Texas Thoroughbred Association announced Saturday that veteran horseman Al Pike has died at age 70 following a battle with cancer.
Pike, alongside his wife of nearly 45 years, Salley, and their son, Colt, operated Pike Racing, a respected consignment business. He is also survived by daughter Chelsey Pike Hooton.
Pike began his equine career in the 1970s as a Quarter Horse trainer in Texas before transitioning to Thoroughbreds with his wife, eventually specializing in pinhooking.
The family’s consignment achieved notable success in recent years, selling the $1.1-million sale-topper at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale — a son of Uncle Mo that Pike had purchased privately after the colt RNA’d for $185,000 at the previous year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.
Pike Racing also sold a daughter of Uncle Mo for $1 million at the 2016 Midlantic May sale.
In 2023, the operation set a record for a Texas Thoroughbred Association sale when consigning the $300,000 sale-topper at the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
The consignment produced three Kentucky Derby starters during Pike’s career, including millionaires Vyjack and Vicar’s in Trouble.
Pike had announced his retirement in April from his position as director of sales and 2-year-old trainer at the Texas-based Highlander Training Center.
“Al Pike was synonymous with Texas sales,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director for TTA Sales. “Everyone knew and respected Al, and together with Salley and Colt they were a vital part of the sale scene here. We are going to miss Al dearly and plan to honor his memory at our next auction.”
