obituary

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' advisor Dr. Roland Devolz has died at the age of 83, France Galop announced on Wednesday. A veterinarian, he joined the Societe d'Encouragement pour l'Amelioration des Races de Chevaux de Courses in the early 1970s when recruited by Jean Romanet. Besides working for the Societe d'Encouragement, he was invaluable in the implementation of a modernized anti-doping control through the creation of the horse racing laboratory, based on the approach initiated by Dr. Yves Bonnaire. Also one of the greatest experts of the Stud Book, Devolz...

by TTR AusNZ/Keely Mckitterick Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}--Shadea {NZ}, by Straight Strike) has died at the age of 25, Darley Australia announced on Friday. The Woodlands Stud homebred was pensioned in March of 2023. "A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as 'the people's champion' Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack," said Godolphin Australia's Corporate Director, Ross Cole said in a statement. "Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earnt...

Even the Score (Unbridled's Song--Ashtabula, by Rahy), a resident of Old Friends for the past year, has died at the age of 26 after colicking. He was euthanized at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Saturday, Apr. 13. A MSGW & GISP during his four-year racing career, Even the Score stood at Rosendo "Ro" Parra's Millennium Farms before he was pensioned in 2020. Among the 17 career black-type winners he sired from his 15 crops are multiple Grade I winners Dullahan and Take the Points. "Even the Score was a...

Paddy Woods, who once rode three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Arkle (Ire) (Archive {GB}) to victory, has died at the age of 93, according to published reports. The Irishman was born in 1930, and began his career in racing at Dan Moore's yard before a few years with Charlie Rogers before returning to Moore. However, he is best known for his association with Tom Dreaper's Greenogue stable which began in 1956. Besides riding work aboard Arkle each morning for Dreaper, the jockey did capture the 1963 and 1965 Irish Grand...

Japanese jockey Kota Fujioka has died from injuries sustained in an Apr. 6 race fall, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) announced on Thursday. The 35-year-old Group 1-winning rider was dislodged from his horse during the seventh race at Hanshin and sustained head and chest injuries. He never regained consciousness his brother revealed on Wednesday to NetKeiba. Born in Shiga prefecture in 1988, Fujioka was the son of JRA trainer Kenichi Fujioka and the younger brother of JRA jockey Yusuke Fujioka. His riding career started auspiciously, as he won on debut...

Former Steinhoff International Chief Executive Markus Jooste has died at the age of 63, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Jooste, who was at one point heavily involved on the worldwide racing scene through his Mayfair Speculators, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the FT reported. He was fined R475 million (£19,937,078/€23,234,382/$25,229,382) for accounting fraud--due on or before Apr. 19--by South Africa's Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The regulator found that Jooste had published "false or misleading financial statements" following an investigation into the matter....

Derby winner North Light (Ire) (Danehill) was euthanized on Mar. 20 due to complications from laminitis, The Stronach Group announced on Thursday. The 23-year-old stallion had been pensioned since 2020 and will be laid to rest at Adena South in Ocala Florida. Bred and raced by Ballymacoll Stud and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the son of G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Sought Out (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) won one of two starts at two, and added the G2 Dante S. and G1 Derby in succession during the spring of 2004....

Classic-placed Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) has died after suffering a heart attack while cantering last Monday. Alan Cooper, the Niarchos family's racing manager, confirmed the news to TDN Europe on Thursday. The G3 Ballysax S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up was five. "Very sadly he had a heart attack last Monday doing a regular canter under Gavin Ryan who landed safely on his feet," Cooper said. "No previous indications that this would be likely to happen. He was a lovely individual who everyone liked." A Flaxman Stables homebred, the...

Louis Lee Haggin III, hailing from an illustrious racing family and a longtime fixture at Keeneland, died Mar. 5, according to Keeneland Tuesday. He was 88. A lifelong Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Haggin III managed his family's Sycamore Farm. A great, great grandson of legendary horseman James Ben Ali Haggin, who was also the founder of Elmendorf Farm, Haggin III's grandfather, Hal Price Headley, was among the founders of Keeneland. His father, Louis Lee Haggin II, served as the track's second president and subsequently its chairman. "Keeneland mourns the loss...

Successful owner/breeder Lord Jacob Rothschild, who found Group 1 riches as a co-owner with Nathaniel (Ire) among others, died at the age of 87 earlier this week, according to multiple reports. The fourth Baron Rothschild, OM, was prominent in both banking and finance, and also was active on the art scene. The chairman of the trustees of the National Gallery from 1985 to 1991, he operated his bloodstock interests out of Waddesdon Stud in Buckinghamshire with his late wife Serena. Later appointed the chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund,...

Philip Oliver died Feb. 19 in Indiantown, Florida, according to a press release from BBN racing Wednesday. Born on June 6, 1970, he is survived by his wife, Victoria Oliver, brother Chris Oliver, sister Toni Blinkhorn, and his mother Alison Oliver. Oliver was preceded in death by his father, Alan. Oliver, who was born and raised in Chipping Norton, England, began riding at the age of three years old. Prior to moving to the U.S. at the age of 18, he worked for champion jump jockeys and trainers, Stan Miller...

Edited Press Release Nancy C. Kelly, who helped raise millions of dollars for equine research and for individuals in need throughout the Thoroughbred industry over the course of a 32-year career at The Jockey Club, died Feb. 9 in Garden City Park, NY. Kelly was 71 years old and had been battling ovarian cancer since February 2019, approximately one year after she retired. As the vice president of development for Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, Kelly organized countless fund-raising events...