April 30, 2008 5:50PM
Break Out Your Big, Floppy Sun Hat
By Alexis Glick
Are you a Kentucky Derby fan? I am. I love horse racing! Nothing is more exciting than watching the triple crown. It’s the fastest 60 seconds in sports but the build up and dash to the finish is exhilarating!
Today I interviewed the co-owner of this weekend’s Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown. His name is Paul Pompa, Jr. He owns a trucking business, Truck-Rite Corp. in Brooklyn and has owned horses since 2000. Interesting combination? One might think so. Not so, says Pompa Jr, his father owned and bread horses while he was growing up.
So how did he come up with the name that everyone is talking about? He named his horse Big Brown after he signed a contract with UPS, his biggest client.
He didn’t tell UPS and didn’t intend to garner as much attention or sponsorship opportunities until Sept. 3, 2007 when the chestnut colt won a race in Saratoga by a landslide. Minutes after, Pompa Junior’s phone rang off the hook with breeders and horse owners begging to buy his horse.
He mulled over many rich offers and decided to go with IEAH (International Equine Acquisitions Holdings). He selected IEAH because they were willing to let him keep a 25% stake in Big Brown’s future winnings and breeding rights.
The holding company, IEAH, was created by a group of Wall Street guys and is currently raising $100 million to buy, sell and breed horses.
Reportedly, they paid Pompa Jr. $3 million for their 75% stake.
Another wonderful case of Wall Street meeting Main Street!
Comment by chuck
May 1st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Here in Vicksburg ms none of the politcal leaders that is the mayor nor board of supervisors hasn’t come up with a plan for going green. Since Vicksburg ms,the home of the civil and high gas prices, it’s also home for an Ethanol Plant on the Harbor project. But in reality none of the political leaders nor businesses haven’t offered any plans–creative plans of going green. But the state legistature has passed a bill where the Nuclear Power plant is going to get an addition. But as for as going green,to conserve energy no one in VIcksburg Ms nor Warren County hasn’t come forward to address the fact of going green or conserving energy. High energy costs,fuel costs are going to chase away any businesses that would want to locate here. But alternate energy issues haven’t been addressed like Mayor Bloomberg has done in New York City.
Comment by Stan
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I really did not appreciate the moments of unbelievable joy of Big Brown - no comment about the second place horse being put down. The owners of Big Brown were very obnoxious.