Michael Dubb, a hero to backstretch workers at NYRA’s three tracks, is a 58-year-old Long Island real estate developer who built and donated the Belmont Child Care Association’s Anna House and its expansions—a day care center for backstretch workers at Belmont, which opened in 2003.
As if that wasn’t enough, Dubb, who is chairman of the Belmont Child Care Association and a member of the NYRA Board of Directors, has been instrumental in the development and construction of new dormitories for backstretch workers at Saratoga.
“I’m a homebuilder by trade,” he said. “I was so moved by the people in the backstretch and the hard work they do, and the responsible way they are trying to raise their children. They strongly deserve their children to get a firm foundation for when they go out in the real world. It’s just the right thing to do.”
In 1980, Dubb began Beechwood Organization, a small home-building company of which he is now chairman, and now one of the top 100 companies in the country. In the past two decades, Beechwood has developed more than 55 communities, including Meadowbrook Pointe on the former site of Roosevelt Raceway, once the most successful harness track in North America before its demise.
Dubb was NYRA’s leading owner in 2010 with 50 victories and 67 in 2013. He finished second in 2013. In 2014, he won his first Saratoga title with 14 wins in various partnerships, including Michael Caruso.
Caruso, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Caruso Benefits Group, races in the name of Bethlehem Stables.
The 68-year-old native of Newark, N.J., was one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time in high school and college. He went 81-0 at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark and was a three-time state champion. At Lehigh University he was a three-time NCAA champion at the 123-pound weight class. In 2005, he was included as one of the NCAA’s greatest wrestlers of the past 75 years. He is a member of the U.S. Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and a charter member of the Lehigh University Hall of Fame.
He used to accompany his dad on trips to Monmouth Park, and bought his first horse in 1980. His first winner was Mrs. Joe Who.
Caruso was partners with Dubb and Stuart Grant of The Elkstone Group on the outstanding filly Grace Hall, who delivered Caruso’s first Grade I stakes victory as a two-year-old in the 2011 Spinaway at Saratoga.
Gary Aisquith owns Gary Aisquith Bus Lines Inc., in Riva, Md. He frequently partners with Dubb and Caruso on horses they claim.
