Florida Horseman John Fernung Dies at 79
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Photo: Courtesy Journeyman Stud
(L-R): John Fernung with late owner/breeder John Franks
Longtime Thoroughbred horseman John Fernung, 79, died March 5, in Ocala, Fla., according to his family.
In the early 1970s, Fernung was the racing manager for the powerful Dan Lasater Racing Stable. Lasater and Fernung were high school classmates at Sharpsville High in Indiana. Lasater Stable became the leading money-winning stable in the country five years in a row and won three consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding owner 1974-76. During Fernung's tenure as Lasater's racing manager, the stable raced grade 1 winners Love Street, Honky Star, and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Royal Glint among 57 black-type winners.
By the late 1970s, Fernung relocated from the racetrack to become Lasater's farm manager in Ocala. During the next few years Fernung and Lasater developed a nationally renowned stallion station that included Nodouble, who was North America's leading sire in 1981, along with his sire Noholme II, 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull's sire Great Above, and Silver Buck, sire of 1997 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Silver Charm.
When Lasater dispersed his Thoroughbred holdings in 1984, Fernung purchased the 1,000-acre facility in partnership with John Franks, who had earned Eclipse Awards as outstanding owner in 1983-84, to form Southland Farm. During his tenure with Franks, Fernung syndicated At the Threshold, who became the sire of 1992 Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee.
Fernung mentored several members of his family who entered the Thoroughbred industry. Among them are his brother, Brent Fernung, who along with his wife, Crystal, own and operate Journeyman Stud near Ocala; Fernung's nephew, Scott Warner, who is the farm manager of Robert S. Evans' Courtland Farm in Maryland; and, John Fernung's son, Andrew, who is the sales coordinator for Eddie Woods Stable.
"I followed John into the horse business," said Brent Fernung. "He was my older brother as well as a mentor. The lessons I learned from him back in those heady Lasater Farm days have helped me to earn a living all these years."
John Fernung is also survived by a daughter, Nicole Fernung, grandson Bryce (Andrew and Cally), brothers Jerry Fernung (Barbee) and Andrew S. Fernung, sister Linda Warner, and three nephews, and four nieces.