Longtime owner and breeder of champions: The famous green and yellow stripes of Bob and Beverly Lewis are a common sight in the winner's circle of major stakes events. Silver Charm and Charismatic won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Serena's Song retired as the richest distaffer in history with over $3.2 million in earnings and 17 graded stakes wins. In the Breeders' Cup, Orientate took the 2002 Sprint, while Folklore won the 2005 Juvenile Fillies. They earned the Eclipse Award of Merit in 1997.
Background information: Bob and Beverly Lewis met while attending the University of Oregon, hence their green and yellow stable colors. They owned and operated the Foothill Beverage Company, California's second largest beer distributor. Bob was in attendance with his family at Santa Anita's opening weekend, which kicked off a lifelong involvement with the sport. They entered the ownership game in 1990 after dabbling in partnerships for years. Alone or in partnership they raced 50 stakes winners, 7 of them homebreds.
Other accomplishments: Along with their Eclipse Award of Merit in 1997, they also were awarded the Big Sport of Turfdom award by the Turf Publicists of America in 1995. Silver Charm is the only Kentucky Derby winner to win the Dubai World Cup, while Timber Country is the only Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to win a Triple Crown race (the 1995 Preakness). They donated $5 million to the Pomona Valley Hospital to build the Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center in 1993.
Bob Lewis passed away on February 17, 2006 of heart failure: After complications from kidney dialysis treatments, Bob Lewis died at his home in Newport Beach, CA. Son Jeff said in a statement, "He went very peacefully. We brought him home last Saturday. He wanted to come home. He didn't want to spend his final days in the hospital. He was resting comfortably and peacefully. He had his family around him when he passed away. He had a wonderful life, and we'll miss him tremendously." He leaves wife Beverly and children Jeff, Nancy and Jimmy.
