John Van de Kamp, who served as the president and general counsel for the Thoroughbred Owners of California from 1996 through 2004, passed away at his Pasadena home Mar. 14 following a brief illness. He was 81 years old.
A graduate of Stanford Law School in his early 20s, Van de Kamp served in the military briefly before being appointed an assistant U.S. attorney. The top prosecutor in Los Angeles County, Van de Kamp was ultimately appointed the Attorney General for California in the 1980s.
As the second president of the TOC, Van de Kamp was known for his strong leadership and helped give the horse owner a bigger voice in the California Thoroughbred industry.
“I learned early in my tenure that if industry progress was to be accomplished, nearly every element of the industry had to be on board,” said Van de Kamp upon his retirement. “When divided, we would fall short.”
In the late 90s he was instrumental in obtaining license fee and tax relief that meant an additional $20 million a year in purses to owners; and in 2004 he successfully worked for the passage of AB 701, which provided workers' compensation relief. He strengthened funding for the organization by obtaining an increase from 1% to 1-1/2% of purse revenues for TOC and CTT. Also during his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the Cal-bred Bonus Program and expansion of simulcast wagering. He also served as a member of the NTRA board.
“I was privileged to work with John during his years on the NTRA board,” said TOC President and CEO, Greg Avioli. “He was a brilliant lawyer and always a strong advocate for horsemen. He was well known for his integrity, honesty, and professionalism. Our industry has lost a great man.”
Van de Kamp is survived by his wife, Andrea, and daughter, Diana. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 30 at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Pasadena.
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