A thoroughbred—and metals—man through and through

Oct 01, 2008 | 05:59 AM |

Ask Gary Miller what draws him to the silks-and-saddle world of horse racing and he'll answer in four words the thrill of victory.

During working hours, Asarco LLC's vice president, commercial, is primarily responsible for overseeing sales of the company's full line of products. When the hours are his own, however, he enjoys spending time at the racetrack.

With a program in his back pocket, a pencil behind his ear, a cigar in reach and wearing a baseball cap, Miller is the picture of the classic horse owner. He chooses the trainers but doesn't train the horses himself. He doesn't groom the horses, although occasionally he will wash them, walk them around the track or let his daughter feed the steeds carrots, apples and peppermints.

Miller has owned a stake in more than 50 race horses over his lifetime. "While golf and tennis are fun, as I get older, horse racing gives me the excitement of sports," he said. "Whether your horse is worth $50,000 or $5,000, it's thrilling. There's no way to describe the feeling of watching your horse coming down the stretch with a chance to win the race. It gives you the thrill of playing sports." ....