Andy Willinger

Co-owner Andy Willinger told harnessracing.com Wednesday morning that Lis Mara has been retired from racing after posting 27 victories-a record 16 in 1:50 or better-and earning $2,122,376 over his four-year career.
...
Although it was first hoped Lis Mara would make his final start in the upcoming American National at Balmoral Park, Willinger said the decision to call it a career came following the 5-year-old son of Cambest's seventh-place finish in the Gold Cup Invitational last Saturday night at Woodbine.
...
"It's time; he's ready to go to his next career (as a stud)," said Willinger.
...
"He's built 15 houses in Haiti and I'm sure he'll build some more," said Willinger.
...
The most blessed ride you could ever have," said Willinger.
...
Willinger said among the first horses Lis Mara will be bred to is the MJG-owned Worldly Beauty and Little Miss K.
...
If he can stamp himself on his foals he is going to be a wonderful stallion," said Willinger.

Cheering the winner home was co-owner Andy Willinger."Lis Mara goes to the breeding farm next year," Willinger said, "so we're trying to win every race we're in."

Cheering the winner home was co-owner Andy Willinger of Louisville, Ky.
...
"Lis Mara goes to the breeding farm next year," co-owner Willinger said.

Cheering the winner home was co-owner Andy Willinger of Louisville, Ky.
...
"Lis Mara goes to the breeding farm next year," Willinger said, "so we're trying to win every race we're in."

On the whole, Andy Willinger would rather be in Philadelphia.
...
But Willinger won't be able to attend the race because of a family vacation planned last year.

"I'll be watching from Hawaii," Willinger said, frowning.
...
"He's a heck of a blessing, that's all I can say about him," said Willinger, who owns Lis Mara with the MJG Racing Stables.
...
Willinger, from Kentucky, is the CFO for a company that distributes Cummins engines in the Southeast and was one of the original owners of Lis Mara, who was purchased as a yearling for $12,000.
...
"We felt like brothers on the phone that first day," Willinger said, referring to his conversation with Gulotta.
...
"I can't help but say ‘blessing;' meeting Mike and having them buy into the partnership," Willinger said.

On the whole, Andy Willinger would rather be in Philadelphia.
...
But Willinger won't be able to attend the race because of a family vacation planned last year.

"I'll be watching from Hawaii," Willinger said, frowning.
...
"He's a heck of a blessing, that's all I can say about him," said Willinger, who owns Lis Mara with the MJG Racing Stables.
...
Willinger, from Kentucky, is the CFO for a company that distributes Cummins engines in the Southeast and was one of the original owners of Lis Mara, who was purchased as a yearling for $12,000.
...
"We felt like brothers on the phone that first day," Willinger said, referring to his conversation with Gulotta.
...
"I can't help but say 'blessing;' meeting Mike and having them buy into the partnership," Willinger said.

Andy Willinger grew up loving night harness racing at Louisville Downs and bought into his first racehorse as a 21-year-old Bellarmine student.
...
"Sconce was a champion in my eyes," said Willinger, the long-time chief financial officer of Cummins Cumberland."But to win the highest-level honors, you don't even think of that."

Sconce, trained by Louisville Downs veteran Wilson Witten, got Willinger hooked on ownership.
...
"After Louisville Downs died, a lot of people don't want to drive nine hours to see their horse race," Willinger said.
...
"We loved his bloodlines and frankly thought he'd be a $100,000 yearling," Willinger said.
...
Willinger was at his daughter Meggie's softball game in 2003 when McNeil called to say he'd bought the Cambest colt they thought they couldn't afford.
...
But I do have two people here willing to give us an immediate profit,' " recalled Willinger, who sped off with Meggie in tow."I quickly got to Lexington, got him out of the stall and said, 'Well, he's perfect.Let's have some fun.' So we told the gentlemen, 'Sorry, he's not for sale.' "

Willinger can only surmise why the price was so low: Cambest stands in Kentucky, and the Kentucky Sires Stake program then was so paltry that Kentucky-sired horses lacked commercial appeal.

"The neat thing is that Cambests get better with age," he said.
...
Then out of the blue, Willinger and his partners at the time received a substantial offer to sell the horse.
...
Making the Breeders Crown even more memorable was that Willinger and his wife, Reggie, had their six kids -- ages 2 to 24 -- all in the winner's circle for the first time.

"To get them all together with jobs, college and whatever is very difficult," he said.Now with the bug of a champion, Willinger is thinking even higher for 2007: Horse of the Year.

"We didn't have quite a Horse of the Year campaign.But I think we had a Pacer of the Year campaign," he said of 2006, adding, "If we can stay sound and healthy I really think there's a chance he could do something extremely special."
...
Five-year-old pacer Lis Mara, with co-owner Andy Willinger and his daughter Meggie, finished 2006 at 10-5-1 in 17 races and earned nearly $1 million.

Co-owner Andy Willinger, the 47-year-old CFO of a company that distributes Cummins engines in the southeast region and a horse owner for 26 years, seems to be a kindred spirit to Gulotta.
...
"Andy Willinger has five children of his own and just recently adopted a little girl from China," the 55-year-old Gulotta explained.
...
"The co-owner, Andy Willinger, and I get along as if we've know each for 20 years.It's simpatico.