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Dick Lundy Dies at 71


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Multiple Graded Stakes winning trainer, Richard J. “Dick” Lundy, passed away Oct. 5th, 2019 after a long battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

Lundy, a Mount Kisco, New York native, was an accomplished equestrian training on the hunter/jumper circuit in California. In the early 1970’s, he decided to switch to thoroughbred racehorses. He worked as a foreman under Hall of Fame trainer Lucien Laurin at the same time Riva Ridge and Secretariat were in barn 5 at Belmont Park.

He served his country in the Army, and later joined Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham’s barn in Southern California. Lundy spent seven years with Whittingham, during a period in which Whittingham’s trainees included such horses as Dahlia, Exceller, Erin’s Isle, Providential, Our Suiti Pie, Queen to Conquer, Sirlad, Balzac and Galaxy Libra.

In 1983, Lundy was offered a private job for Virginia Kraft Payson on the East Coast. In his second year of training for her, he won the GI Travers with Carr De Naskra. Lundy had gained a name for himself by quickly recording graded stakes wins with Salem Drive, Uptown Swell, Milesius, and Lac Ouimet, all for Payson.

In late 1986, Lundy decided to branch out and form a public stable based out of Payson Park and Belmont Park. Ironically, the barn at Belmont where he had worked for Lucien Lauren now was occupied with Lundy’s horses.

One of his best horses, Jade Hunter, won the Gulfstream Park Handicap and the Donn Handicap in 1988 at Gulfstream Park. Later that year, Lundy was offered the private training job with Allen Paulson and moved back west to organize the 120-plus stable. Not soon after taking the job, Lundy was in the winner’s circle with Fowda, Blushing John, Ravinella, Bello Horizonte (Ire) and Dinard, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in 1991. Also in Lundy’s string was Opening Verse, the winner of the 1991 GI Breeders Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. Their association came to an end in 1992 when Paulson sued Lundy for conspiracy to defraud, and Lundy resigned from his position with Paulson.

After leaving California, Lundy returned to Ohio and opened up a moderate public stable for some time, and had a brief stint training for Ernie Paragallo before leaving training and becoming president of Halstrum, LLC, a company which makes natural supplements for horses.

In a short training career, Lundy’s statistics are noteworthy.

In 2450 starts, he recorded 403 wins, 371 seconds and 313 thirds with purses over $17,310,810.

Lundy and his wife Suzy had a passion for working with and developing young dogs, and Suzy Lundy owns a kennel in Waynsville, Ohio. They were fortunate enough to be a part of the team that developed Fifi, a Doberman Pinscher who made it to the final round at Westminster Dog Show in 2011.

Lundy is survived by his wife, Suzy, and two brothers, Marty and Gary. A celebration of his life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to be made to Old Friends Farm, 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324, where Dinard (age 31) is living out his retirement.

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The post Dick Lundy Dies at 71 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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