obituary

  Longtime owner and former Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Vice president Larry Johnson died Feb. 4. He was 78. Founder of Legacy Farm in Bluemont, Virginia, his horses amassed $17.6 million in purse money from 3,132 starts. His most successful year came in 2024 when he had 25 wins and $1.6 million in earnings. On the Aug. 31 Commonwealth Champions Day card at Colonial Downs, Johnson had two stakes wins--Hollywood Walk in the Camptown Stakes and Bert Allen Stakes winner Sky's Not Falling. He was also an active Board member...

His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, who has died in Lisbon at the age of 88, ranks as one of the greatest owner/breeders of this or any other era, as well as one of the most significant religious figures of the modern world. He inherited the title of Aga Khan (commanding leader) on the death of his grandfather Aga Khan III in 1957 and then took control of the family's bloodstock interests three years later when his father Prince Aly Khan lost his life in a car crash. ...

Edited Press Release Famed equestrian and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Jenkins was honored by the Maryland racing community Tuesday in a memorial service at Laurel Park. Jenkins, a beloved horseman, died Dec. 5 at age 80. "He taught me a lot on how to ride," said jockey Richard Monterrey. "Monterrey, you're riding too low, too high. Monterrey, put your hands down, relax, let the horse stride. He was very aware of everything that was happening. I called him Mr. Jenkins at first, and then I changed it to Papa Jenkins....

Cathy Sheppard, the widow of Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, was found dead Monday in a hotel room in Dania Beach, Florida. Her passing was confirmed by the Broward County (Fla) Sherriff's Offices (BSO). She was 69. The Sheppards were married in 1990 and Jonathan Sheppard passed away on Aug. 29, 2023. According to a spokesperson for the BSO, "deputies in Dania Beach responded to an unresponsive person at a hotel in the 100 block of Southwest 18th Avenue. Upon arrival they located a deceased adult female. BSO's Homicide...

An appreciation, by T.D. Thornton Over the course of 45 years as a jockey, trainer, owner and breeder, Patricia E. Meadow never really cared for it to be publicized that she was a Harvard University astrophysics major who had additionally earned a medical-school degree. She rarely, if ever, referred to herself around the racetrack by her hard-earned "doctor" title. Although Meadow accumulated only 32 victories from 480 lifetime starts over nearly four decades of training and hadn't saddled a winner since 2019, her passing Dec. 29 was met with an...

Eddie Truman, a trainer as renowned for his patience with the Thoroughbred as for a perennially genial disposition, has passed at the age of 77. "A great horseman and an even greater individual," said veteran trainer Gary Stute. "I never heard him say a bad word about anybody--anybody--and on the racetrack, that's few and far," Stute added. "Once you met him, you stayed friends with him. The ultimate honest good person." Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, Truman trained 763 winners and collected $15.7 million in earnings. He had...

Rathbary Stud's influential sire Acclamation (GB) has died at the age of 25. The son of Royal Applause (GB) had recently been retired from covering duties. The stud announced the news via a statement on social media which read, "It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Acclamation this weekend. He leaves behind a legacy as a true legend of the Irish stallion ranks. He will be deeply missed by all at Rathbarry Stud but never forgotten." Bred by Tedwood Bloodstock and partners, the son of Princess Athena...

After a years-long long battle with cancer, Southern California-based trainer Ben Cecil has passed at the age of 56. He leaves behind his wife Kirsty, and two children, Francesca and Hugo. A near 30-year training career yielded 325 victories and nearly $25 million in prize money. He conditioned several Golden State heavy weights including multiple Grade I winners Golden Apples and Squeak, along with top-flight winners Donna Viola and Passinetti. As nephew to legendary British trainer Henry, Cecil's lineage suggested no other career path than the one taken. His father...

Multiple Group 1 winner Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) has died at the age of 24, according to published reports. He was standing at Haras du Petit Tellier in France. Trainer Tony Vasil said of Elvstroem to Racing.com, "You could watch a movie with him sitting on the couch beside you. He was such a gorgeous horse. He was an extraordinarily smart horse." Well traveled throughout his 32-start career, Elvstroem won his first Group 1 in the 2003 Victoria Derby, before adding the G1 Underwood Stakes and G1 Caulfield Cup in 2004....

Delta Blues (Jpn), who made history by becoming the first Japanese horse to win the Melbourne Cup, has died at the age of 24. Old Friends Japan, where the gelding had lived out his later years of retirement, announced on Wednesday that he had "died due to complications from laminitis". The Northern Farm-bred son of Dance In The Dark (Jpn) was trained by Katsuhiko Sumii and landed his first major win in his home country in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) of 2004. He was also third behind...

Champion and dual Hall of Famer Tepin (Bernstein--Life Happened, by Stravinsky), best known for winning the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, died at the age of 12. The news was confirmed by trainer Aidan O'Brien after the mare's daughter Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp on Saturday. Bred by Machmer Hall in Kentucky, the bay was purchased by Robert Masterson for $140,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. She would go on to be trained by Mark...

National Hunt stallion Triple Threat (Fr) sustained a mortal injury in his paddock, Capital Stud announced on Wednesday. The 14-year-old son of Monsun (Ger) was standing his first season at the stud for a private fee. "The whole Capital Stud team is devastated by the news," said the stud's Ger O'Neill. "He was very popular in his first season here and we were looking forward to covering many more mares with him in future, but sadly it wasn't to be. "However, we look forward to seeing his first Irish foals...