John Salzman was a remarkable person, he came from humble beginnings and gained the respect of horsemen worldwide as he bought inexpensive (not cheap) horses and developed them into superior runners. His best known feat was buying Xtra Heat and turning her into a champion and an inductee into the Hall Of Fame. He did this over and over again, so it wasn't a fluke with one horse. We used to send him horses we couldn't sell for one reason or an other (crooked, bad Xrays, etc) and he did an incredible job getting them to win early and ultimately get sold. A lot of our success is directly due to John's innate ability to get the most out of every horse.We have great memories of John and cherish the friendship we developed over the years. One year when he was getting ready to go to Dubai with Xtra Heat, he asked me to come along and it was right when the war had broken out and I told him he was insane. He laughed and said she's super fast, so we can ride double and get out of there if necessary. He always had a quick comeback. Once we had an “inexpensive” 2-year-old in a stakes at Pimlico and the commentators were going on and on about another horse and how it was leaps and bounds the best and also the best looking, etc., and John wryly said “it's a damn good thing horses can't read.” Our colt won the stakes and to this day I often repeat John's saying.This past spring, John called about a horse that was having some soundness issues and he was perplexed about options and asked me what to do. I suggested an old fashion remedy and when I saw John Jr. at Laurel for the Preakness, he told me his dad's horse had won and how much they appreciated my suggestion. That was as meaningful as watching Napolean Solo win the big race for another trainer friend.Besides his accomplishment as a trainer who taught his trade to his sons, Timmy and John Jr, he was a family man and he was proud of everything his family accomplished.We were driving home from Keeneland and read that John Jr. had won a stakes at Charles Town for his dad and I was going to call him, but John Jr. contacted me and told me the sad news. John went out a winner, which was no surprise to anyone that knew him. John Salzman lived life his way, not trying to impress anyone, but always living up to his own standards. Condolences to Nancy and John Jr.Savor the memories and the good times! I sure willThe post Letter to the Editor: Salzman ‘Always Lived Up to His Standards’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.