New England Horseman Minassian Dies at 96
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Harry Minassian Sr., former president of the New England Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association and a graded stakes winning owner and breeder, died Sept. 23 in Stoughton, Mass. at the age of 96 following a period of declining health.
From 2000-09 Minassian campaigned a stable of about 35 horses, who won 42 times from 360 starts and earned $982,680 at tracks up and down the East Coast, and he owned a farm and training center in Ocala, FL. The best horse he bred was NJ-bred, world record-setting (:54.97 for five furlongs on turf at Monmouth Park) sprinter and graded stakes producer Klassy Briefcase, who was honored with a stakes race named in her honor at Monmouth.
Minassian's lone graded stakes win came with Cousin Gigi, who was trained by Tim Hills and captured the 2001 Eatontown Handicap (G3T) at Monmouth at odds of 25-1.
Minassian, was the (retired) owner of Westgate Lanes and Harry's Westgate Pub in Brockton, Mass. for over 59 years. An avid Boston sports fan, he was good friends with the late World Heavyweight Champion boxer Rocky "The Rock from Brockton" Marciano. He was also a United States Navy veteran and served proudly on the USS Wickes and the USS Hall.