Robert E. Holthus
Encyclopedia
Robert E. "Bob" Holthus (June 24, 1934 – November 21, 2011) was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
trainer
. As a second generation trainer, Holthus learned the profession from his father, Paul Holthus.
Holthus is the all-time winningest trainer at Oaklawn Park
and as of 2005 had won nine trainer's titles there. He was also won training titles at Chicago's
Arlington Park
and Hawthorne Race Course
, the Detroit Race Course
, Ellis Park Racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky
, Louisiana Downs
in Bossier City, Louisiana
plus a fall meeting at Turfway Park
in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio
.
Bob Holthus was the trainer for the Kentucky Derby
entrants Greater Good and Pro Prado but is best known nationally as the trainer of Pure Clan and Lawyer Ron
from the start of his career in 2005 until October 2006.
Bob Holthus and his widow Bonnie owned the Kilkerry Farm at Royal
, Arkansas
near Hot Springs
at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. As a second generation trainer, Holthus learned the profession from his father, Paul Holthus.
Holthus is the all-time winningest trainer at Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South.In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top Ten, Oaklawn was ranked...
and as of 2005 had won nine trainer's titles there. He was also won training titles at Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
and Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America...
, the Detroit Race Course
Detroit Race Course
The Detroit Race Course was a horse racing facility in the Detroit, Michigan suburb of Livonia in the United States. Opened in 1950, it hosted Thoroughbred flat racing and harness racing for Standardbreds....
, Ellis Park Racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky
Henderson, Kentucky
Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state. The population was 27,952 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Evansville Metropolitan Area often referred to as "Kentuckiana", although "Tri-State Area" or "Tri-State" are more...
, Louisiana Downs
Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Harrah's Louisiana Downs is a horse racing track and racino located in Bossier City, Louisiana.Louisiana Downs opened in 1974. It was built by shopping center developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., a longtime supporter of horse racing; it was third race track he developed, along with Thistledown and...
in Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
plus a fall meeting at Turfway Park
Turfway Park
Turfway Park is an American horse racing track located just outside the city limits to the north of Florence, Kentucky, about 10 miles south of the Ohio River at Cincinnati...
in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
Bob Holthus was the trainer for the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
entrants Greater Good and Pro Prado but is best known nationally as the trainer of Pure Clan and Lawyer Ron
Lawyer Ron
Lawyer Ron was an American thoroughbred race horse. He was bred and owned by James T. Hines, Jr., an entrepreneur who started his first company, Premium Allied Tool, in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1966, and it became a multi-million dollar business...
from the start of his career in 2005 until October 2006.
Bob Holthus and his widow Bonnie owned the Kilkerry Farm at Royal
Royal, Arkansas
Royal is an unincorporated community in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It lies at an elevation of 489 feet .-References:...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
near Hot Springs
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
at the time of his death.