Leading New York breeder Mary Broman dies at age 88

Photo:

Courtesy of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association

Mary Broman, who with her husband Chester established
New York’s leading breeding and racing operations, died Wednesday. She was
88.

The Broman family owns and operates Chestertown Farm in the tiny community of
the same name in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The couple was
honored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders with the state’s breeder-of-the-year
title eight times, the most recent in 2022.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs. Broman,” said Najja
Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “In
addition to her tremendous accomplishments in the New York-bred program
alongside her husband Chester, she was also a warm and welcome presence. We
express our deepest condolences to Chester and the entire Broman family.”

The Bromans sit well atop the state’s list of leading breeders for 2024 with
purse earnings of $2,256,979 through Monday along with 42 wins from 227 starts.
Stakes winners in 2024 bred by the Bromans include Bank Frenzy in the Evan
Shipman Handicap; Spirit of St Louis in the Hudson Valley, Kingston and
Danger’s Hour; and Sweet Brown Sugar in the Niagara and East View.

“Mrs. Broman will be missed by the entire New York breeding and racing
community,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, vice president of government affairs for the
New York Racing Association and former executive director of the NYTB. “She was
a personal friend, and I sincerely enjoyed all our time spent together. 
I’d like to extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to Chester and the Broman
family.”

“We are so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing,” New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s
Association president Tina Bond said. “She and Chester have been pillars of the
New York breeding industry for so many years, and they set a standard of
excellence that we all strive to meet. Mary was very much a partner in the
Chestertown operations, and she was also a classy and lovely woman. Her passing
is a real loss to our community.” 

The Bromans also led the state’s breeders list in 2023 with New York-bred
earnings of $3,243,042. Hijazi, a finalist for champion 2-year-old male honors
in 2022, earned the 3-year-old championship in 2023 and the Bromans also bred
2023 champion older female New York-bred Classy Edition. Spirit of St Louis
also earned finalist consideration for champion male turf honors in 2023.

The Bromans racked up New York-bred earnings of $3,157,109 in 2022, nearly $1
million more than the state’s next closest breeder. Leading runners that season
included New York-bred champion 2-year-old male Acoustic Ave, who raced in
their familiar green and white silks. The Bromans also bred and sold Hejazi, a
son of Bernardini who brought $3.55 million at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May
2-year-olds-in-training sale.

Hejazi and Classy Edition were the 11th and 12th New York-bred champions bred
by the Bromans since 2000. The group also includes 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly &
Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold as well as Grade 1 winners Artemis Agrotera and
Friends Lake and $1,403,536 earner and multiple stakes winner Mr. Buff. Bar of
Gold, who retired with earnings of more than $1.55 million, and Mr. Buff won
multiple titles and rank in the top 30 all time among New York-bred earners.