Edmund Gann dies at 86; prominent thoroughbred owner

Edmund Gann, a prominent thoroughbred owner who campaigned Medaglia d’Oro and several other major stakes winners, died Sunday at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, said a spokeswoman for the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in San Diego. He was 86 and had cancer.

Gann began his horse racing career in the mid-1960s. Among other top horses he owned were Denon, Midas Eyes, Peace Rules, Timbora, You, and You and I. Gann also won the 1988 Japan Cup with Pay the Butler. Many of Gann’s horses were trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, who died in November.

Medaglia d’Oro earned more than $5.7 million during a career in which he won the 2002 Travers Stakes and the 2003 Whitney Handicap. The horse finished first or second in 15 of 17 starts.

Medaglia d’Oro also ran second in the Dubai World Cup and was a two-time runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Gann sold him as a stallion prospect for $10.5 million.

Born Oct. 10, 1923, in Gloucester, Mass., Gann moved with his family to San Diego as a youngster. The owner of a commercial fishing operation, he at one time had a fleet of 50 tuna boats and owned a major interest in Chicken of the Sea.

He had other business interests, including banking, hardware, oil, real estate development and wholesale food.

When a business deal involving Gann and another person failed, Gann was given a horse as compensation. The filly named Bold Producer won her first three starts for her new owner, according to Bloodhorse.com.

[email protected]