Glen Hill Farm founder Leonard Lavin will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement during next month's championship award ceremony.
“I am both surprised and deeply honored to receive the Eclipse Award of Merit,” Lavin said. “It is truly my proudest moment in the horse business–a business that has been one of the great pleasures of my life. From the normal Thursday cards to racing in the Breeders' Cup and everything in between, I have found every moment to be a thrill and a reward. With that has come the wonderful relationships made with people throughout the industry, the camaraderie with our team at Glen Hill Farm, and of course the horses we've had the pleasure of breeding, owning and racing. And now this award provides a capstone that leaves me both humbled and grateful.”
Under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Willard Proctor and his son, Tom, the Glen Hill racing and breeding operation has produced more than 80 stakes winners, including 1994 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner One Dreamer. Other Glen Hill stakes winners include Relaunch, Convenience, Top Rung, Concept, Win, Repriced, Rich in Spirit, Closeout and Marketing Mix. The farm is currently run by Lavin's grandson Craig Bernick.
“Leonard Lavin and his family and team have been a stalwart of the Thoroughbred industry for 50 years, not only as immensely successful breeders and owners and through their philanthropic involvement, but in our case at the Breeders' Cup as one of our earliest and most steadfast marketing partners,” said former Breeders' Cup President and 1998 Eclipse Award of Merit winner D.G. Van Clief Jr. “Alberto-Culver's long-running sponsorship of the Breeders' Cup created a mold that continues to this day.”
Lavin's Alberto-Culver beauty care company sponsored Breeders' Cup races from 1990 until 2005.
The 45th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony will be held Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.
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