Laurel Park is saddened to announce the death of retired trainer John Salzman Sr., who passed away yesterday at the age of 81. Salzman began his training career in 1978, secured his first win in 1979, and retired in 2025 with an impressive record of 828 victories and over $16 million in purse earnings.
Among Salzman’s most notable horses was Xtra Heat, a daughter of Dixieland Heat out of Begin, by Hatchet Man. Purchased as a yearling for just $5,000, Salzman, along with partners Kenneth Taylor and Harry Deitchman, guided her to an extraordinary career. Known for her speed, Xtra Heat won 26 of 35 starts, including 11 graded stakes events. She claimed the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap twice at Laurel and the Grade 3 Endine Stakes at Delaware, in addition to winning the prestigious Grade 1 Prioress Stakes on July 4, 2001.
In a December 2000 interview with the Washington Post’s John Scheinman, Salzman outlined Xtra Heat’s rigorous three-year-old campaign preparing for the Prioress. “I’m not letting up on her,” Salzman commented following her victory in the Kattegat’s Pride Stakes at Laurel Park. “She’s getting 30 days, six weeks between races. Putting a horse like her out in the field is asking for trouble. She won’t stop running. I check her four or five mornings a week, and she eats everything.” After the Prioress win, he praised her, saying, “She’s as good as they got. She can’t prove much more than she did today.”
Xtra Heat narrowly missed first place in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and finished third in the Grade 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen the next year. With 25 black-type stakes wins, she set the record for fillies and mares, was honored as the champion 3-year-old filly in 2001, and retired in 2003 with earnings totaling $2,389,635. Xtra Heat was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015.
Salzman was widely recognized for his skill with 2-year-old horses. According to a 1994 Daily Racing Form article by Tom Atwell, Salzman initially worked rubbing horses for the late Tex Anderson. About 25 years ago, he began achieving wins independently and started traveling to Florida each winter to purchase promising 2-year-olds, demonstrating a keen eye for talent and turning those prospects into winners and stakes winners. Salzman recalled in a 1992 Daily Racing Form interview, “The first horse I bought was Noble Holme, and he made $250,000, back when that was quite a bit of money.”
In 1992, Salzman’s 2-year-old Lord of the Bay captured the Grade 3 Laurel Futurity, and he also trained Tee Kay to victory in the Grade 3 Martha Washington Stakes at Laurel in 1994. His last win came with Happy Hour Joker at Laurel on April 13, 2025.
Salzman’s influence on the sport continues through his family. His son, John Salzman Jr., is an accomplished trainer based in Maryland, and his daughter-in-law, Megan, achieved her first win as a trainer on September 13. Megan is the widow of Salzman Sr.’s son, Tim, who recently passed away after bravely battling cancer.
This tribute first appeared in the Paulick Report’s News section on September 29, 2026.
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Fan Take: John Salzman Sr.’s legacy reminds us why dedicated trainers are so vital to the fabric of horse racing, shaping champions who captivate fans and inspire future generations. His story of success with overlooked talent like Xtra Heat exemplifies the heart of the sport—passion, perseverance, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
