Trainer Richie Scherer Dies at Age 53
Trainer Richie Scherer, who enjoyed success at tracks throughout the Midwest and in his native Louisiana, died May 20 at age 53.
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Rowand Shared His Experiences Owning, Breeding Horses
George Rowand, a man who embraced—and for a moment, lived—the Thoroughbred dream as completely as almost anyone, passed away last week.
Owner-Breeder Bertram Klein Dies
Bertram Klein, who had much success as a breeder and owner along with his late wife, Elaine, and son, Richard, died March 24.
Retired Jockey Agent Verrone Dies at 93
Verrone worked at numerous racetracks throughout the country representing riders for more than 60 years, among them Bill Hartack, Paul Kallai, Nick Santagata, and Danny Nied.
Prominent Ohio Breeder George Smith Dies at 84
George A. Smith, an Ohio breeder and owner who had a major impact on the state's racing program, has passed away at the age of 84 at Kettering Medical Center after a sudden illness.
Brook Ledge Agent Gerkin Dies at 74
Robert Gerkin, a Brook Ledge employee affectionately known throughout the racing industry as 'Pickles,' died Jan. 21. He was 74.
Pinhook Pioneer Clyde Rice Dies at 79
Florida pinhooking and 2-year-old in training sale pioneer Clyde D. Rice, 79, passed away Jan. 30 at his home at Indian Prairie Ranch near Anthony, Fla.
New York trainer/breeder DiSanto Dies at 62
Glenn DiSanto was an avid supporter of aftercare programs.
Keeneland Sales Team Member Rouk Dies
Dale Stewart Rouk, 79, a member of the Keeneland sales team for more than 40 years until his retirement in 2009, died Jan. 1, 2017, in Burleson, Texas.
'King of the Fairs' Figueroa Dies at Age 88
Carlos R. Figueroa, a longtime New England trainer and the self-styled "King of the Fairs," passed away Jan. 3 in New Hampshire from complications of pneumonia. He was 88.
Country Life Farm Matriarch Mary Jo Pons Dies at 87
Mary Jo Pons, matriarch of Maryland's Country Life Farm and a driving force behind the Radio Reading Network of Maryland, died of natural causes on Monday evening, Jan. 1 at Bright View Assisted Living in Bel Air, Md. She was 87.
No Foul Play Suspected in Gomez Death
While no foul play is suspected, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe reports that an investigation is being conducted following the death of two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez.
Writer, Equine Veterinarian Kelley Dies at 75
Retired equine veterinarian Brent Kelley, who also wrote or contributed to a number of books on horses and animals, died Dec. 11 in Bourbon County, Ky. He was 75.
Sexton Services Scheduled in Texas
Services have been planned for former Churchill Downs racetrack president Steve Sexton, who died Dec. 12 at age 57 from brain cancer.
Retired Valet Ward Dies in Kentucky
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.
Minnesota Horseman Eaton Dies at 87
Minnesota horseman Arthur J. Eaton Jr., 87, of Randolph Township, Minn., died Oct. 28 in Minneapolis.
Voice of Calder Saltzman Dies at 79
Colorful track announcer Phil Saltzman was at Calder Race Course for 20 years.
Louisiana Trainer Pennino Dies at 96
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association president Tom Early reported that 96-year-old active trainer Joe Pennino of Covington, La., died Aug. 17.
Owner/Ad Exec Papert Dies at 89
Fred Papert died May 20 in his hometown of New York City
Tap Your Heels, Dam of Tapit, Dies
The 20-year-old Unbridled mare leaves behind a colt by Super Saver.
Champion Grass Horse Northern Spur Dies
- By Frank Angst
- Thoroughbred Racing, Thoroughbred Breeding, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region, Kentucky
Northern Spur, champion grass horse of 1995, died earlier this month at a New York farm following a bout with colic. An Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells, Northern Spur was 25.
Former KTFMC Member Holley Dies at 74
Robert Holley, a former member of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, died at age 74, Monday, Jan. 4 in Lexington.
Kentucky Oaks Winner Keeper Hill Dead at 20
Mill Ridge Farm has announced that 1998 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Keeper Hill died Nov. 20 at age 20.
Long-Time Washington Owner Pasko Dies at 80
Richard "Rick" Pasko, a prominent member of the Washington Thoroughbred community for five decades, died Wednesday, Nov. 18 in Auburn, Wash. as as a result of a heart attack.
Trainer 'Spanky' Broussard Dies at Age 74
Joseph E. "Spanky" Broussard, who trained on the Chicago and New Orleans circuits for 50 years, died over the Aug. 26 at age 74.
Retired Jockey, Trainer Baboolal Dead at 65
Retired jockey and trainer John Baboolal, of North Beach, Md., died at age 65 on Sept 11, said his wife, Barbara.
Australian Trainer Bart Cummings Dies at 87
Legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings, who conditioned a record 12 Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winners in career spanning six decades, has died at age 87 in Sydney.
Champion Escena Dead at Age 22 in Kentucky
Champion Escena, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, died June 3 at Diamond A Farms near Versailles, Ky.
Retired Trainer Lake Dies in Saratoga Springs
Trainer Bob Lake, who began conditioning horses as a teen and continued training until retiring in 1999, died at age 82 Wednesday, March 4, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Retired Trainer Dale Bagnell Dies in Missoula
Western-based owner, breeder, and trainer Dale Bagnell who registered numerous stakes wins primarily in Montana, died at age 83 on Jan. 30 in Missoula, Mont.
Bloodstock Agent Lossen Dies in Lexington
Richard "Dick" Lossen, well-known bloodstock agent, died Feb. 3, in Lexington. He was 76. Lossen spent more than 40 years as an owner, breeder, adviser, and agent.
Retired Trainer Cunningham Dies at Age 71
Retired trainer James P. "Jim" Cunningham died Jan. 16 at Baycare Alliant Hospital in Dunedin, Fla., after a lingering illness. He was 71.
Owner/Breeder Hamilton Dies at 58
Anthony Joseph Hamilton Sr., 58, died Jan. 3 at the Bourbon Community Hospital in Paris, Ky.
Mid-Atlantic Breeder Ramona Barney Dies
Longtime Mid-Atlantic-based horsewoman Ramona Barney died Sept. 22 at the age of 86. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, New Jersey trainer Ed Barney.
Bertha Wright of Calumet Dynasty Dies at 94
Bertha Cochran Wright was the widow of Warren Wright Jr., whose father started Calumet Farm. She was an avid horsewoman and provided active support of many local charities.
Heerman Shaped Today's Thoroughbred Sales
Victor Heerman Jr., who as a bloodstock agent in the 1980s added flair to Central Kentucky sales, died July 2 at his Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. home. He was 89.
Kentucky Horses Lose a Friend in Vet Byars
On the morning of July 8, the word "irreplaceable" kept bouncing around the head of Old Friends founder Michael Blowen as he thought about the previous night's death of Central Kentucky veterinarian Doug Byars, D.V.M.
Actor, Race Fan Rooney Dies at Age 93
Mickey Rooney, who starred in many horse racing and horse-related movies and television shows, has died at age 93.
Horseman Hubbard Johnson Dies at 27
Harry "Hub" Hubbard Johnson Jr., a longtime horseman, died the afternoon of March 28 in Central Kentucky.
Longtime California Horseman Bill Currin Dies
Bill Currin, who bred, owned, and trained 2006 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) winner Stormello, died Feb. 11 in Solana Beach, Calif., after a long illness. He was 77.
Owner/Breeder Albert Coppola Dies at 89
Albert Coppola Sr. won the 1982 Travers Stakes (gr. I) and two jewels of the Canadian Triple Crown with Runaway Groom.
Retired Mid-Atlantic Jockey Smith Dies
Donald D. Smith, a longtime Mid-Atlantic-based jockey and winner of more than 1,500 races, died Oct. 17 at the age of 69.
Just-Retired Dullahan Euthanized Due to Colic
Multiple grade I winner Dullahan was euthanized on the morning of Oct. 20 after undergoing emergency surgery for colic during the night.
Former NJ Racing Commissioner Cannella Dies
Samuel M. Cannella, of Pine Brook, N.J., who served on the New Jersey Racing Commission, died Oct. 1, at age 78.
George E. Chase of Atlanta Steeplechase Dies
George E. Chase, Sr., one of the founders of the Atlanta Steeplechase, died Sept. 16 of congestive heart failure in Gordonsville, Va., where he moved in 2010. He was 87 years old.
Kentucky Horseman David Greathouse Dies
David Greathouse, a second-generation horseman and partner in Four Star Sales, died Oct. 8 after an illness.
Thomas Haley Asbury of Hedgewood Farm Dies
Longtime Thoroughbred breeder and Lexington native Thomas Haley Asbury died Sept. 29. He was 87 years old. Asbury's Hedgewood Farm has been in operation since 1924.
Grade III Winning Stallion Shotiche Dies
The last reported son of Northern Dancer standing at stud, Shotiche, died Sept. 8 at Boehlke Ranch near Waverly, Minn., where he stood for 10 seasons. The graded stakes-winning stallion died from natural causes.
Penn National Trainer Thompson Dies at 75
Harry F. Thompson, Jr., one of the leading trainers in Penn National Race Course history, died Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa. Thompson was 75.
Record-Setting Sprinter Klassy Briefcase Dies
Klassy Briefcase, a record-setting sprinter and broodmare, died Sept.18 at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement center near Georgetown, Ky. The daughter of Medieval Man out of the Pruner mare Leather Gallery was 28.
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