Friends and business acquaintances gathered Dec. 13 to celebrate the life of Sam Huff, the Pro Football Hall of Famer who also made a significant impact on the Thoroughbred industry in West Virginia. Huff died Nov. 13 in Winchester, Va.
"Sam Huff saved the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in West Virginia," said West Virginia Racing Commission chairman Ken Lowe at Monday's gathering of 150 acquaintances at the Middleburg Community Center in Middleburg, Va.
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Lowe read an official resolution honoring Huff from the West Virginia Racing Commission that read in part:
"Sam Huff's efforts grew the West Virginia Breeders Classics into a premier event, bringing local and national television coverage to showcase the State of West Virginia, Jefferson County, Charles Town, and the hard-working people of the racing and breeding industries of West Virginia … The West Virginia Racing Commission would like to issue this resolution in honor of Sam Huff for his support, contributions, and unwavering dedication to the Thoroughbred racing industry, the West Virginia Racing Commission, and the State of West Virginia."
In addition to starting the West Virginia Breeders Classics, Huff and Carol Holden co-hosted a syndicated weekly radio show called "Trackside" for many years on their Middleburg Broadcasting Network.
The 35th edition of the West Virginia Breeders Classics, an event co-founded by Holden and Huff in 1987, was held Oct. 9, 2021. The event has now generated more than $29 million in purses for the breeders and horsemen of West Virginia. In recent years, Huff served as the chairman emeritus; Holden still serves as president.
Lowe was one of several speakers at the service, which was held just a few furlongs from the farm where Huff lived with his longtime partner Holden.
Among them was J.W. Marriott Jr., the 89-year-old executive chairman of Marriott International, who fondly recalled Huff's long association with the company as the vice president for special markets. He told a story about Huff's persistent request for one of the parking spots at Marriott headquarters that were reserved for Marriott board members.
Shortly after Mr. Marriott granted Huff's wish, several other vice presidents complained. So, Mr. Marriott told those who complained that those spots were reserved "for board members and anyone else in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
Leonard Shapiro, a former sports writer and editor at The Washington Post, who co-authored Huff's autobiography "Tough Stuff," talked about Huff's upbringing in a coal mining camp near Farmington, W.Va.
Frank Herzog, one of Huff's longtime radio broadcast partners covering Washington's National Football League team, shared tales of their time together in press boxes across the country (Huff spent more than 30 years as a broadcaster for the team).
Keith McIntosh, a regional representative for Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, also made some remarks to attendees.
The service also featured a video highlighting Huff's coal mine experience, his popularity as a member of the New York Giants, and the cover story on him in TIME magazine.
Also in attendance was trainer Graham Motion, who trained Huff's multiple graded stakes-winning filly Bursting Forth.
The service concluded with some personal remarks from Huff's grandson Robert Lee Huff III and music provided by the Mount Pisgah Baptist Church's gospel chorus.
Contributions in Huff's name may be made to Aftercare Charles Town, P.O. Box 136, Ranson, WV 25438. The 501(c)(3) organization is responsible for re-homing Thoroughbred racehorses that have raced at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
