Stuart Angus

I met Stuart in 1994 when we worked together for Ben P. Walden Jr. at Vinery. Stuart was the broodmare manager, and I was selling seasons to the Vinery stallions. Stuart managed the 150-plus broodmare band which  encompassed multiple farms. Stuart was also a farrier; he trimmed all the broodmares which added another layer of responsibility. I quickly learned that Stuart was a tireless hard worker with these responsibilities. Over the years I followed Stuart's professional journey to Watercress, Payson Stud and Taylor Made admiring his accomplishments along the way....

Of course, my Dad introduced me to the Thoroughbred business. Both of my parents did. They met each other in the Thoroughbred business at Walmac where my Mom worked. I remember from my childhood, if only vaguely, running around Johnny Jones's offices, pretending to be a cowboy like he was. I dressed as Zorro for Halloween one of those years and couldn't wait to show off to Johnny! My Dad was working at Vinery or maybe Watercress at that time. I remember his red Toyota truck and I remember his...

by Diana Li McPherson I have read with great interest the different Letters to the Editor people have sent in celebrating the life and love of Stuart Angus. Since my husband Steve McPherson and I loved and admired Stu, I felt compelled to share some thoughts on Stuart's extraordinary life. My husband met Stu several years ago at Saratoga while "Stuey" worked for Taylor Made at the Fasig-Tipton Sale. It was clear from the first time they met that their shared traits in humanity would create the foundation for a...

It's clear that Stuart Angus touched the lives of many. A one of a kind human being, I don't think he knew a stranger. I met Stu in November of 2016, probably by complete happenstance, but like many others we met because of horses. I had finished working that summer at Presque Isle Downs and had decided to go back into healthcare. In the grand scheme of things, I had minimal knowledge and no idea what I was getting myself into when I came to Kentucky to work a November...

When I moved to Kentucky in 2019 to work for Taylor Made, I didn't know a single person, I didn't know the first thing about the racehorse industry, I had never seen anything like a Lexington horse sale, and I certainly didn't drink bourbon. With no real guidance except to watch, absorb, and help where I could, my first day on the job was the Keeneland January sale. Everyone was polite but busy - clients to help, horses to show - and I mostly stayed out of the way. But...

Mine and Stuey's adventure started just five short years ago. Paired together in an initiative to promote business at Taylor Made Sales Agency, I became Stuey's support staff. It was a perfect pairing with him as the seasoned veteran and me with the green thumb. I was fortunate enough to share in the majority of Stuart's time throughout the week for several years. He and I travelled all over central Kentucky together looking at horses which led us to conversations long and wide in the car rides in between. Our...

My husband and I met Stuart at Giussepe's having dinner at the bar one night. I was immediately impressed by his sincerity and openness. When he found out we bred and raced Thoroughbreds, he shared his story and that he worked for Taylor Made. He and my husband Steve bonded over their love of the stallion Not This Time. We often ran into each other at the sales or at the races and Stuart was always there to congratulate us on our successes and to offer advice only if asked....

"Robby, why don't we just take one?" After a long delay sitting on a tarmac leaving Kentucky for the Timonium 2-year-old sale, Stuart Angus and I arrived to find an understaffed rental car counter, with a line that appeared to be hours long. He figured we could short-circuit the process by getting in a car and bluffing our way through the gate agent. It nearly worked; the agent's hand hovered over the button to raise the gate, before she said, "Oh, you need a rental agreement, not just a reservation."...

Much has been written about our friend and team member, Stuart Angus. Knowing that many readers never met Stuart, I thought I would share a short list of facts that may help you get to know him and benefit from his life lessons. 1) Stuart taught me not to judge people too quickly. My initial perception of Stuart 25 years ago was one thing, while the real Stuart was another completely. He was tough but he had a vulnerable side and a heart of gold. 2) We should all strive...

Editor's note: Stuart Angus, a Senior Thoroughbred Advisor for Taylor Made, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 60. His friends are encouraging those he touched to submit `Stu stories' to the TDN. How can Stuart Angus possibly be the man behind so many? I have no doubt you're going to learn that with the flood of Stu Stories to be shared. A tribute fitting of his profound impact. He knew when to listen, when to advise, and when to let you brave the world on your own...always knowing...

Editor's note: Stuart Angus, a Senior Thoroughbred Advisor for Taylor Made, passed away Aug. 28 at the age of 60. His friend, Hunter Houlihan, is encouraging those he touched to submit `Stu stories' to the TDN. "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man," is a quote attributed to Winston Churchill. I think we can all agree with that. If you had the chance to meet Stuart Angus, even once, you would undoubtedly agree that there was something about him...

Stuart Angus of Lexington, Kentucky passed away in Nashville, Tennessee on August 28 after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 60 years old. Angus is survived by his son, Drew, and daughter-in-law, Alexa, along with their two foster children. Stuart was one of three children born to his parents, Carol and Douglas Angus. Angus was born and raised in New Jersey. During his youth, he fell in love with horses and that love of the thoroughbred shaped the rest of his life. His friends issued an obituary, which reads:...