Owner Dwight Sutherland Dead

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Dwight Sutherland, who was a part owner of such grade I winners as Favorite Trick, Gentlemen, Sister Act, and Puerto Madero, died on his 81st birthday, Oct. 25, of a heart condition at a Kansas City, Mo., hospital.

A Kansas City native, Sutherland raced Sister Act with his son, Perry, in the name of their Choctaw Racing Stable in a partnership with others. Sister Act scored her big win in the 1999 Hempstead Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Sutherland's connection with Gentlemen and Puerto Madero came through fellow Kansas native and owner R.D. Hubbard. One of the top older runners following his arrival from Argentine in 1996, Gentlemen won three grade I stakes while based in Southern California. Puerto Madero's big win for the partnership came in the 1999 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park. Sutherland bought into Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year, during the horse's racing career.

One of Sutherland's favorite runners was Hot Jaws. Claimed by Sutherland for $25,000 in 1993 at Oaklawn Park, Hot Jaws won the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) there two years later for Choctaw. Choctaw also campaigned additional graded stakes winner For Rubies.

At the time of his death, Sutherland was a member of The Jockey Club and on the board of trustees of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and a member of the latter organization's collections committee.

A World War II veteran, Sutherland joined his family's Sutherland Lumber Company after the war and served for a time as chief executive officer. He also had business interests in ranching, plus oil and gas exploration.

In addition to Perry, Sutherland's survivors include his wife, Norma: sons Dwight Jr. and Todd; and a daughter, Martha.

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