obituary

Three-time champion National Hunt owner Sir Robert Ogden, KBE, has died at 86. The news was first reported by the Racing Post. The businessman, who was heavily involved in the mining, quarrying, engineering and construction industries as well as property development, initially enjoyed success in the National Hunt sphere. Odgen was co-owner of champion See More Business (Ire) (Seymour Hicks {Fr}) at one point, as well as Grade 1 chaser Voy Por Ustedes (Fr) (Villez), one of four winners for Odgen at the Cheltenham Festival. After being declared the champion...

The Prix du Jockey Club winner and Classic sire Le Havre (Ire) has died at the age of 16. The son of Noverre was euthanised at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Preaux in Normandy just three weeks after his retirement from stud duties had been announced. Le Havre's owner Gerard Augustin-Normand told TDN at that time, "He has been the most important horse of my life. He was the beginning and it's very emotional for me. I wouldn't have been in the breeding business if he had not been there....

Longtime west coast trainer and former jockey William 'Bill' Delia died Thursday due to the complications of COVID-19. He was 75 years old. Born Dec. 5, 1946, he began his apprenticeship as a jockey in 1966. After a race-riding career in which he piloted 304 winners, Delia switched to training. Beginning in 1985, his career spanned over four decades, winning 975 races from 7,952 starters, with his runners amassing purse earnings of $16,735,424. The Bay area native was honored with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) Trainer of the Year...

Theiline "Ty" Scheumann, a Washington-based owner and breeder who founded Grousemont Farm and achieved success on the national level, died Dec. 30, 2021, in Bellevue. She was 90. An avid outdoorswoman, Scheumann was a horsewoman, bird hunter, fisherman, floatplane pilot, and sailor. In the Thoroughbred arena, she was a strong supporter of the Washington industry and was honored as a Washington Racing Hall of Fame breeder in 2011. Her Grousemont Farm was one of the contributors to the building of the WTBOA Sales Pavilion and offices at Emerald Downs in...

The speedy Group 1 winner Var (Forest Wildcat-Loma Preata, by Zilzal) was euthanised in South Africa on Monday. The 23-year-old had been pensioned at Avontuur Stud since last July. "Var was my pride and joy," Avontuur Stud General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh told the Sporting Post. "He changed the lives of untold racing and non-racing folk both here and across the world. He was a character and a champion extraordinaire. The scars of a battle bravely fought caught up with our loyal soldier in the end. We couldn't leave him to...

Trainer Harry Benson, former president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA) and a multiple graded stakes-winning trainer, passed away Friday morning at age 88. Funeral services are pending. Benson saddled more than 500 winners over his six-decade career, including MGSW Proud Man. As president of the FHBPA, Benson was passionate regarding winter race dates between Gulfstream and Hialeah Park and led several caravans to Tallahassee to protest bills regarding Thoroughbred issues.

Tom Creel, a well-respected East Coast-based racing secretary and official whose career spanned parts of five decades, died on Thanksgiving Eve from cardiac complications at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. He was 64. Sam Elliott, a longtime friend and coworker, confirmed Creel's death to TDN Friday. He said Creel had suffered a heart attack several weeks ago. On Nov. 22 Creel underwent an eight-hour surgery to implant an artificial heart pump, but developed complications from that procedure and was unable to recover, Elliott said. Creel had taken over...

Shadwell's Erhaab (Chief's Crown--Histoire {Fr}, by Riverman), who won the G1 Derby at Epsom in 1994, died peacefully this week at Batsford Stud. The 30-year-old, the oldest surviving winner of the Blue Riband, had spent the past decade at the Gloucestershire stud. Bred by Sheikh Hamdan's operation in Kentucky, the half-brother to Group 2 winner Oumaldaaya (Nureyev) and stakes winner Hispanolia (Fr) (Kris {GB}) was trained by John Dunlop. In five starts as a juvenile, the dark bay won twice and was also third in the G3 Horris Hill S....

Multiple Group 1 winner and sire Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill--Love Me True, by Kingmambo) died in his paddock at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa on Friday. The 17-year-old had been pensioned in October. "It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Duke Of Marmalade," Drakenstein Stud tweeted on Friday. "He died peacefully in his paddock this morning. He was a hero to many on the racetrack including ourselves, and a true gentleman at stud. "His legacy will live on through his progeny to come and his...

Retired jockey and recent sales front man James "Colonel" Moseley passed away Sunday, Oct. 24, according to Journeyman Stud's Brent Fernung. He was 75. Moseley's riding career spanned from 1976 to 1989, during which he won 488 races with mount earnings of more than $3.5 million. Among his winners were graded stakes winners Donetta (Don Poggio {Arg}) and Bold Brat (Boldnesian), both for trainer Carlos Garcia. More recently, Moseley was a familiar face at various sales and served as a front man for Taylor Made Sales Agency, as well as...

Group 1 winner Lord of England (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}-- Loveria {GB}, by Los Santos {Fr}), was euthanised due to persistent heart problems at Gestut Etzean in Germany. Galopp Online reported the news on Monday morning. Bred by Stall Pontresina and raced by Stall Lucky Owner, the chestnut began his career at two with two wins in Italy, including the Listed Premio Giuseppe de Montel and placed third two starts later in the G1 Gran Criterium. Making his debut in Germany at three for trainer Mario Hofer, Lord of England...

Thoroughbred trainer Colin Sherwood, a native of Perth, Western Australia who won the 1960 G1 Railway S. with Wesmaster, died Sept. 29 in Safety Harbor, FL., after a brief illness. He was 90. Sherwood enjoyed considerable success on the racetracks of his homeland for 15 years before becoming a bloodstock agent in the early 1970s, exporting racehorses and stallion prospects to horsemen in Singapore, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Africa and the United States. He returned to racing  in the late 1980s and resumed training, competing in the mid-Atlantic region before...