Consignor James M. Herbener Jr. died suddenly the morning of Sept. 19 at his home from an apparent heart attack, a day in which his operation was selling horses at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was 69.
John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services recalled coming to Kentucky from Virginia around the same time as Herbener did in the 1970s.
"We both came from a show horse background. He was from the opposite end of the state in Virginia Beach. And he was a quiet fellow, but amongst the horsemen, he was really respected for his horsemanship and ability to turn a horse out to the best a horse could be," Stuart said. "I admired that about him. He was a good fellow. He kept himself out of trouble for his entire professional life here, so amongst the horsemen he was really well respected."
The Herbener consignment sent two horses through the ring on Sunday, an $80,000 Arrogate filly (Hip 1524) selling to Madras Bloodstock, and a $70,000 Nyquist filly going to Pura Vida Racing. Five more yearlings from the consignment are scheduled to sell at the September auction.
"Jim was probably one of the sharpest horsemen you'd ever meet—one of the most genuine as well," said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's vice president of sales. "His integrity, he was a very straight shooter. Never lacked on his horsemanship. I think he's one of those people that I think hit home for a lot of people today. There were a lot of tears shed by a lot of people that he affected in a very positive manner."
Current horses representing Herbener on the racetrack include Hot Rod Charlie, who this year won the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), was second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and crossed the finish line first in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) but was disqualified for interference. The Oxbow colt, now 3, was bought for $17,000 by Erickson Equine from Herbener's consignment to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, and later that year was a $110,000 purchase by Dennis O'Neill from the Small Batch Sales consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.
"I think he gained a lot of respect from a lot of people. He was a quiet spoken man," Lacy added. "He was one of those people we always expect to be at the barn, worked hard, raised a great family."
Herbener's survivors include wife Kathy, daughter Heather, and son-in-law Dr. Patrick Ford. Arrangements are pending.
