Born in Haverford, Pa., Adele Warden Paxson began riding horses at age six and developed into an accomplished sidesaddle rider. She and her late husband enjoyed fox hunting and were joint masters of foxhounds of Huntington Valley Hunt. Mrs. Paxson, who was named Pennsylvania's breeder of 1981, owned Elm Grove Stable. She dispersed her racing and breeding stock in 2000.
Prominent breeder-owner Mrs. Henry D. Paxson, who earned an Eclipse Award as leading breeder of 1980, died Dec. 27 at a Doylestown, Pa., hospital from complications from pneumonia. She was 87.Mrs. Paxson's top runner over the years was co-champion Candy Eclair. As a 2-year-old in 1978, homebred Candy Eclair won all five of her races, including the Selima Stakes (gr. I). She earned a career total of $403,845, and produced homebred stakes winner Candy Native.Mrs. Paxson's other added-money winners included Heavenly Ade, whose big win came in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) in track-record time of 2:00 for 1 1/4 miles. Heavenly Ade is the granddam of Pennsylvania Derby (gr. III) winner Devil's Honor.
