Parkhurst Farm Founder Azpurua Dies at 82
Blood-Horse
Leo Azpurua Sr., a successful trainer and bloodstock agent who in 1980 founded Parkhurst Farms in the Ocala, Fla., area, died July 15 at age 82 in Gainesville, Fla.
Azpurua was born in Venezuela and moved to the U.S., where he trained horses at tracks that included Monmouth Park, Gulfstream Park, and Calder Race Course, where he was one of the trainers based there in its inaugural season of 1971. He conditioned several stakes winners including La Luna Stable’s Sir Sir, who started in all three Triple Crown races of 1977.
He would train horses until 1980 when he launched Parkhurst, a 300-acre farm in the Ocala, Fla. area that offered early training for horses. Azpurua also bred horses in his name and under the Parkhurst name. Parkhurst provided early training for 187 stakes winners.
Azpurua also worked as a bloodstock agent before retiring in 2005. As an owner and breeder, Azpurua won multiple stakes races and he also picked out numerous stakes winners for private purchase or purchase at auction.
“My father was known for his keen eye and he picked out a lot of stakes winners,” said Azpurua’s son Leo Azpurua Jr.
The Azpurua family’s ties to racing are extensive in Florida. Azpurua moved to the U.S. first to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and then launched his racing career. His brothers Manuel and Eduardo Sr. also moved to the U.S. and enjoyed successful careers in horse racing. Eduardo Sr. launched Shangri-La Farm and is the breeder of classic-placed grade II winner Sweetnorthernsaint, while Manuel has enjoyed success as a trainer.
Some of the horses Azpurua recommended for purchase either privately or at auction included Sweetnorthernsaint, grade I winner Caltech, grade II winner Certain (who he also trained), and grade I winner Plenty of Light (who he initially trained to a stakes win), and Dance for Thee, who won the 1998 Rampart Handicap (gr. II) over Escena, who would be named champion older mare that season.
Azpurua Sr. and Azupurua Jr. co-owned Manicero, who won seven stakes in Florida in 2010 and 2011.
“That was really special,” Azpurua Jr. said, adding that while growing up his father fostered his love of horses. “He was the greatest father you could have both in terms of becoming a man and in learning about the horses. He encouraged me to be a trainer but said I also needed to get a business degree at college.”
A trainer of multiple graded stakes winners, Azpurua secured that degree at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.
Azpurua Sr. also is survived by his second wife, two daughters, and three grandchildren.
Born into a racing family Dec. 6, 1932 in Caracas, Azpurua Sr. is the son of Manuel Maria Azpurua, who was one of the leading owners and breeders in Venezuela who would serve as president of the first track in Caracas and the Jockey Club of Venezuela.
The family is planning a private funeral service.
