Four-time Maryland Horse of the Year and multi-million dollar-earner Ben’s Cat, who underwent colic surgery July 6 to repair an epiploic foramen entrapment, was euthanized July 18 due to complications that arose during his recovery.
Bill Corbellini, who piled up wins in New York and Florida as a successful claiming trainer from the late 1960s through the early 1980s, died July 12 at the age of 84 in Dallas.
Diane J. Nelson, a multiple graded stakes-winning rider, who made her mark in the saddle and in front of the camera, died this month and was memorialized in a service in her native New York July 10. She was 54.
Grade 1-winning sprinter Bonapaw was euthanized July 7 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., due to complications caused by the equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. He was 21.
The St. Louis native, who died June 5 at the age of 86, was a jockey for 22 years and trained for 32 years.
Trainer Richie Scherer, who enjoyed success at tracks throughout the Midwest and in his native Louisiana, died May 20 at age 53.
George Rowand, a man who embraced—and for a moment, lived—the Thoroughbred dream as completely as almost anyone, passed away last week.
Bertram Klein, who had much success as a breeder and owner along with his late wife, Elaine, and son, Richard, died March 24.
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.
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.
Robert Gerkin, a Brook Ledge employee affectionately known throughout the racing industry as 'Pickles,' died Jan. 21. He was 74.
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.
Glenn DiSanto was an avid supporter of aftercare programs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Services have been planned for former Churchill Downs racetrack president Steve Sexton, who died Dec. 12 at age 57 from brain cancer.
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 Arthur J. Eaton Jr., 87, of Randolph Township, Minn., died Oct. 28 in Minneapolis.
Colorful track announcer Phil Saltzman was at Calder Race Course for 20 years.
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association president Tom Early reported that 96-year-old active trainer Joe Pennino of Covington, La., died Aug. 17.
Fred Papert died May 20 in his hometown of New York City
The 20-year-old Unbridled mare leaves behind a colt by Super Saver.
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.
Robert Holley, a former member of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, died at age 74, Monday, Jan. 4 in Lexington.
Mill Ridge Farm has announced that 1998 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Keeper Hill died Nov. 20 at age 20.
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.
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 and trainer John Baboolal, of North Beach, Md., died at age 65 on Sept 11, said his wife, Barbara.
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, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, died June 3 at Diamond A Farms near Versailles, Ky.
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.
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.
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 James P. "Jim" Cunningham died Jan. 16 at Baycare Alliant Hospital in Dunedin, Fla., after a lingering illness. He was 71.
Anthony Joseph Hamilton Sr., 58, died Jan. 3 at the Bourbon Community Hospital in Paris, Ky.
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 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.
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.
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.
Mickey Rooney, who starred in many horse racing and horse-related movies and television shows, has died at age 93.
Harry "Hub" Hubbard Johnson Jr., a longtime horseman, died the afternoon of March 28 in Central Kentucky.
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.
Albert Coppola Sr. won the 1982 Travers Stakes (gr. I) and two jewels of the Canadian Triple Crown with Runaway Groom.
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.
Multiple grade I winner Dullahan was euthanized on the morning of Oct. 20 after undergoing emergency surgery for colic during the night.
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, 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.
