SHAKOPEE, MN – Prominent Minnesota owner/breeder Bob Lothenbach passed in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 64.

Bob Lothenbach (Coady Photography)

While Lothenbach was a successful entrepreneur, he wasn’t born on third base and thought he hit a triple, he worked hard and parlayed $1800, a borrowed printing press and an empty garage into multi-million-dollar printing empire and never forgot where he came from.

At his 2023 induction ceremony to the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame, Lothenbach harkened back to the early days and recounted his journey.

“For a kid that grew up in Bloomington, five of us in a small house, to get here has really been something,” a clearly emotional Lothenbach said.

When Lothenbach was sixteen and seventeen he would beg off family trips to the cabin because he “had to work.”  The reality was that he would head to Chicago for the weekend and go to the races at Sportsman’s Park.

“Nothing was more special to me than racing,” he recalled,

Lothenbach used his success to set up the Lothenbach Family Foundation that focused on literacy issues after struggling with school and reading all his life. The Foundation has given generously throughout the years and had a large hand in the expansion of the Furlong Learning program for the kids of backstretch workers at Canterbury Park.

“Bob was involved in racing at Canterbury for many years and prominent at the national level,” recalled Canterbury Park CEO, Randy Sampson. “More recently, when he decided to play a bigger role in breeding in Minnesota, he pulled no punches. His success and leading owner titles were well earned and his support of racing in the state would be difficult to overstate.”

Lothenbach’s passing was felt throughout the Minnesota racing community.

“Bob Lothenbach was on a mission to spread the love of the animals and the excitement of our industry,” said Minnesota Thoroughbred Association President, Cameron Mahlum. “His commitment to the improved quality of Minnesota racing was evident and a benefit to all. His devotion and smile will be missed by the MTA and all racing fans.”

Lothenbach Stables Inc’s career statistics, according to Equibase, is 4,747 starts with 793 wins and total earnings of $30,289,130. His top horses include two-time Minnesota owned Horse of the Year, Bell’s the One, and two-time Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Champion, Charlie’s Penny.

“Looking back on this summer when Bob was inducted into the Canterbury Hall of Fame,” remembered Sampson, “I realize how fortunate we were to share that moment with him as it was very evident that it meant a lot to Bob.”

Lothenbach’s emphasis in that emotional induction speech was not only the joy of racing, but how special it was to be able to share the moment with his children and family.

“Bob was always, first and foremost, a fan,” said Mahlum. “He will be dearly missed and all of us at the MTA send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bob.”