Peter D. Tattersall's World
The Author's Family
Horses Run in the Family

Peter D. Tattersall, 33 years a licensed thoroughbred trainer is not the only horseman (women) in the family. Tattersall’s wife and three sisters are deeply involved in equine pursuits. Wife Nell, after graduating from Hollins College, spent many years in Aiken (SC) galloping horses for some of the top trainers in the country. She was a fixture at the Kentucky and Saratoga sales venues. Nell trained under her own license once putting over a $106 winner at Colonial Downs in Virginia.

The Tattersall's at Suffolk Downs Race Course.

She has developed the Blue Chip Breeders Sire Index which assigns a Grade I numerical index to sires based on their family’s Grade I performance for the past 50 years. It will be available to the public in 2009.

Peter’s sister Kay Steffee was married to the late Jed Steffee. They too were fixtures at tracks and sales nationwide for 40 years. She has two sons, Jed and Sean, both trainers.

Peter and Nell with Alert the Lieutenant – Cherokee Moon in Or Else...!

Kay’s passion for thoroughbreds is nearly equaled by her interest in flowers. For 25 years she’s been an elite judge at the nation’s top flower shows such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta. She’s won the Garden Club of America’s Beattie Medal as the club’s top horticulturist six times.

Another sister, Dr. Mary Tattersall O’Brien, a medical doctor for over 40 years is a thoroughbred owner and breeder and is one of Virginia’s most devoted foxhunters. She currently whips-in three times a week with author Rita Mae Brown’s Oak Ridge Hounds of Nelson County, traveling from her family home in Staunton.

Dr. Mary Tattersall O'Brien hunting on
"Hardy" with favorite hound "Poppy".
McIntyre Photography

Patients are never surprised to see “Dr. Mary” during office hours attired in hunting boots, britches, a white medical coat and ‘scope around her neck before or after hunting. Her beloved gray hunter “Hardy” patiently waits in a trailer outside her office.

More About the Author's Family

Peter D. Tattersall, Jr., the author’s son is a well traveled journalist. After free lancing for New Orleans papers for several years, he was “cops&courts” reporter for the Daily Iberian (La.). An ardent sailor, Pete took his sailboat and writing career to the island Tortola (BWI) for the BVI Beacon, where he again was a police reporter covering several islands.

For the last five years he’s been the entertainment editor and columnist for the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s, Sun Herald. With more than a dozen casinos to cover his interview credits read like a Who’s Who in entertainment. Pete was a member of the staff awarded the Pulitzer Gold Medal for Journalism following Hurricane Katrina.

The author's grandchildren: Lillie, Davis, Wilson, Kate and Caroline Grant.

Peter and his wife Heather live in Uptown New Orleans. The ninety mile daily commute to the offices of the Sun Herald gives him plenty of time to work on future projects such as his first novel.

Daughter Nolan and her husband Chip, a interventialional cardiologist at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans have five children, the is eldest Wilson (10). He is followed by Lilly (8), Davis (6), Caroline (4) and Kate(2)

Tom Tattersall (16) is the author's youngest of three children. He's a 10th grader at Staunton Virginia's R.E. Lee High School. At 6-4, 205 pounds, Tom 's one of the longest hitters where ever he plays. He's a long time  pupil of Florida's famous Herb Triplett, who has coached many PGA Tour veterans. Tom made All-District, All- Regional and made State Tournament for his individual after shooting a 75 the Regionals. He plays regularly out of Country Club of Staunton and competes on both the Roanoke Ally Junior Tour and Plantations National Junior Tour. He carries a 2.6 handicap from the men's championship tees at CCS. He hopes to play at either Florida, LSU or Clemson after Lee High.