Vanmetter tries to apologize

racist comments

C1 3 and i'm veronica jean seltzer.

A prominent lexington thoroughbred owner and breeder is apologizing after racist comments he made on private social media account were made public.

The backlash to tom vanmeter's comments was swift.... with several organizations saying they won't be doing business with him.

It also prompted vanmeter's son to respond to his father's comments.

Abc 36's monica harkins is live in our studio with tonight's top story at five.

Thomas van meter is a well-known figure in the thoroughbred horse industry.... particularly after one of the horses born on his farm... american pharoah... became a triple crown winner.

But now he's in the spotlight for comments he made in response to a facebook post about boycotting the national football league...the n-f-l vanmeter posted about defunding the national football league... but replaced the word "national" with a racist term that starts with an "n."

Later in the thread... vanmeter added quote: "put 'em back in their cage."

End quote.

Vanmeter is the owner of vanmeter sales and stockplace farm.

The national thoroughbred racing association... jockey club.... and thoroughbred owners and breeders association have all announced they're disassociating themselves from vanmeter.

While keeneland and fasig-tipton condemned the comments on social media... neither have said if they will stop doing business with vanmeter.

Fs txt quote:tom vanmeter statement to thoroughbred daily news ..

" i was wrong and am disgusted by my act ... today... the thoroughbred daily news published a statement from vanmeter.

It said, in part: " i was wrong and am disgusted by my actions.

Contrary to what these comments might suggest, in no way do those responses represent my true feelings towards my friends and community members of color."

Fs txt quote:tom vanmeter statement to thoroughbred daily news ..

"i am hopeful all the industry stakehold ... he goes on to say: "i am hopeful all the industry stakeholders and the community at large can forgive me.

I can and will do better."

Fs txt quote:griffith vanmeter on facebook: ..

..

"his racism is a conversation i wanted to have with him ... in a facebook post.... vanmeter's son griffith says he's glad his father's comments were made public, saying it hurts him that someone he loves is so misguided and quote: "his racism is a conversation i wanted to have with him for over 20 years but never had the courage to start.

Fs txt quote:griffith vanmeter on facebook: ..

"i hope my dad can unlearn the racism that was taught to hi ... he goes on to say: i hope my dad can unlearn the racism that was taught to him and that he later taught to me.

Luckily, my dad will have that opportunity and i will do my part to support him on his anti-racism journey.

Tom vanmeter says... as gesture of goodwill... he has made a donation to the n-double-a-c-p i'm monica harkins... abc 36 news.

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