SUSAN'S GIRL) or cremated and interred (COPELAN), have no markers but supposedly rest to Hoop Jr.'s right (according to then-farm manager Milt Hendry)." -- A.P. |
| HOOPER FARM BURIALS
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| Stallions | Broodmares |
Alabama Bound (c. 1960)
Copelan (c. 1980-1994)
Crozier (c. 1958-1985)
Education (c. 1944-?)
Greek Game (c. 1954)
Hoop Jr. (c. 1942-1964)
If This Be So (c. 1977)
Olympia (c. 1946-1974)
*Quibu (c. 19421967)
Tri Jet (c. 1969-1998) | Quaze (f. 1957)
Quaze Quilt (f. 1971)
Susan's Girl (f. 1969-1988) |
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