Cot Campbell Memorial Thursday in Aiken

[Wandering Eyes]

A celebration of the life of Cot Campbell, who died Saturday at 91, will be held Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Aiken, South Carolina. The service will be followed by a reception on the grounds of the Aiken Training Track.

Pallbearers are members of Cot’s family, including Brady Tindall, Cot Tindall, Charlie Umhau (grandsons), John Dodd (nephew), John Stiff (grandson-in-law) and Charlie Hull of Atlanta, Georgia, a long-time friend who introduced Cot to his wife of 59 years, Anne.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, New York Division, 2150 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont, NY 11003 (RTCANY.org)

Tributes continued to pour in Sunday, a day after the revolutionary owner’s passing. Campbell’s Dogwood Stable, an early pioneer in syndicate partnerships, introduced thousands of new owners to the sport.

Todd Pletcher trained many of Dogwood’s stakes winners, including 2013 GI Belmont S. winner Palace Malice.

“He was a great man,” Pletcher said Sunday. “He always embraced the game with great enthusiasm. He loved horses, he loved horse racing and his impact on the industry, not only through Dogwood Stable, but through the number of new people he introduced to the game at the highest level is a major contribution to racing as we know it today. He was always very kind and knew every groom’s name. He was a terrific person to work for. He gave a lot of young trainers over the years an opportunity and a chance to prove themselves.”

Of their Belmont victory, Pletcher recalled, “To have such a long relationship with Dogwood and to be able to win a Classic was a great moment for all of us. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to train for him for a long time. He was a good friend.”

NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay acknowledged Campbell’s contributions to the sport.

“Cot Campbell was a giant of Thoroughbred racing and a visionary thinker whose creation of syndicate racing partnerships brought countless new owners to the sport,” Kay said “Cot was endlessly generous and devoted his time and spirit to a variety of philanthropic causes. He was a pioneer, and we were thrilled to be able to honor his life’s work by inducting him into the Saratoga Walk of Fame in 2016. On behalf of the men and women of the New York Racing Association, we send our condolences to Cot’s family and friends.”

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