Toby Keith Covel, a breeder and owner who was best known by his stage name, Toby Keith, died Monday night, according to a post on the award-winning country artist’s official website. He had been battling stomach cancer. Keith was 62.
Dream Walkin’ Farms, the breeding operation of Keith, is located in his home state of Oklahoma. The singer was highly invested in the Thoroughbred industry, and raced horses alone and in partnership and employed a number of trainers. One of his latest racing ventures was Country Bro Stables with Remington Park’s all-time leading owner, Danny Caldwell.
Keith's top horses included the Grade 3-winning homebreds Cactus Ridge, who went 4 for 4, and Smack Smack, a Grade 3 winner of $986,419. He also bred and raced the multiple stakes winners Seeking Ms. Shelley, a daughter of Cactus Ridge who earned nearly $400,000, and Three Chords. Big Hubie, another stakes winner he raced, was named for Keith’s late father, Hubert Covel, who introduced his son to racing with trips to Remington Park and Louisiana Downs.
Keith often attended the races at his home track of Remington and he was a longtime ambassador for the Breeders’ Cup.
“He was a great guy, enjoyed racing, was just a pleasure to be around,” said Don Von Hemel, the 89-year-old retired trainer who conditioned Smack Smack. “I trained for him for a long time and he never once told me to do something different than what I was doing. There was never a ‘What if?’ He hired you as a trainer, and it was your job.”
Smack Smack was a seven-time stakes winner who captured the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. He was by Closing Argument and out of the mare Smack Madam.
“He was really proud of the fact that he bred the horse,” said Von Hemel.
Remington released a statement on suite-owner Keith on Tuesday.
“Toby was a fixture at Remington Park since the early days of racing in Oklahoma when his music career was just beginning,” Matt Vance, executive vice president of Remington, said in a statement. “He loved his horses and Remington Park while being an international ambassador for the industry. Toby was always giving of his time with guests and staff to help in any way he could. We will miss him calling for ‘Riders Up’ for the Oklahoma Derby as he did for many years.”
Breeders’ Cup also released a statement on Keith on Tuesday.
“We were extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Toby Keith today. In addition to his tremendous accomplishments in the music and entertainment world, Toby was a longtime Breeders’ Cup Ambassador and an enthusiastic Thoroughbred owner, breeder, and fan who greatly enjoyed attending the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Along with his legion of fans, we will miss him very much and express our deepest condolences to his loved ones.”
Keith told Daily Racing Form in a 2006 interview that he particularly enjoyed studying pedigrees, often while on the road, and that he intended to be in racing for the long haul. Keith would become one of Remington Park’s top owners, ranking fifth on the track’s all-time earnings list, with $4,172,156. His first win at the track under the Dream Walkin’ Farms banner was in 2001.
Keith’s website announced his passing with the following statement:
"Toby Keith passed peacefully last night, on Feb. 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage.”
Keith, who once made a visit to Delta Downs to watch one of his horses run in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, was asked how he would celebrate were he to win the race.
"Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses," he quipped, using a line from one of his famous songs.
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