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.
Obituary
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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.
Top South African Sire Western Winter Dies
According to a statement from Lammerskraal Stud, champion South African sire Western Winter died Sept. 12. He was euthanized after breaking a front leg while recovering from colic surgery.
Grade I-Winning Mare Lotka Dies at Our Mims
Lotka, the 30-year-old Kennelot Stables' mare by Danzig, died Sept. 10 at Our Mims Retirement Haven near Paris, Ky. where she had been a resident since August 2008. She was buried in the Haven's cemetery.
German Sire Lando Euthanized
Leading German sire Lando was euthanized Aug. 20. The son of Acatenango had undergone successful surgery following a severe bout of colic, but suffered a spiral fracture in a leg upon rising and had to be put down. He was 23.
Pensioned Stallion Home At Last Dies at 26
Charles Nuckols III of Nuckols Farm near Midway, Ky., announced Aug. 21 the passing of pensioned sire Home At Last. The 26-year-old son of Quadratic died at the farm July 30 from the infirmities of old age.
Stallion Red Bishop Euthanized in Turkey
Red Bishop, 1995 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. I) winner and a successful stallion in Turkey, was euthanized there Aug. 7 due to complications resulting from a fractured tibia.
Australian Sire Northern Meteor Dies
Northern Meteor, leading first-crop sire in Australia, died suddenly July 30 from a "swift and fatal attack of colic," according to a release from Widden Stud.
Trainer Sonny Wigginton Dies at Age 78
Thoroughbred trainer Jesse Norman "Sonny" Wigginton died July 30 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington. He was 78.
Owner Elaine Klein Dies
Elaine Klein, who had great success racing and breeding horses with her husband, Bertram, and son, Richard, died July 31 after a battle with cancer.
Equine Dentist Chris Brown Dies at 68
Brown won a court case in 2009 that allowed lay equine dentists to work in New York.
Mary Emily Marshall Taylor Dies at 85
Mary Emily Marshall Taylor, 85, wife of Taylor Made Farm founder Joe Taylor and the mother of Duncan, Ben, Frank, and Mark, who now run the family business, died July 13.
Undefeated Champion and Sire Fasliyev Dies
Fasliyev, European champion 2-year-old and sire of five champions and 32 graded stakes winners, died July 8 at Yushun Stallion Company in Japan. He was 16.
Veteran Trainer David Pate Dies at 70
Veteran Turfway Park trainer David Pate died Saturday, July 6 at University Hospital in Cincinnati after suffering a brain aneurysm. He was 70.
California Stallion Caros Love Dies
California stallion Caros Love was euthanized May 31 at Rancho San Roberto Farm near Bakersfield, due to complications from infirmities of old age. He was 29.
Charlie Camac, Racing Official, Dies at 78
Charles "Charlie" Camac, starter and steward at tracks in Florida and New Jersey for five decades, died May 26 at his home in Williston, Fl. He was 78.
Al Scotti, Trainer of Linda's Chief, Dies
Scotti, 86, worked in racing as a jockey, trainer, and jockey agent. He died March 30.
Hialeah Park's Abbey Dies in Car Accident
Condolences poured into Hialeah Park Feb. 20 mourning the death of Sam Abbey, director of racing for the racetrack near Miami.
Quarter Horse Breeder Bob Gentry Dies
Robert "Bob" Gentry 81, of Lubbock, Texas was best known for owning and breeding Quarter Horses but also contributed on the Thoroughbred side. Gentry died Jan. 7.
Former Trainer Johnnie Johnson Dies
Johnnie Johnson ran his public stable in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Illinois. He later became a race official at Oaklawn Park.
Hall of Fame Rider John Sellers Dead at 72
Hall of Fame jockey John Sellers, who rode for more than 20 years, died July 2 at a nursing home in Fayetteville, Ark. He was 72.
Ohio Stalwart Norm Barron Dead at 74
Norm Barron, a prominent horseman and regulator in Ohio, died June 5 at 74 after an illness.
Jobie Arnold Dies at Age 80
Jobie Arnold, the first female handicapper, died April 12 at age 80.
Longtime Trainer Dravo Foley Dead at 75
Trainer Dravo Foley, a veteran of more than five decades in Kentucky's horse industry and the father of trainers Greg and Vickie Foley, died March 29 in Louisville, Ky., following a long illness. He was 75.
Retired Trainer Tinsley Found Dead
Retired California trainer J.E. "Cotton" Tinsley was discovered dead Jan. 4, Daily Racing Form reported. Tinsley, who had been missing since New Year's Eve, was 81.
Capt. Candyman Can Co-Owner Dies
Dr. Joseph Rauch, co-owner and co-breeder of grade I winner and Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) pre-entrant Capt. Candyman Can, died Oct. 31, Daily Racing Form reported. He was 66.
Signature Stallions' Employee Dies
Raymond Monterio, who worked at William Schettine's Signature Stallions near Ocala, Fla., died Oct. 20.
McCaffery Remembered for Contributions to Racing
Trudy McCaffery was remembered as a "cross between Mother Teresa and Elizabeth Taylor" during a well-attended memorial service at Santa Anita Park, where her racehorses regularly competed.
Leslie Harrison, Managed Plantation Stud, Dies
Leslie Harrison, long time racing and breeding manager for Lord Howard de Walden's Plantation Stud in Newmarket, England, died Feb. 11. He was 63.
Landon Manning, Saratoga Turf Writer, Dies
Landon C. Manning, a former Turf writer and author, died Feb. 22 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was 88.
Jockey Chris Herrell, 31, Dies After Collapse
Jockey James "Chris" Herrell, 31, a regular at River Downs in Ohio and Turfway Park in Kentucky, died suddenly at his apartment in Louisville Nov. 12.
Top Ohio Trainer Palacios Dies in Accident
Known as Ohio's "El Gran Senor" for his outstanding abilities in horsemanship, Luis "Albert" Palacios, 73, died in a three-vehicle accident in Wilmington, Ohio, Sept. 22. The 73-year-old trainer recently captured the training title at River Downs.
Retired Trainer Kay Erik Jensen Dead
Retired trainer Kay Erik Jensen, who is believed to be the only rider to win a steeplechase and flat race on a single card, died May 13 at his Warrenton, Va., home.
John Gaines, Formerly Owned Gainesway Farm, Founded Breeders' Cup, Dies at 76
- By Dan Liebman
- News
John Gaines, who built Gainesway Farm into one of the industry's leading stud farms and is the man credited with founding the Breeders' Cup, died Feb. 11. He was 76.
Snowden Carter Dies at Age 83
Snowden Carter, who served as general manager of the Maryland Horse Breeders' Association and editor of The Maryland Horse from 1962 until his retirement in 1986, died Feb. 3 of heart failure at his home in Owings Mills, Md. He was 83.
Ivor Balding, Won Saratoga Title, Dies at 96
Ivor Balding, the leading trainer at Saratoga in 1966 who was associated for many years with owner C.V. Whitney, died Jan. 21. He was 96.
Hall of Fame Jockey 'Dooley' Adams Dead at 77
Hall of Fame steeplechase jockey Frank D. "Dooley" Adams died Nov. 12 in his hometown of Southern Pines, N.C. He was 77.
Viking Stud Owner Rick Littrell Dead at 50
Arrangements are pending for Viking Stud owner Rick Littrell, who died at a Lexington hospital Thursday night. He was 50.
Raymond M. Rogers, Former Santa Anita Official, Dies
Raymond M. Rogers, who began at Santa Anita as track and plant superintendent and rose to the position of executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, died July 8 in Pasadena, Calif. He was 87.
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