Veteran Harness Official Walter Bonafice Dies

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Veteran harness racing official Walter R. Bonafice, 74, died at his Vernon, NY, home on Feb. 24 following a lengthy illness.

A prominent representative of the Vernon Downs racing department for more than three decades, Bonafice retired in 1995 as the central New York track's director of racing. He returned as the company's racing secretary on various occasions in recent years, and more recently the Pittsburgh native represented the State of New York as a presiding judge at upstate fair tracks.

Bonafice was employed by several well known harness racing stables, including the Hall of Famer Delvin Miller Stable, before he joined the Vernon Downs racing department in 1961 as an assistant to C. Stuart McLean.

Bonafice also served as the race secretary at harness tracks in Florida (Seminole Raceway and Pompano Park), Massachusetts (Suffolk Downs), Illinois (Aurora Downs), West Virginia (Wheeling Downs), and Canada (Rideau Carleton Raceway).

Bonafice was a charter member and officer of the North America Harness Racing Secretaries' Association, and he held licenses with the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, the U.S. Trotting Association, and the then Canadian Trotting Association.

Bonafice is survived by his wife of 43 years, Marguerite (Peggy) Bonafice; a son, Alex Bonafice of Vernon; a daughter, Julie Bonafice of Syracuse, N.Y.; two sisters, Joan Wages, and Doris (Jack) Lauritzen; and a brother, Robert Bonafice, all of Pittsburgh, Penn.

Calling hours will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 28 at the United Methodist Church in Vernon, followed by a memorial funeral service. He will be laid to rest in the Vernon Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Church, 5230 Seneca Turnpike, in Vernon; the Vernon Fire and Rescue Department; or Hospice and Palliative Care. The Malecki Funeral Home, 23 Front St., in Vernon, made funeral arrangements.

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