Maryland Will Miss T oroughbred trainer,
breeder and racehorse owner Nancy Alberts died on May 3 at the age of 65. Although born in Pennsylvania, Al- berts based her racing opera- tion out of her small farm in Sykesville. Best know as the owner of Magic Weisner, who almost won the 2002 Preakness Stakes,
Alberts
was the 2002 Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s Association Trainer of the Year. Alberts was a very hands-on horsewoman, doing much of the farm work and horse training on her own. She even exercised Magic Weisner herself in preparation for the Preakness. Alberts raced in point- to-points as a teen and then got a job working as a groom and exercise rider for James Simpson before branching out on her own. George Franklin Leaf II died on April 24 at the age of 51 at his home in Hampstead. Leaf was an avid horseman involved with T oroughbred racing in Maryland. Gertrude H. Crist of Howard County died on April 21 at the age of
92. Born in North Dakota, Crist moved to Maryland in 1938 and soon took a job at the University of Maryland, College Park in the Exten- sion Service department. She later joined the Department of Commerce. She married Howard G. Crist in 1940 and in 1951 moved to Glenelg. T e couple established Farm and Home Service, Inc., a Southern States Cooperative, which had branches in Ellicott City and Skyesville. T ey sold the business to their son in 1978. Crist was also heavily involved with promoting education in Howard County and was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Denise “DeeDee” Ann Lohr died on March 21 at the age of 46 in
Deer Park. She was the owner and operator of Happy Healthy Horses and was a volunteer for the Garrett County Humane Society as an ani- mal control offi cer. Lohr was also a horse trainer and owner and was a race widow to Team 96, Swampcreek Racing. World War II combat veteran and Carroll County farm owner Joseph Michael Gardiner died on March 28 at the age of 84. Gardiner owned a horse named Champ, who was supposedly related to Seabiscuit, during his early life and in 1972, he purchased his own farm to breed horses, and raised some cows as well. Gardiner was the owner of Heer Brothers mechanical contractors in Baltimore City. One of his many projects was in the Pimlico Race Course clubhouse. Trainer, breeder and blacksmith Norman
L. Hoff died on April 23 at the age of 74. He owned a farm in New Windsor where he bred and trained primarily racehorses. After returning to the U.S. from serving in the Army in Germany, Hoff worked for Shamrock Farm in Woodbine exercising racehorses. He went on to ride for Mel- rose Stables, Vernon Krebs, John Shaeff er, Benray Farm, Derby Hill Farm and at the Bowie Race Track. In the 1960s, Hoff be-
84 | THE EQUIERY | JUNE 2011
came a farrier and shod local horses up until his death. Earlier in life, Hoff showed horses with his family on the local hunter circuit as well as with several area hunt clubs. He was involved with the Westminster Livestock Auction for 31 years. Martha “Marty” Rice died on May 17 at the age of 68 in Frederick. Rice was an eighth- generation master saddler at T e Horse Fair in Olney and later was an independent saddler. Rice began her saddlery apprenticeship at the age of just 14 and went on to study saddle fi t- ting and making in England at the Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Her custom-made sad- dles and tack were much sought after. One such was a sidesaddle made for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy during her time at the White House. Rice also showed horses, was a groom and spent some time at Laurel Racetrack as an exercise rider. She eventually owned and raced T oroughbreds out of Laurel. In 1986, Rice and Janet Sauber founded J.M. Saddler, Inc. Total Leather Cleaner and Products. Rice was also an avid supporter and volunteer with the Frederick County 4-H and was a Girl Scouts troop leader.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
A fond farewell to Potomac Hunt professional whipper-in Steve Currey and his wife Kelley, who are moving to Denver, Colorado where Skip will be the kennel huntsman for the Arapahoe Hunt.
GETTING MARRIED? HAVING A BABY?
WANT TO SEND A GET WELL MESSAGE?
MOVING OUT OF STATE? COMING TO MARYLAND?
SEND YOUR NEWS TO THE EQUIERY! EMAIL:
EDITOR@EQUIERY.COM
ON THE MEND
A speedy recovery to… …Kathleen Tabor, who is recovering from a second shoulder surgery;
…Waredaca Horse Trials “gate keeper” Skip Simmons, who is recovering from surgery.
Please send your wedding, birth and death announcements, and any photos, to
editor@equiery.com. Photos accompanying submissions must be sized at 3” x 5” and 300 dpi, and must include the names of all individuals in the photos, along with the photographer’s name.
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www.equiery.com
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