Martha F. Gerry
Encyclopedia
Martha B. Farish Gerry ( October 20, 1918 - September 17, 2007) was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner named an Exemplar of Racing by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
The daughter of Libbie Randon Rice and her husband, William Stamps Farish II
president of Standard Oil
, Martha Farish was born in Houston, Texas
. Raised in New York, she studied at The Masters School
in Dobbs Ferry, New York
and Vassar College
in Poughkeepsie
. In 1939 she married Edward Harriman Gerry (1914-2003), son of Robert L. Gerry, Sr.
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B17FC3A5A167A93C1AB178FD85F4D8385F9
Marth Farish Gerry was best known as the owner and breeder of three-time American Horse of the Year, Forego
whom she raced under the Lazy F Ranch banner. She was a member of The Jockey Club
, a long-time trustee of the New York Racing Association
and of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
. In 1974 she was the recipient of the New York Turf Writers Association award as the woman who did the most for racing and was the Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest of 1978.
In 1983, Martha F. Gerry, Allaire du Pont
, and Penny Chenery
became the first women to be admitted as members of The Jockey Club
.
Mrs. Gerry died September 17, 2007 following heart surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital for which she had been a Life Trustee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
owner named an Exemplar of Racing by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
The daughter of Libbie Randon Rice and her husband, William Stamps Farish II
William Stamps Farish II
William Stamps Farish II was a pioneer in East Texas oilfield development, president of Standard Oil and a founding member and president of the American Petroleum Institute...
president of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, Martha Farish was born in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Raised in New York, she studied at The Masters School
The Masters School
The Masters School, known as "Masters", is a private, coeducational boarding school and day college preparatory school located in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Its campus is located near Manhattan in the Hudson Valley in Westchester County...
in Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
and Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (town), New York
Poughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
. In 1939 she married Edward Harriman Gerry (1914-2003), son of Robert L. Gerry, Sr.
Robert L. Gerry, Sr.
Robert Livingston Gerry, Sr. was an American businessman and owner of thoroughbred racehorses.-Biography:Owner of the Aknusti Estate in the Catskill Mountains of New York, adjoining his family's estate at Lake Delaware, New York...
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B17FC3A5A167A93C1AB178FD85F4D8385F9
Marth Farish Gerry was best known as the owner and breeder of three-time American Horse of the Year, Forego
Forego
Forego was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse and Champion Sprinter....
whom she raced under the Lazy F Ranch banner. She was a member of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
, a long-time trustee of the New York Racing Association
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
and of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders...
. In 1974 she was the recipient of the New York Turf Writers Association award as the woman who did the most for racing and was the Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest of 1978.
In 1983, Martha F. Gerry, Allaire du Pont
Allaire du Pont
Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....
, and Penny Chenery
Penny Chenery
Helen Bates "Penny" Chenery Tweedy is an American sportswoman who bred and raced Secretariat, the 1973 winner of the Triple Crown...
became the first women to be admitted as members of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
.
Mrs. Gerry died September 17, 2007 following heart surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital for which she had been a Life Trustee.