Jim Ward, 64, a retired, long-time jockey's valet, died Sunday, Dec. 4 in Frankfort, Ky.
Ward, husband of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission equine medical director Mary Scollay, had worked as a jockey valet at racetracks in Illinois, Louisiana, and Florida.
A Memorial Mass will be said by Father Tom of St. Thomas of Villanova, at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec 18. A celebration of Jim's life will follow. Ward was born Aug. 31, 1952 in Chicago Heights, Ill.
Arrangements are pending for a similar celebration in Kentucky at a later date.
In the Lexington Herald-Leader obituary it was noted that, "Family and friends will miss his generous heart, fierce loyalty, and one-of-a-kind laugh. His was a life well-lived and for that he was well-loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund or Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm.