Gainesway owner Beck dead

Graham Beck, the owner of Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, died in

London on Tuesday after brief battle with cancer, according to published

reports. He was 80.

A native of Cape South, South Africa, Beck's commercial interests ranged

from coal mining to wine making as well as boat manufacturing. He began his

involvement with Thoroughbreds in the 1970s, ultimately owning both Highlands

Farm Stud in South Africa and Gainesway. He purchased the latter in 1989 from

John Gaines and in recent years served as its chairman. The 1,500-acre Gainesway

property now includes the former Greentree and C.V. Whitney farms.

Under Beck's leadership, Gainesway bred the 2002 champion sprinter Orientate,

now a stallion at Gainesway, and also campaigned in partnership the champion and

classic winner Timber Country. Gainesway's current roster of stallions includes

Birdstone, Mr. Greeley, Tapit, Afleet Alex, Smoke Glacken and Corinthian.

Beck, who will be buried in Israel on Friday, is survived by his wife Rhona

and son Antony, who serves as Gainesway's president.