Denise Martin, California Chrome Co-Owner, Dies at 61

Denise Martin, a co-founder of Martin Racing which in partnership campaigned two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome  , died June 14, Martin Racing announced. The accomplished chemist, business leader, horse owner, and mother to two was 61.

Martin co-founded Martin Racing, a Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding and racing organization based in Alpine, Wyo., in 2016 with her husband, Perry Martin. She took on the critical role of managing all communications and behind-the-scenes business needs for the small, family-owned organization while Perry served as the public voice and operations manager.

The Martins were thrust into fame in 2014 when their popular colt, California Chrome, won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and the Preakness Stakes (G1), and was later honored as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt. California Chrome was bred in California by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, who initially campaigned the colt together.

Later campaigned under the partnership California Chrome LLC, which included the Martins and Taylor Made Stallions, California Chrome in 2016 won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic (G1), and Awesome Again Stakes (G1) to earn a second Horse of the Year title. He was also crowned champion older horse. The chestnut retired in 2017 with earnings of $14,752,650, a North American record at the time.

California Chrome's storybook success enabled Martin Racing to expand internationally. In addition to supporting their first homebred via stallion syndicate participation, originally in Kentucky and now in Japan, the Martins currently stand Thoroughbred stallions in California, Louisiana, and Wyoming and the Hambletonian-winning Standardbred sire Trixton in Canada.

Their homebred colt Mo Mosa  won the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) May 31 at Lone Star Park.

"Denise greatly enjoyed interacting with racing fans, whether she communicated with them in person or through California Chrome's official social media channels," said Perry Martin. "She also was solely responsible for all of Martin Racing's charitable giving endeavors."

A trained chemist and California State University graduate, Denise was CEO of Martin Testing Labs in Sacramento, Calif., from its creation in 2000 to its sale in June 2020. She previously worked for the United States Air Force as a civilian employee at McClellan Air Force Base.

In semi-retirement, the Chicago native served her adopted Wyoming community on the North Alpine Water District Board of Directors. She also recently began taking online university courses on astronomy and was building a telescope to view the clear Wyoming night sky.

Denise is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, Perry, her daughter Kelly Martin, her son Perry Martin Jr., her brothers Andrew Brudniak and Richard Brudniak, her Golden Retriever Tizzy, 76 Thoroughbred horses, and seven Standardbred horses. She was loved by all of them.