Faye and Herman Sarkowsky inside the Winner's Circle after the Longacres Miile

A popular feature of The HIDDEN BROOK TIMES is a Q&A with some of our valued clients. Herman Sarkowsky has been with Hidden Brook since 2006. Former managing partner and co-founder of the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, Mr. Sarkowsky was instrumental in the development of Emerald Downs, and is active in many civic and charitable organizations, including the University of Washington, Children's Hospital Foundation, and Seattle Art Museum. He is perhaps best known industry-wide as the owner/breeder of Eclipse Champion and Breeders' Cup winner Phone Chatter, and the breeder of top sires Mr. Greeley and Dixie Union. Here are a few of his thoughts on the Thoroughbred industry and life in general.

Born: June 9, 1925

Germany

Residence: Seattle, Washington

Family: Wife, Faye; children Steven and Cathy; grandsons Noah, Shiah, and Max

Education: University of Washington

B.A. in Business

Primary business: Sarkowsky Investment Corporation, real estate and private development

Mr. Sarkowsky, the Pacific Northwest is a long way from Gera, Germany. How did you get there? It was actually my father's decision. When we came to this country in the 1930s, he wanted to go into the raw fur business. There were only two fur exchanges in the country; one is in Seattle, one in Denver. He didn't like Denver because of the altitude. So we went to Seattle. I still love it.

What got you started in the Thoroughbred industry? The first time I went to the racetrack was with my Dad. He liked to go out to Longacres and make a bet or two. I just liked the environment, especially the owners. I met Glen Williams, a trainer who later became racing secretary at Longacres. I finally decided that even though I couldn't afford it, I needed to own a horse. Glen found one for the princely sum of $1,200--named Forin Sea. He was a gangly individual, a gelding. We ran him for $1,200 up to about $2,000, and he won 5 races for us as I recall. We had a lot of fun. He was claimed from us and I bought another horse, Gray Shark, for $2,000.

How did you expand the quality of your stable? I sort of dabbled in the Northwest, and then I got a couple of horses which Joe Gottstein persuaded me to buy. One ran at Santa Anita, and for the first time I became interested in something other than local claimers. I met a trainer named Tom Pratt, and he called me up one day and said "The Mellon family has horses out here for the winter meet, and they think some of them won't do well. There's one horse who just broke his maiden--by Buckpasser out of Amerigo Lady." That was Pass the Glass. I bought him, and he ended up winning 4 or 5 graded stakes for me. That really catapulted me into racing in a bigger way. I then began to think on a broader scale, what happens when he retires, what about stallions and breeding...He retired sound, and several people contacted me and Tom to stand him. That's how I met Martin Wygod. He was starting a farm in the Santa Ynez Valley, which would become River Edge. We stood Pass the Glass there.

Tell us about the breeding that produced Phone Chatter. I had a good friend--Ned Skinner--he had a mare Hooplah that had won the Hollywood Oaks. He came to me and said, "Let's do a foal share." The foal was a filly, a great big filly, that really wanted to be a racehorse but couldn't stand the training. He passed away, and his family asked me to buy out the horses. I wanted to get some speed into the mare, and through my relationship with Dick Mandella we chose Phone Trick, who was very fast, and who stood in Kentucky. Phone Chatter was always a big individual. I saw her as a weanling, and she looked a little awkward to me. Now, I'm not a good judge of weanlings, but the fellow that had her said, "She's a leader. She leads the foals around the paddock when they get their exercise."

We brought her to California, and the last part of the Hollywood meet, Dick said to me, "She's got good size and a good way of going. But we really don't know." Then I began to hear rumors about this 2-year-old filly that's training really well, and it turned out to be Phone Chatter! She won her second career start going 5 ½ furlongs at Hollywood, and the Sorrento Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs. Then she came up against Sardula in the Del Mar Debutante, and she beat us. Dick told me "She won't beat us in the longer races." We next won the Oak Leaf and then the Breeders' Cup.

Has that been your personal highlight in racing? From a personal satisfaction, it was Phone Chatter. But really, winning the Longacres Mile with No Giveaway, who paid $122, was even greater. Oh--and my wife is here, and she says my greatest personal satisfaction was marrying her. This coming August 10th, we will be married 60 years.

Wow. Congratulations. On that note of loyalty and longevity--what drew you to Hidden Brook? I heard about Sergio. We had our mares at another farm, but they were selling the farm--so we were looking for another place. I met Sergio and liked him, I liked the way he was doing things.

How has the Hidden Brook experience been different? They are doing more than the other farms I have been associated with. The other farms were boarding farms. I made my own selections for sales and seasons. Hidden Brook is the whole package. I'm happy the way they do it. I use Sergio for breeding decisions as well--we talk together about stallions. We've been very successful.

Have you achieved your racing goals? Everybody has goals, and as you get older, those goals become more vivid. I keep breeding because one of these days I'm going to have someone in the Derby. Just to be in that race...I had two shots, with Dixie Union and Dixie Chatter, but illness or injury kept me out.

What advice do you have for those who want to get in the game? I think racing has to be a passion--it is to me. And you have to associate with people with knowledge and integrity.

What publications do you read? Thoroughbred Times and Blood-Horse in the industry; Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Seattle Times, the local papers wherever we are living. We are in the desert right now.

Favorite sports teams? Trail Blazers and Seahawks.

Favorite meal or place to eat? Italian. Here in Palm Springs, it's Jillian's--It is fantastic.

Thank you Herman Sarkowsky, for giving us a few minutes of your time Inside the Winner's Circle.