July 2020 Member of the Month: George Krikorian

George Krikorian is the TOBA July Member of the Month.

MMovie theater mogul George Krikorian is seeing (super)stars with Honor A.P. Bred in Kentucky by Krikorian, Honor A.P. finished second in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita before capturing the June 6 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1).

At the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale, the Honor Code colt sold for $850,000 to current owners CRK Stable. Krikorian originally purchased Honor A.P.’s dam, Hollywood Story (by Wild Rush), for $130,000 at the 2002 Fasig-Tipton July sale.

Krikorian came by his love of the game honestly. His father, George Sr., trained horses in the 1960s and ’70s. “I grew up about a mile from Rockingham Park, actually,” said the younger Krikorian, “so I spent my whole life around the horses pretty much.” The now-defunct Salem, New Hampshire oval served as a backdrop to much of his childhood. Asked what his dad taught him, Krikorian quipped, “Well, he tried to teach me not to buy any horses, but I didn’t listen. To be honest with you, I spent more time in the grandstand than I did in the backside walking horses when I was a kid.”

Krikorian built a career in real estate and commercial development before founding Krikorian Premiere Theaters in 1984. But he never lost sight of horses. “I would go to the races, to Hollywood Park, usually once a week with friends, midweek, for a number of years,” he said, “but that was just to watch and bet on the horses. And then when my parents retired, they moved out here to California and I got them box seats at Del Mar so they could enjoy the races and I would sit there with them, bored to death, watching the races.” After seeing Mike Pegram in the winner’s circle, he realized he wanted a similar experience.

Over the last 20 years, Krikorian has stood in the winner’s circle many times. He raced the aforementioned Hollywood Story to victories in the 2003 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1) and Vanity Invitational Handicap (G1). Krikorian bought a Dynaformer filly for $35,000, named her Starrer, and campaigned her to millionaire status and two grade 1 wins. Other Krikorian runners include graded winners Makeup Artist, half-siblings Big Score and Mucho Unusual, and Freedom Star. Krikorian also stands the Dynaformer stallion Mr. Big. Besides Big Score, Mr. Big’s stakes winners are Krikorian-breds Big Returns and Big Sweep; the latter took the May 16 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita.

At his Starwood Farm near Versailles, Ky., Krikorian currently has about 60 broodmares and as many weanlings, several yearlings, and 25 horses in training (15 of which are juveniles). Of Hollywood Story, Krikorian said, “I know the stallions always get the credit and I think it’s unfair; actually, the mares have a lot to do with what’s produced, and she stamps them. All her horses, they all look beautiful, they act so proper, and they’re smart and they have great attitudes. And they’ve been very well-received in the auctions, so she’s done it all.” Hollywood Story has also foaled stakes winner Miss Hollywood (by Malibu Moon), plus two stakes-placed runners. Dam of a Curlin yearling and Tapit weanling, she is carrying a Justify colt.

Honor A.P. made his red-carpet debut on March 13, 2017. Krikorian recalled, “From the time he hit the ground, he had four white legs and a big splash on his face. He stood out, because—I would say, shortly after he was foaled, and he’d be out in the field—he was oversized.” He added, “I always called him ‘The Flash’ because he just stood out so much with his coloring and his attitude and everything. He was just gorgeous to look at, and as he grew and every time I’d look at him, he just looked better and better.”

Honor A.P.’s success came as a welcome surprise. “Well, it’s not something that I was ever pointing for, because I think having a horse that can compete potentially in the Kentucky Derby [G1] is something that just has to find its own way,” Krikorian commented. “It just kind of happens. And so this is really special, that he’s in this position now.”

Previously secretary-treasurer for Thoroughbred Owners of California, Krikorian was appointed to the California Horse Racing Board in 2013. Of the role, which he held for more than five years, Krikorian recalled, “I really enjoyed the experience. It was very challenging and there’s a lot of things that need to be done to better horse racing and I’m sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in getting more things done during the time I was able to serve.” Giving back to the equine community means a lot. He added, “It’s a lot of work but it’s for a good cause, doing those things, so I’m glad I got to have that opportunity.”