Neil Huffman, a well-known horseman and respected figure in Kentucky’s horse racing community, has died at the age of 87.
Huffman’s deep love for horses and contributions to the Thoroughbred racing industry spanned more than 50 years, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, dedication and warm personality.
Born in the midst of the great flood of 1937, Huffman’s love for horses began when he was just a teenager. As recounted in “Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track”, Huffman’s first horse, Rusty, came to him unexpectedly.
“A buddy of mine who lived two blocks down the street rode the horse into my backyard and said, ‘I gotta find somethin’ to do with Rusty. I’m goin’ away to Lexington.’ My uncle Ben Masden bought him for $100… Saddle and everything.” From that day on, horses would become central to his life.
Masden was a clocker at Churchill Downs and played a significant role in Huffman’s early education in horse racing. Masden’s mentorship helped Huffman develop a deep understanding of horse racing, and his career would eventually take him to some of the most prestigious farms in Kentucky, including the iconic Calumet Farm along with Tin-Dor, Lasater and Longfield Farms in Goshen, Ky. There, Huffman managed Thoroughbreds for top owners and oversaw many significant wins in the racing world.
Alongside his late brother, William “Blackie” Huffman, he co-managed Skylight Training Center, where they broke and trained dozens of horses.
While Huffman took on much of the public role, Blackie was content to work behind the scenes.
“Blackie won the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, and I don’t think he even got in the Winner’s Circle… He didn’t want the publicity,” Huffman recalled in Better Lucky Than Good.
Blackie was known not only for his horsemanship but also for his sharp wit and knack for spinning tall tales. “There were hats going around back here that said ‘Lying Blackie.’ Everybody had a Lying Blackie hat. He left a bit of a legacy,” Huffman wrote.
Huffman was responsible for foaling hundreds of horses throughout his career, a source of great pride.
“In hindsight, the biggest pleasures I ever got out of fooling with horses was on those farms,” Huffman said.
His work at Skylight along with farms throughout Kentucky helped shape the next generation of racehorses, and his expertise earned him the respect and admiration of his peers. Huffman often credited his love for the industry to his experiences on Kentucky’s farms, where he lived and worked hands-on with horses every day.
Huffman was a man of stories as much as he was a man of horses. He could hold an audience with his tales from the track, the barn and life in the Kentucky racing community. Whether it was breaking young horses trying to make their way to the racetrack or recounting Derby Week memories, Huffman’s presence in the racing world extended beyond his professional accomplishments. His storytelling was legendary, captivating friends and colleagues alike in places like Wagner’s Pharmacy and on the Churchill Downs backside.
In his later years, Huffman remained active in the racing community, continuing to share his knowledge and passion for horses with others, especially in Barn 46 at Churchill Downs. He spent time at the track, visiting old friends and, of course, looking after many cats on the backstretch.
Huffman is survived by his daughters Carla (Andy) Lucas, Lori (Bob) Liter and Deanna (Keith) Bunner; eight grandkids (Katie, Ally and Sam Dedich; Adam and Andrew Bunner; Christpher Drew Lucas, Kate McMorrow and Emmy Kupper); five nephews (Michael, Patrick, Ben, Daniel and Gary Lee Huffman) and numerous grandnieces and nephews.
A celebration of Huffman’s life will be held at a later date on the backside of Churchill Downs.
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