Just eight days shy of his 101st birthday, Harold Gross, who owned, trained and bred horses, primarily in Michigan, passed away on Jan. 4.Gross was born in Germany in 1925 before his family emigrated to the Dominican Republic. He later spent time in Haiti before he moved to the U.S. as a teenager, settling in Detroit.Gross' life involved far more than horse racing. Gross was a World War II veteran and took part in D-Day Invasion, storming Normandy Beach. Because he spoke fluent German and French, he was used as an interpreter at the Nuremberg Trials. Before the Nuremberg Trials, he was a key figure in the field of Military Intelligence, using his language skills to interrogate German prisoners. He was drafted into the Army at the age of 18.On Jan. 15, 2025, Gross was recognized in the Congressional Record-Extension of Remarks, by Congressman Darren Soto of Florida.“Harold Gross' 100 years are a testament to resilience, love, and the enduring spirit of a veteran who has lived life to the fullest. His story inspires those around him, a beacon of wisdom and joy,” Soto said upon the occasion of Gross' 100th birthday.Gross was introduced to horses by his grandfather, who was a horse trader in Germany, and chose racing as his field following World War II and his return to Michigan.In the fifties, Gross and his wife, Elaine, bought their first horse, and he continued to stay active in ths business for nearly 65 years. According to Equibase, Gross started his last horse as a trainer in 2011 and the last horse he owned raced in 2023. Gross was 98 at the time. He was a longtime member of the Michigan Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association.The Gross family also opened the “Boot and Saddle Shop,” a horse supply and saddlery store. The store was based in Farmington, Michigan, but Gross branched out and opened stores on the backstretches of racetracks in Michigan and Illinois.When asked the secret to Gross' longevity, his daughter, Marci Powell, said: “He was a runner himself and always kept fit. He always ate right. He took care of himself and he taught me to make sure I stayed healthy.” The post At Age 100, Horseman, World War II Vet, Harold Gross Has Passed Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.