--Kathy Parker, The Horsemen and Fair World
MANALAPAN, NJ -- June 13, 2016 -- Leo C. McNamara III, a
third generation horseman and executive administrator of the Standardbred
Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) for the past 15 years,
died early Sunday morning, June 12. Mr. McNamara died of complications
following a hard fought battle with cancer, just two weeks short of his 61st
birthday.
Born June 30, 1955, in Carmel, Ind., Mr. McNamara was the
son of Leo McNamara Jr., whose father, Leo, founded Two Gaits Farm in Indiana,
where Adios was foaled and the pacing stallion Hal Dale stood at stud.
Leo C. McNamara was also a founder of the U.S. Trotting
Association, the Hall of Fame of the Trotter in Goshen, N.Y., and at one time
an owner of The Red Mile.
The McNamara family moved east in the late 1950s and Mr.
McNamara III spent some time as a youngster at Hanover Shoe Farms, where his
father served as farm superintendent. The McNamara family returned to Carmel
before selling the family farm and moving east again when Leo McNamara Jr.
joined Pine Hollow Stud Farm in New York.
While living in Pine Bush, N.Y., Mr. McNamara III began
working on the Pine Hollow Stud Farm. After graduating from high school in
1973, he continued on at Pine Hollow Stud Farm, becoming an assistant manager.
Mr. McNamara III moved to Kentucky's Bluegrass horse
country and worked at Dan Hollibaugh's Holly Lane Stud in Lexington, serving as
manager there from 1981-1985. Mr. McNamara's next stop was Almahurst, where he
served as farm superintendent of the breeding nursery's flagship farm outside
of Lexington during the era when it was one of the sport's showcase operations.
Mr. McNamara III left Almahurst in 1988 to run the new
Dreamaire Farm nursery in New Jersey founded by Bob Boni and partners. Boni
knew Mr.
McNamara III from their days together at Pine Hollow
Farm.
Leo's family moved to New York in 1973 when I was the
yearling manager at Pine Hollow Stud Farm and as a high school senior he became
my weekend and then summer help, said Boni. We forged a great friendship over
the next 40-something years, regardless of where our travels took us, and he
will forever be one of the most special people I have ever known.
Leo was a great advocate for the horsemen and horsewomen
of New Jersey in so many ways and always with the fairness and decency that
characterized his personality. He loved and adored his wife Cathy and his
daughter Celeste and he will be missed by anyone fortunate to have known him.
After Dreamaire closed its operations, Mr. McNamara III
re-established Two Gaits Farm in New Jersey and bred and boarded horses. In 2001
Mr.
McNamara III began working for the SBOANJ, becoming
executive administrator in 2006.
During his years with the SBOANJ, Mr. McNamara III worked
with racetracks in the Garden State to keep tabs on the purse accounts,
becoming an astute expert of analyzing handle from various sources with various
percentages going to purses.
I've been a director of the SBOA for 10 years, and Leo
was invaluable, said Mark Ford, president of the SBOANJ. I don't think the
horsepeople in New Jersey can realize how invaluable he was advocating for
horsemen and horsewomen and protecting our interests. He always brought
knowledge and commonsense to the table and could always come up with a
commonsense approach or solution.
Because of Mr. McNamara's knowledge of the purse account
and percentages of handle earned, he played a significant role in Jeff Gural's
acquisition of the Meadowlands from the state of New Jersey.
Leo was a straight shooter and a great guy to work with,
said Jason Settlemoir, CEO and general manager of the Meadowlands Racetrack.
He's going to be missed from both an industry standpoint and as a friend.
Mr. McNamara III is survived by his wife, Cathy; a
daughter, Celeste, assistant professor of history at University of Warwick,
Coventry, United Kingdom; two stepchildren, Dr. Daniel J. Dooley and Katie
Pidge Decker; his mother, Irene; one brother, Joe (Meg Booth); eight sisters,
Anne Slosky, Coleen (Frank) Benedett, Bridget (Jeffrey) Fenessy, Kate
(David) Smith, Mary Coleman, Kelly (Patrick) Kennedy,
Celeste (Brian) O'Neill and Jane (Glenn) Taylor; 14 nieces and nephews; and
more than
100 cousins.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 16, from 2-4 and
6-9 p.m. at Peppler Funeral Home, 122 Crosswicks St, Bordentown, N.J., 08505. A
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's
Church, 45 Crosswicks St., in Bordentown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to
the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, 16575 Carey Rd., Westfield, IN 46074.
