Bodog Beat

Long time Thoroughbred Breeder Harry Mangurian died Sunday at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale of a case of acute Leukemia at the age of 82. (AP Images)

Mangurian, a World War 2 veteran was well known in the Horse Racing industry; in four decades in racing and breeding, Mangurian bred and/or raced more than 150 stakes winners, headed by two-time champion and Hall of Famer Desert Vixen; 1992 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Gilded Time; Canadian champion and Grade 1 winner Exciting Story; and Grade 1 winners Dark Ending, Miss Iron Smoke, Nany's Sweep, Captive Miss, and others.

Though he often sold the horses he bred and was a mainstay of the Thoroughbred marketplace, Mangurian rarely bred outside his own program. In addition, Mangurian developed a parcel of 300 acres of Florida’s famed Tartan Farms property in Ocala, Fl from about 300 acres to 1,100 acres which came to be known as Mockingbird Farm. Along the way, Mockingbird also became a prolific producer of stakes-winners and successful stallions and one of Florida and the nation's most successful breeding entities. The farm also was home to such stallions as Valid Appeal, Rizzi, Storm Creek, End Sweep, Diablo, and Valid Expectations.

Mangurian was also very well known in the sports community as he was the owner of the storied Boston Celtics NBA organization from 1979-1983, winning the NBA Title in 1981. Along with the championship, Mangurian was a critical factor in the development of Celtic legends such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.

"Between the Boston Celtics and the horse business, he accomplished a lot of things," said Steve Mehallis, Mr. Mangurian's chief financial adviser for more than 35 years. "A lot of people would say 'Boy, he's a lucky guy', but luck is the residue of hard work, I would say." From real estate construction and development to owning a soccer team in the now-defunct North American Soccer League, Mr. Mangurian was "successful in any venture that he undertook," Mehallis said.

Harry Mangurian was not only an instrumental part of the Celtics history and Thoroughbred Breeding; he was a very generous individual.

Harry’s daughter Terry Skuse said, "He was a very generous man, but he was quiet about his generosity, to individuals, healthcare, education, and environmental causes. He did a lot of things for people that no one knew about".

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he donated $1 million to the New York Heroes Fund and encouraged others to contribute to the charity. He recently donated $5 million to fund a new women's health center, part of Holy Cross Hospital.

Mr. Mangurian leaves behind his wife Dorothy Jones, daughters Terry Skuse of Rocheseter, Tracy Jenkins of Ocala; a brother, Pierce, of Fredericksburg, Texas; a sister, Ann Hanessian of Fort Lauderdale; four grandsons; and two great grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for tomorrow at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale.