obituary

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...

by Cathy Riccio and Jennie Rees Joanne McNamara--the first to be dubbed by the turf media as 'Exercise Rider to the Stars' for the long list of champions and world-class horses she rode in morning training--passed away this past Sunday in Ocala, Fla., after a short battle with cancer. She was 67. Working for Hall of Fame trainer MacKenzie Miller and Rokeby Stables in her first racetrack job, she galloped her barn favorite Rokeby Rose, a multiple stakes winner who also became a prominent broodmare, producing Kentucky Oaks winner Silverbulletday....

Group 1-winning globetrotter Falbrav (Ire) (Fairy King-Gift Of The Night, by Slewpy) died at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan on Friday, Netkeiba reported on Saturday. The eight-time Group 1 winner, who was pensioned in 2015, was 26. "Falbrav passed away at the age of 26 in Shadai Stallion Station, Japan," the Japanese news site posted on X. "Rest in peace." Eisuke Tokutake, manager of Shadai Stallion Station, told Sanspo.com, "He had a little colic and was a little sick since the end of last year." Bred by Azienda Agricola Francesca...

by Josh Pons Andrew MacNamara Pons, who managed his family's Country Life Farm in Maryland during the 1970s, died on Tuesday evening, Jan. 2, following complications from cardiac arrest five days earlier. He was 70 years old. Born in Baltimore on May 31, 1953, he was the oldest son of Joseph and Mary Jo Pons. He grew up working with horses at Country Life, the oldest Thoroughbred farm in the state, established in 1933 by Pons' grandfather, Adolphe. Fresh out of high school, Pons began work as an assistant for...

GSW Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo--Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song), whose first foals are yearlings of 2024, was humanely euthanized Dec. 22 according to Brent Fernung, owner of Journeyman Stud in Florida. The 6-year-old stallion was standing at Journeyman at the time of his death. Uncle Chuck was determined to be suffering from untreatable lymphoma. "We're devastated by this loss," said Fernung. "He was a beautiful horse, and his first crop of foals are carbon copies of him. Beyond that, Uncle Chuck had a great demeanor and was a pleasure to...

J.T. Lundy, the controversial former president of Calumet Farm, passed away Tuesday. He was 82. The news was reported on Facebook by his sister, Kathy Lundy Jones, and his son, Robert. According to Robert's post, Lundy fell in November, suffered from a head injury and never fully recovered. According to the BloodHorse, Lundy was a native of Georgetown, Ky. and grew up on a farm working primarily around show cattle. He told the magazine in 1990 that he eventually steered into the horse business because it appeared to be more lucrative...

Goffs has paid tribute to its former managing director Jonathan Irwin, one of the most influential people in the history of the sales house, who died aged 82 on Sunday. Irwin joined Goffs in 1975 and oversaw the construction of the world's first purpose-built bloodstock sales complex in Kill, County Kildare. He was also appointed CEO of the Dublin International Sports Council (DISC) in 1993 and established the Jack and Jill Foundation along with his wife Mary Ann after the birth of their son Jack. Since 1997, the foundation has...

by TTR AusNZ Dual-hemisphere Group 1 winner Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}--Patineuse {Ger}, by Peintre Celebre), who won the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock, died recently at 13. Australian Bloodstock, who raced Protectionist later in his career, said via X, "Sad to hear of the passing of 'our champ' Protectionist. A remarkable horse with such a strong character who meant a lot to so many people. #Lifechanger." Bred by Dr. Christoph Berglar, the bay won the G2 Hansa-Preis and G2 Prix Kergorlay for his breeder and trainer Andreas Wohler...

Jacques Beres, who operated Haras de la Croix Sonnet with his wife Francoise, passed away on Sunday evening, Jour de Galop reported. He was 82. Nicknamed one of the last of the 'French Doctors', Beres was a surgeon and co-founder of Doctors Without Borders and Doctors of the World. Beres, who was also a gambler prior to becoming an owner/breeder, travelled all over the world to give aid to those in need. His final mission was in Ukraine last year. In a January interview with the JDG, he said, "You...

Robert John Lothenbach, a Thoroughbred owner and breeder who was a passionate booster of horse racing in his home state of Minnesota and also enjoyed success in the sport on the national level, has died unexpectedly. He was 64. The Minnesota chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (MHBPA) announced his passing late on Monday. The cause of Lothenbach's death has yet to be publicly disclosed, and funeral arrangements are pending. Shortly after Canterbury Park first opened in 1985, Lothenbach and three friends each put up $1,000 to claim...

Stallion manager Joe Peel, who handled some of Claiborne Farm's top sires, lost a 10-year battle with cancer and has passed away, the Paris, Ky. farm announced via X Wednesday. The farm will rename the breeding shed to honor him. In his early 60s, Peel joined Claiborne in 1985 and spent 15 years in the farm's yearling division. He moved to stallions in 2000 and has been responsible for Arch, Blame, Danzig, Flatter, Pulpit, Seeking the Gold, Unbridled, and War Front, among others. "Joe will be remembered for his unwavering...

Group 1 winner Creachadoir (Ire) (King's Best--Sadima {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) died at Haras de la Tricoliere due to a suspected cardiac event after the 2023 breeding season, Jour De Galop reported on Thursday. Bred by Frank Dunne, the bay was an €83,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Sale grad when picked up by his first trainer Jim Bolger. He raced in the colours of Bolger's wife and John Corcoran through his first nine starts at two and three which resulted in a pair of Group 3 victories and placings in both...