obituary

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, owner-breeder of Crystal Ocean (GB), the world's co-top-rated horse of 2019, has died at the age of 91. Born in August 1931 and a member of the noted banking family, Rothschild enjoyed much success on the turf with horses bred and raised at his Southcourt Stud in Bedfordshire. Most notable among them was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean, a top-class middle-distance performer who now stands at The Beeches Stud in Ireland, and whose seven group wins included the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal...

Star German sprinter Areion (Ger) (Big Shuffle--Aerleona {Ire}, by Caerleon), a multiple champion sire in his native land, was euthanized due to complications from colic at the age of 27 on Friday, Galopp Online reported. A resident of Gestut Etzean at the time of his death, Areion formerly raced in the colours of Marlene Haller. "We were with him a week before," Frank Haller told Sport-Welt on Sunday. "Actually, we had the impression that he was in a good mood. He then came to the clinic in Iffezheim with a...

Ed Mackie, a much respected and admired presence in Florida racing for 50 years, died suddenly Wednesday evening. He was 75. Mackie was Gulfstream's director of mutuels since 2002, but before that had served in similar roles at Hialeah Park and Biscayne Dog Track. Mackie was also director of mutuels at Calder Race Course, Tropical Park and Gulfstream Park West since 2003. Before working in pari-mutuels, Mackie was a champion amateur jai alai player. Mackie was admired by those he worked with as well as horsemen for his knowledge, his...

Statistically speaking, Northern Rose (Northern Causeway), a 6-year-old chestnut mare with a 4-for-32 claiming-level record, was hardly the star of the stable for trainer Duane Offield, who died Sept. 29 after a long fight with cancer. But the 82-year-old conditioner took an outsized shine to her anyway. A homebred for one of his most dedicated clients, Northern Rose had been in Offield's care since she began her career 3 1/2 years ago, and she enjoyed a prime stall under Offield's Golden Gate Fields shedrow, not far from his office so...

Longtime Northern California trainer Duane Offield passed away on Thursday after a lengthy illness. He was 82-years-old. Offield began his training career in 1976 and saddled 721 winners from 8,038 starters, with lifetime purse earnings of $10,009,202. His most significant win came in the 1990 GI Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park with Restless Con. Services are pending. "Our racing community here at Golden Gate will greatly miss Duane Offield," said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. "Duane was a soft-spoken man who simply loved coming...

Group 1 winner and young shuttle sire National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Angel Falls {GB}, by Kingmambo) passed away in Australia, Widden Stud reported. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and partners. From five starts, he broke his maiden on debut at Deauville, and was also placed in the G3 Prix des Chenes, prior to his Group 1 win. Kept in training at three by Sun Bloodstock, the Criquette Head trainee was also second in the G3 Prix Djebel. Retired to the Irish...

Retired trainer Peter Howe, one of just four people to train an American champion over jumps and on the flat, and the father of Colonial Downs Vice President of Racing Jill Byrne, died Thursday night in Charlottesville, Va. He was 83. Howe was born in Hartford, Conn., and became an accomplished rider of show horses--competing at Madison Square Garden, the Washington International Horse Show and other top venues--before transitioning to racehorses. Training mainly for Marion du Pont Scott's Montpelier Stable, Howe conditioned a small but quality stable of flat and...

Syndicate ownership pioneer Henry Ponsonby has passed away. He was 74. His white and red silks were carried to victory in the Ebor and Cesarwitch handicaps, among others. In 2020, Ponsonby celebrated a Royal Ascot double with Scarlet Dragon (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) and Hollie Doyle in the Duke Of Edinburgh S. and then took the Queen Alexandra S. with Who Dares Wins (Ire) (Jeremy) and Tom Marquand. Eve Johnson Houghton, who trained Scarlet Dragon for Ponsonby, said, "My first job in racing was working in Henry's office and in...

I think we must thank Mr. Berry for his  long and exhaustive writing about The Queen, and not only as a breeder and racehorse owner, but also as a monarch who had, via the horses, a unique way of influencing politics, without "doing" politics. Her long and varied travels globally had always a hint of the horses. Whilst maintaining her staunch support of being politically correct, she did manage to convey to the greater public the importance of uniting people rather than dividing. Mr Berry's writing in the TDN today...

Patsy Freeman "Patti" Mancini passed away peacefully Aug. 14 in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 86. She was the first female vice president at Rockwell International and received numerous awards from NASA. She also served on various boards unrelated to aeronautics, including the California Horse Racing Board. As a racing commissioner, she actively sought to reform medication regulations during nearly six years of service on the Board, from September 1980 to March 1986. She is survived by her son, William Mancini and his wife, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews....

Michael P. Ballezzi, who retired last year after 25 years as executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA), passed away Wednesday, Aug. 31. "We've lost not only a great horseman, but also a great friend and leader," said PTHA board of directors president Salvatore DeBunda. "Mike dedicated 25 years of his life to championing the well-being and care of equine athletes, as well as championing the interests of horsemen at Parx Racetrack and across Pennsylvania. When he retired, Mike left behind an incredible legacy at the PTHA." A...

Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence--Roamin Rachel, by Mining) passed away due to heart failure on Friday morning, www.tospo-keiba.jp.com reported. The 2004 G1 Japan Cup winner, who was standing at Murakami Kinya Ranch, was 22. The dark bay was a "cool horse, who walks with dignity as he was when he was racing," owner Zenno Management said on Facebook. "The diagnosis is a deterioration of the heart muscle due to aging. Last night [Sept. 1], the stallion laid down to sleep normally, but could not...