Originally Published in the July 2014 Issue of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Times
Around the Oval PARX
Henry “Hank” Nothhaft calls California home, but has been expanding his racing
and breeding interests in the Keystone State the last several years.
Not only has Nothhaft invested in several stallions that stand in Pennsylvania,
he’s supported them with a well-bred broodmare band. His first homebreds race
this year.
Nothhaft, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former officer
in the Marine Corps with a background in telecommunications and networking companies, was recently appointed to a four-
year term on the board of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association.
Nothhaft maintains a string at Parx with trainer Keith Nations, and recently
one of his runners, Ignite, found the winner’s circle. The daughter of Jump Start
rallied from off the pace in a $34,200 allowance against state-breds at 1 mile May
6. Ignite was bred by Barlar and is out of the Distorted Humor mare Perverse.
“This winter was very tough on my Pennsylvania racing plans,” Nothhaft said.
“In order to supplement my stable until my pipeline of Pennsylvania-breds starts
providing most of the racing stock, I have been actively seeking well-bred fillies for
the stable that make sense in the context of races available primarily at Parx.”
Nothhaft said Ignite was noticed by Nations when she debuted at Laurel Park
in October 2013, and they put her on their “maybe” list.
After she was entered next in a maiden claiming race at Penn National (which she
won), Nothhaft approached his blood stock agent Carl McEntee and asked him
to look at her pedigree and give his opinion. Since Ignite was foaled and raised at
Northview PA in Peach Bottom, McEntee was familiar with her and was in favor of
Nothhaft acquiring her.
After finding out the owner of Ignite was a friend, Nothhaft said he didn’t want
to drop a claim slip, and had McEntee approach her connections to purchase her
privately.
“Given her pedigree, we expected her to get better as she got older, and we believed
she would go long, even though she broke her maiden in a sprint,” Nothhaft said.
“Under Keith’s training she has continued to get better and better and is starting to
mature. The fact that she is Pennsylvania-bred is a major plus as far as I am concerned.”
Nothhaft has a pair of homebred 2-year-olds by Smarty Jones training atSylmar Farm in Christiana, Pa., who may
race this year
Smarty’s Legend, a filly out of Randie’s Legend, by Benchmark; and
Dash, a filly out of Aloft, by Unbridled’s Song.
Nothhaft has five homebred yearlings by Silver Train, who will be broken at
Sylmar before joining Nations at Parx. Named Thepennsylvaniakid, Silver Trophy,
Chincoteague, Move and Shenango Valley, Nothhaft said that are all athletic looking
and he has high hopes for their success.
