Obituary: Dedomenico Reached Heights On, and Off, Track

Dr. Mark Dedomenico, who reached racing's heights on the track as an owner of 2010 champion filly Blind Luck  and off the track with the Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center near his Redmond, Wash., home, died Dec. 7. He was 87.

Campaigned by Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Blind Luck won the 2010 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1) to nail down Eclipse honors. She returned at 4 to win the Vanity Handicap (G1). The daughter of Pollard's Vision captured grade 1 stakes in each of her three seasons—taking the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) at 2.

In honoring Dedomenico in 2017 with a lifetime achievement award, the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association described Dedomenico as a modern Renaissance man, noting the "second-generation horseman has been a prominent cardiac surgeon, inventor, author, is a founding member of Seattle's Hope Heart Institute, owns and operates the huge PRO Sports Health Club, built and operates the state-of-the-art Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation Center (for all breeds of horses, not just Thoroughbreds) and has raced more than one top runner who has gained national recognition. He also sits on the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and is a former WTBOA board member."

In a Dec. 8 social media post, trainer Michael Puhich mourned Dedomenico's passing.

"Horse racing and health care lost a true legend whose legacies will live on forever," said Puhich, who trained Profound Moment, a stakes winner at Emerald Downs, and other horses for Dedomenico. "I can truly say it was an honor and privilege to work for him. … I can't help but feel I lost a father."

Puhich also served as trainer and director of horse operations at Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation.

In partnership, Dedomenico campaigned grade 3 winner and 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Bwana Bull. He also campaigned grade 2 winner Washington Bridge and grade 3 winner Wonderlandbynight. Another top Washington-based runner was 2015 Emerald Downs Derby winner Prime Engine.

As son of Paskey Dedomenico, who was a prominent Thoroughbred buyer, owner, and breeder in the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s and 1980s under the "Roni" banner (in homage to the family's Golden Grain company, which made, among many prominent food products, Rice-a-Roni), Mark was born into a racing family. His father founded Woods Creek Training Center in Redmond (which Mark would keep going).

According to the WTBOA, Dedomenico partnered with renowned orthopedic veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, of Colorado State University, to research new treatments for equine middle and lower knee injuries, as well as the use of platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy.

At the 2015 WTBOA annual awards dinner, Dedomenico was honored with the prestigious S.J. Agnew Special Achievement Award for his leadership, foresight, and contributions to the Washington Thoroughbred industry.