According to published reports, Dolphus Morrison, breeder of Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), died Wednesday in Columbia, MO after a battle with Alzheimer's. He was 82.
Originally from Alabama, Morrison was a steel industry executive who rose to prominence in the racing world in 2009 when Rachel Alexandra, who he bred and co-owned with Mike Lauffer and named after his granddaughter, won the GI Kentucky Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths. Morrison and Lauffer subsequently sold Rachel Alexandra to Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick, and she was transferred from trainer Hal Wiggins to Steve Asmussen. Rachel Alexandra went on to annex the GI Preakness S. before completing an unbeaten season that saw her best males twice more in the GI Haskell Invitational S. and GI Woodward S. and earn Horse of the Year honors.
Morrison and his wife Ellen dispersed their breeding stock at the 2012 Keeneland November Sale with the help of Gainesway. Among the horses to sell from the Morrison dispersal were 'TDN Rising Star' Flashy Gray (Flashy Bull), who was acquired by West Point Thoroughbreds for $775,000 off a 10 1/4-length maiden victory and who would go on to finish second in a pair of graded stakes; and Samantha Nicole (Medaglia d'Oro), a then-unraced 3-year-old full-sister to Rachel Alexandra, who Stonestreet purchased for $700,000.
Dolphus (Lookin At Lucky), a 3-year-old half-brother to Rachel Alexandra owned and bred by Morrison's longtime friend Dede McGehee, competed Thursday at Keeneland.
Morrison is survived by his wife, three children and two grandchildren. A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomers Sons Inc. Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, MO Saturday, Oct. 29 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
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