Prominent Maryland owner/breeder James P. Ryan, who bred and raced 1983 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Caveat and was a powerful advocate for backstretch workers, died March 11. The home builder and philanthropist who lived in Glenwood, Md., was 89.
Ryan was born Dec. 4, 1932, in Pittsburgh. He served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated with his master's degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College.
In 1967, he moved to Columbia, Md., which was a planned city his newly founded Ryland Homes company helped develop. A few years after starting Ryland Homes, Ryan bought a 300-acre farm near Mt. Airy, Md., he named Ryehill Farm. One of the first mares he bought was a winning Quibu daughter named Smartaire, who had produced only two winners by the time Ryan bought her for $36,000 at the 1972 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sales from Leslie Combs.
Because 1972 champion 3-year-old filly Susan's Girl was by Quadrangle out of a Quibu daughter, Ryan bred Smartaire to Quadrangle and got grade 2 winner Quadratic. His good fortune with Smartaire continued with the next mating to Cyane producing grade 1-placed, multiple grade 2 winner Smarten and the third mating going to back to Quadrangle producing grade 1 winner Smart Angle.
Ryehill Farm bred 69 black-type performers that included 18 graded stakes winners. Seven horses Ryan bred became grade 1 winners, topped by homebred Belmont winner Caveat. Ryan raced the colt with classmate Bob Kirkham, who was in the lumber business on Long Island. Their first horse together was Smarten, who became a leading sire in Maryland.
Ryehill's other elite runners included grade 1 winner Awad, whose best wins included the 1995 Arlington Million (G1T); Maryland champion 2-year-old filly Bemissed; 1980 U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Heavenly Cause; and, 1979 U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Smart Angle.
By 1988, Ryan's enthusiasm for racing began to wane, in part because he became more aware of the working conditions on the backstretch at racetracks. After an eye-opening and disturbing inspection of Laurel Park's barn area, Ryan began advocating for better living conditions and the implementation of programs to help workers get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.
He dispersed a majority of his stock in 1988 and devoted part of the proceeds to starting the Ryan Family Foundation. With an initial $1 million invested, he began offering tax-exempt $20,000 matching grants to racetracks to start treatment programs. During 1989, the foundation secured commitments from 54 U.S. racetracks. The foundation also secured low-interest federal loans to build backstretch apartments. In April 1991, Ryan's efforts were recognized by the Association of Racing Commissioners International with its William H. May Award, which is the organization's most prestigious award.
Two years after launching the foundation, Ryan donated another $1.25 million for off-site treatment programs, according to a 1992 article by Andy Beyer in the Washington Post.
Ryan eventually found his way back to racing with a much smaller stable in 1992.
"I'm racing less, but I'm enjoying it much more," Ryan told the Washington Post.
According to Ryan's family, his foundation improved the lives of thousands of people by supporting more than 100 different organizations, especially those having to do with the handicapped, housing for the poor, and inner-city programs for the homeless.
"His love of humanity and his unhesitating generosity were among his main defining qualities. He always had a smile ready for anyone and loved giving advice whether in life or business," Ryan's family said in a tribute to him.
The last grade 1 winner bred and campaigned by Ryan was Ops Smile, whose name came from "Operation Smile," an organization of plastic surgeons he supported who helped children suffering from facial deformities due to malnutrition and war-related injuries worldwide. In the Middle East, he met his wife Mariam and became a friend of the Palestinian people. He proceeded to build homes, start a dental clinic, fund loans and other missions in Palestine, the Middle East, and Africa.
Ryan is survived by his wife, Mariam, of 27 years, five children, two step-children, 15 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and ex-wife Linda Ryan. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ed Ryan, Bill Ryan, and sister Adele Moritz. He was also preceded in death by his ex-wife and the mother to his five children, Eleanor Ross.
