Willow Ridge Farms

Based in Norman, Okla., Willow Ridge Farms dominated the American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park in the early 2000s, winning six consecutive leading owner titles.

The impressive run of success by Willow Ridge Farms started with the new millennium, winning 11 races and gaining their first seasonal trophy as leading owner in 2000. That season was just a preview of things to come as it would be another five Quarter Horse meets at Remington Park before the Willow Ridge Farms name was not on top of the standings.

Founded and owned by Domer “Jay” Scaramucci, Willow Ridge Farms came about from an original act of kindness and support. Scaramucci had a friend from early in his life who was a horse trainer, based at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla. The trainer had most of his operation destroyed by a fire. When he reached out to see how he could help, Scaramucci found out his friend needed horses so he could continue his racing business. Scaramucci purchased a couple of horses to help rebuild his friend’s training endeavor, entering the sport of horse racing in the process.

Success in the family business afforded Scaramucci the ability to grow his horse racing interests. A graduate of Del City High School, Scaramucci served in the Air Force Reserve while helping to develop Balon. A family valve manufacturing enterprise founded by his father, Domer, in 1965, Balon grew with hard work and support from Scaramucci, his mother Ilene and his brother Phil. Located in south Oklahoma City, Balon now employs more than 1,000 people and produces industrial valves for many sectors, including oil and gas production, among others.

Scaramucci eventually purchased Willow Ridge Farms, named descriptively for an area of the property with willow trees. The horse racing operation, focused primarily with Quarter Horses but also included Thoroughbreds. Along with ownership, Willow Ridge Farms became very involved with breeding. At the height of its success, close to 200 horses were flying the green, gold and red colors of Willow Ridge, either on the farm or at racetracks.

After winning their first leading owner title at Remington Park, Willow Ridge easily increased their win total in 2001, scoring 18 times and setting a new record for wins by an owner. That mark has yet to be seriously challenged, decades later.

The Remington Park owner titles continued in 2002 and 2003 with nine wins both seasons. In 2004, Willow Ridge Farms won 11 races then picked up a smaller total of seven in 2005, still good enough to earn the title in what was the final in the streak of six seasons. Scaramucci credits many people on the Willow Ridge Farms team for the enjoyed success but lauds Janis Scaramucci, John and Jennifer Beall, and Jerry Wilkinson as those most responsible for the accumulation of titles and trophies through the years.

The sports landscape in Oklahoma changed dramatically in 2008 when the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association arrived. While still involved in horse racing and breeding, the competitive drive Scaramucci focused solely on Willow Ridge Farms was now expanded to the highest level of sports with the opportunity to become one of the primary owners of the Thunder.

Top horses over the years for Willow Ridge Farms include American Quarter Horses De Elegant Denim who was second in the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity in 2005 at Remington Park. Also, De Elegant Oscar, winner of the Grade 3 Windy City Dash in 2002 at Arlington Park in Chicago.

The top Thoroughbreds for Willow Ridge Farms include No Lak of Speed, in the money in back-to-back efforts of the Remington Park Turf Sprint in 2020 and 2021, also third in the 2020 Oklahoma Classics Sprint; and No Lak of Silver, the dam of No Lak of Speed who was stakes-placed, earning $114,502 before becoming a quality producer.