With the news of the passing of industry titan James E. “Ted” Bassett III, tributes from the Thoroughbred industry recount the enormous impact Bassett had in shaping the sport for generations to come.

Elected president of the Breeders’ Cup four years after the inaugural running in 1984, Bassett spearheaded the organization’s growth and making the World Championships into the global affair it’s known as, today.

“Mr. Bassett served the Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland, and a multitude of Thoroughbred racing industry organizations with magnificent honor and distinction, and his legacy will continue to make an impact for generations to come,” said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “Our thoughts are with the many people whose lives he touched as we honor his memory.”

Chauncey Morris, the executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, had similarly high praise.

“Unequaled. Magnanimous. Marine,” said Morris. “These words are the very definition of Ted Bassett, his service to the United States, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and its world-class Thoroughbred industry. His leadership of Keeneland was transformational. Our deepest condolences to his family.”

Terence Collier, too, fondly remembers his first meeting with Bassett as a junior member of the Stud and Stable publication and recounts the kindness, as well as wisdom, offered to his son.

“I was privileged to meet Ted Bassett at Keeneland more than 50 years ago, when I was a very junior member of the staff of the international racing and breeding magazine Stud and Stable.”

“Despite the fact that I went on to work for Fasig-Tipton at about the same time, our friendship never faltered. As was the civilized and generous manner he extended to almost everybody he met, there will be nobody in the Thoroughbred industry who will not be mourning his passing. My son Julian, was, like “Mr” Bassett, an alumnus of Kent School and had long wanted to meet the fabled head of Keeneland, whom I had often praised.”

“Fairly late one evening of the 1992 or 1993 Keeneland September Sales, Julian and I were in the pavilion and Ted was summing up the day’s session with the press corps, which, in those days, was a much larger and august group. Ed Bowen and I think Ray Paulick, of the Blood-Horse, Mark Simon and John Sparkman of the Thoroughbred Record, plus a full crew of assistants, were compiling their reports for their next editions.”

“During a pause in the activity, I introduced Julian to Ted and told him of their common link to Kent School. He hushed the press-box and presented a somewhat shy and astonished Julian to the group and then asked Julian to join him in singing the old Kent school song. Ted’s notes rang out loud and true, Julian offering an embarrassed accompaniment.”

“When I passed the sad news to Julian today, he vividly remembered the kindness and advice Mr. Bassett offered him…’Forget about the horse business, get yourself a job in the Disney Corporation. You’ll make a lot more money!’”

“Ted, we all loved you and will miss you terribly.”