Letter to the Editor: Stu Story #1

[Wandering Eyes]

Editor's note: Stuart Angus, a Senior Thoroughbred Advisor for Taylor Made, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 60. His friend, Hunter Houlihan, is encouraging those he touched to submit `Stu stories' to the TDN.

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,” is a quote attributed to Winston Churchill.

I think we can all agree with that.

If you had the chance to meet Stuart Angus, even once, you would undoubtedly agree that there was something about him that was good for the inside of all of us.

It goes without saying, but the horse business may not always be a welcoming one for a rookie. Times are few and far between that someone will take you under their wing, warn you of the dangers you face, or offer invaluable advice.

Hell, maybe even show you an offset knee.

In July of 2006, within a month of my employment at Taylor Made, Stuart showed me an offset knee. He took me under his wing. He warned me of the dangers I faced and gave me the best advice I have ever received.

I was baffled about why he had done so until three or four years later. At that point he, and I were well beyond colleagues: it was daily lunches, looking at horses together, maybe a beer after work. There was a new intern in the office with a lot of potential. I noticed Stu saying and doing a lot of the things he had shown me.

That was the day I realized Stuart was the Unicorn of the bloodstock world: he thrived on bringing along the next generation (no, honestly: he would be more than happy for you to drive him to a yearling inspection, especially if you took good conformation notes.)

But in all seriousness, I believe that is and will be Stuart's legacy: being that unicorn that took so many people under his wing, pun intended. Warning them of the dangers of this business. Offering invaluable advice.

Very few people are willing to do so today, and that is what truly defined his character: “Hunter, come look at this baby with me. Tell me what is wrong with him.”

Wayne Lukas trained trainers. I like to think that my friend Stuart was first and foremost a trainer of good people, and then a very good trainer of horsemen. By a nose.

So, that said: I am honored to continue the legacy I am so truly blessed to be a part of-and I hope you all do as well. Stuart would want all of us to just very simply provide a younger person a little help, so that is what I am going to do. I will strive to find people that Stu would have taken under his wing. People that he would have warned of the dangers of this business. I will give them the best advice I can, just like he gave to me.

Hell, I might even show them an offset knee.

To contribute your own `Stu story,' email suefinley@thetdn.com

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