California Turf Writer Debra Ginsburg Dead

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(From the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association)

Debra Ginsburg, who turned her passion for horses into a writing career for California Thoroughbred, died June 30 at St. Agnes Hospital after a relatively short illness. She was 51.

Ginsburg, who was reared in the Central Valley and rode horses as a child at Ram Tap Stables, had owned three horses, and was introduced to California Thoroughbred when given a subscription by her grandparents.

She graduated from Bullard High School in Fresno in 1973, received an English degree at the University of Pacific and a Masters in journalism at San Diego State, and began her career in the media office of the Los Angeles County Fair.

Ginsburg joined California Thoroughbred in October of 1985 and had her work published for the first time in the magazine's November 1985 issue. She continued writing through April this year.

Over the past two decades, she had chronicled every major California-bred runner, as well as leading breeders and farms throughout the state. She became a familiar face at local auctions and worked tirelessly in support of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the state's racing industry.

In a recent note to the CTBA, Ginsburg's mother, Myrna, wrote: "This truly was a lifelong dream of hers to work with this organization. As you know this job has provided her with many opportunities, realized dreams, challenges and rewards and the ability to meet with many interesting people across the country. I am very humbled from the amount of mail and calls we have received from those she has met, interviewed, written about, and touched -- wishing her well."

Ginsburg is survived by her parents Brian and Myrna, a brother and sister.

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