Michel Henochsberg, a modern pillar of French racing and breeding and the breeder of champion racehorse and broodmare Urban Sea, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
Henochsberg was an economics professor at the University of Paris and known affectionately to many in racing simply as “The Professor.” He was a pivotal figure in many industry organizations including GRECO–French racing's first governing body–and the UPG, the predecessor to France Galop. He was the first president of the Syndicat des eleveurs de chevaux de sang, a post he held from 1989 to 1996, and he also served as president of the Association des eleveurs europeens de chevaux from 1992 to 1996. In 1995, Jean-Luc Lagardere appointed Henochsberg the vice-president of France Galop.
“We have lost a great friend, and someone who was very intelligent about racing,” said Eric Puerari of Haras des Capucines, who did business for many years with Henochsberg. “He was one of the key people to change the system about 20 years ago. When France Galop was created he was at the origin of that. He was very passionate and intelligent about racing and breeding and I think he'll be remembered for that.”
In the midst of serving the above posts, Henochsberg was breeding Group 1 winners. He is perhaps best known as the breeder of Urban Sea, the winner of the 1993 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe who has gone on to be one of the most influential producers in the history of the studbook worldwide. Eight of Urban Sea's 11 foal were stakes winners and four were Group 1 winners: Galileo, Sea the Stars, My Typhoon and Black Sam Bellamy. Of those that weren't stakes winners, the Group 2-placed Cherry Hinton has produced the G1 Irish Oaks winner Bracelet. Urban Sea's, and Henochsberg's, legacy will live on for many generations to come through her producing sons and daughters, which also include her Classic-placed son Born To Sea, whose first 2-year-olds run this year.
Henochsberg bought Urban Sea's dam, Allegretta, for $55,000 at Keeneland November in 1984 through Horse France with partners Maurice Legasse and Marc de Chambure under their Marystead Farm banner. Allegretta had failed to win a stakes race and had been barren a handful of years before going through the ring at Keeneland, but Henochsberg had told Paris-Turf, “She was a useful race filly who gave the impression of not having much heart…but she descended from an exceptional family. She is not elegant, but she has an exceptional body. I was seduced.”
Urban Sea was the fifth foal produced by Allegretta after Marystead's purchase, and she wasn't the Allegreta's only success. Henochsberg and his partners also bred from the mare Allez Le Trois, the dam of G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue and second dam of G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Tamayuz; and G1 2000 Guineas winner and sire King's Best. Henochsberg and his friend Rene Romanet also bred Al Nasr, the first Group 1 winner for trainer Andre Fabre, from Caretta, a mare they had claimed.
“He was a very smart man and very devoted to the whole racing industry,” said Marc de Chambure. “It's extremely sad, he passed away fighting cancer and everyone is very sad about it.”
Puerari added, “He knew the great difficulties of breeding after so many years so he was always a vivid player and always hoping for the best with each new generation.”
IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet also shared his admiration of Henochsberg, telling Jour de Galop, “I knew Michel for a long time and I had seen [him] after the holidays. This is a difficult time. We were in the same high school, we played football together in the courtyard. He was a childhood friend, a brilliant student and a real breeding enthusiast. I will remember all my life Galiani's victory in the Grand Prix de Paris, which was co-bred by Michel and my brother Rene. There is also the victory of Al Nasr in the Prix d'Ispahan, the first Group 1 victory for Andre Fabre. Michel and Rene were two great enthusiasts. We also need to [mention] Urban Sea, a founding mare of exceptional lineage.”
Henochsberg was also passionate about media and was a key player in the creation of the Jour de Galop along with his friend and TDN president and co-publisher Barry Weisbord in 2007. He also served as the managing director of lesinrockuptibles.com and was managing editor of the electronic journal AZYMUT.
Henochsberg's other passions included contemporary painting as well as writing–he wrote two books: Nous nous sentions comme une sale espèce and la Place du marché–as well as tennis and football.
Edouard de Rothschild also paid tribute to Henochsberg, telling Jour de Galop, “Michel was above all a friend. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of [racing]. Tonight, with him in mind, I want to recall the memory of the many winners to whom he was associated, [including] Al Nasr, Urban Sea, Sandman [and] King's Best.”
Henochsberg is survived by his wife, Geraldine, and three children, Rachel, Simon and Milena. Funeral arrangements will be published when available.
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