Sanford Bacon, who bred New York-bred superstars Say Florida Sandy and Dancin Renee, passed away last week. NYRA Photo.
Successful and longtime New York owner and breeder Sanford Bacon passed away April 12 at a rehabilitation facility in South Florida. Bacon’s death at age 95 was first reported by Daily Racing Form.
Bacon bred and raced New York-bred champions Say Florida Sandy and Dancin Renee – half out of the Sweet Candy mare Lolli Lucka Lolli who have stakes named in their honor on the NYRA circuit – along with stakes winners Ricky Rachel and Ete Indien.
Say Florida Sandy, campaigned by Bacon for his first 15 starts, earned New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion sprinter honors in 2000 and 2001. Also honored as champion New York-bred 4-year-old and up male in 2001 and champion New York-bred 2-year-old in 1996, Say Florida Sandy won 33 of 98 starts, including five graded stakes, and earned $2,085,408.
Dancin Renee also earned New York-bred Horse of the Year honors, in 1997, along with champion sprinter and 4-year-old and up female honors that season. She won 14 of 21 starts and earned $490,258 racing for her owner and breeder Bacon. Dancin Renee is the dam of Risky Rachel, who won nine of 27 starts and earned $493,736 for Bacon.
Lolli Lucka Lolli was a multiple winner campaigned by Bacon’s Bacon Barn. She was named New York-bred Broodmare of the Year in 1997 and 2001.
Bacon campaigned Ete Indien in partnership with several other owners including trainer Patrick Biancone. The son of Summer Front won three of eight starts, including the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes in 2020 at Gulfstream Park, and finished third in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby.
Bacon’s breeding program earned national headlines in 2018 when a New York-bred colt by Scat Daddy out of Risky Rachel – later named Yale and campaigned by Coolmore in Ireland – sold for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-olds in training sale.
Bacon is survived by his daughter Jill Brookner and granddaughters Erin and Rachael.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Montefiore Cemetery, 121-83 Springfield Boulevard, St. Albans, New York. Funeral arrangement are being directed by Hellman Memorial Chapels in Spring Valley, New York.
