adventures of people like Hal Clagett, Alda Hopkins Clark, Billy Christ- mas, Nancy Swett-Escott, Major Goss Stryker, the intrepid riders of the Maryland Hunt Cup, Janon Fisher, Dr. John Gadd, Babe Saportas, the O’Farrell brothers, you name them, tales of their lives and their horses unfolded monthly like chapters in some great version of a 19th century English sporting novel. So it is no wonder that Lucy, until the day she died, believed in the
strength of the Maryland horse industry, revered its rituals and traditions, loved the people associated with the game and devoted her life to writing about the bright spots of the industry, even in its most trying times. She carried on Snowden’s legacy with fl ying colors, and along the way, earned the love and respect of the Maryland horse community. Lucy served as either managing editor or editor of the by-now Mid-
Atlantic T oroughbred for over twenty years, and probably for the last de- cade or so was also editor of the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s Association monthly newsletter. Even when I no longer covered rac- ing, and had long since sold my farm, I looked forward to reading the MTHA newsletter—it is so professionally and astutely written and laid out, covering the issues in a succinct, crisp, but thorough, style. I really don’t know how the MTHA is going to continue the quality of Lucy’s work without her. So, here we are, losing another great link to the Maryland horse indus-
try’s past, another void created in our state’s 300-year-old love aff air with horse and hound and the great conquests and foibles of the people and horses associated with it. However, Lucy can rest assured that she did her part in maintaining the quality and class of the industry that she, like the rest of us, held so dear. In her honor, and others like her, it is our duty to continue to strive and make sure, as best we can, that the Maryland horse industry, and its T oroughbred racing and breeding counterparts, continue to fl ourish in the years ahead. Ross Peddicord, who is the executive director of the Maryland Horse Indus- try Board, began his career as a free-lance writer for the Maryland Horse before enjoying an 18-year career as an award-winning writer for the Bal- timore Sun, covering racing. After the Baltimore Sun, Ross served as Di- rector of Major Gifts and Planned Giving for Mount Saint Mary’s, leaving there to found Maryland Life magazine. Over the last 20 years, Ross has also generously contributed articles and features to T e Equiery.
A Tribute to Lucy Acton from former Maryland Horse/Mid-Atlantic T oroughbred publisher Timothy Capps Today is a sad day for Lucy’s family, the Maryland Horse Breeders As- sociation, and the entire horse community in the state and region. Ross did a wonderful job of capturing her spirit and achievements.
She was quiet, dignifi ed, and passionate about the horse world and about journalism, a stickler for accuracy and good prose, and always apprecia- tive of a well-turned phrase. More than anything, she loved writing about horse people and their horses, and had a true enthusiast’s feel for the richness and depth of Maryland’s horse heritage. Lucy carried the title of managing editor during my time at MHBA and was named editor of the Mid-Atlantic T oroughbred subsequently, but always played an integral (indispensable) role as a planner, coordinator, and executor of all MHBA publications, especially the magazine, not to mention her ongoing work as its lead writer. T e magazine, whether the Maryland Horse or Mid-Atlantic T oroughbred, was the passion of her pro- fessional life, and she lived that passion with style, grace, and the joy of someone making a living doing something that was part of her lifestyle. T e Maryland horse community, and the world in general, awakes this morning with one less good human being in its midst. Timothy Capps is the former executive director of the Maryland Horse Breed-
84 | THE EQUIERY | JULY 2011
ers Association and a former executive vice president of the Maryland Jockey Club. During his tenure in Maryland, he lobbied actively for the establish- ment of slots at the tracks. Now, Tim Capps is the Executive-in-Resident in the College of Business, Equine Program at the University of Louisville.
Sarah Marie Stebbins of Howard County died in a car accident on May 29. She was 21 years old. Stebbins was a riding in- structor as well as a com- petitor. She also worked at the Gray Pony in High- land. Stebbins was born in Baltimore and raised in Elkridge. She was a 2008 graduate of Howard High School. She started riding when she was 11 years old and got her fi rst pony shortly after that. She won many ribbons in eventing, show jumping and dressage. Anita L. Pyle of Walkersville passed away on May 14 at the age of 94. Born in Washington, DC, Pyle was an offi ce manager for the Depart- ment of Defense and retired after more than 30 years of service. Pyle enjoyed horseback riding in her youth. Daryl Stewart, 76, of Burkittsville, died on April 25 at her daughter
Kimberly Stewart’s home in Ocala. Stewart worked at the University of Maryland from 1967 to 1995 advising undergraduate students going into nursing and pharmacy. After retiring, Stewart worked in the devel- opment and management of her horse farm, Glenwillow Farm, where her daughter was also a hunter and jumper trainer. Stewart was born in Honolulu, raised in Ithaca, NY and graduated from Cornell University where she earned a doctorate in animal nutrition. She was a member of the Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Horse Council. T omas Jeff erson Baker of Laurel died on May 12 at the age of 82. Baker began galloping horses in 1944 and then went on to work as a sta- ble hand at Blue Stone Farm when he was 17 years old. In 1947, he won his fi rst race as an offi cial jockey aboard Bungalease at Havre de Grace. From 1951 to 1953, Baker took a break from Maryland racing while serving in the Army’s 194th Tank Battalion. Once discharged from the Army, Baker began working as assistant trainer to Bernie Bond. Eleven years later, Baker took out his own trainer’s license. His training barn often had about 30 horses in it. In 1972, Baker retired from training but stayed active in Maryland racing, working as a patrol judge and placing judge. In 1978 he became chief assistant to Larry Abbundi, who was then the racing secretary of Laurel, Pimlico and Bowie. In 1993, Baker took over this position. In 1999, Baker received the Maryland Racing Writers’ Association’s Humphrey S. Finney Award for lifetime achievement. Notley Joseph Off utt of Walkersville died on May 7 at the age of 70.
He rode horses and participated in team penning competitions. T oroughbred trainer David Lee Sipe, 58, of Lothian died on May
30. Sipe was the fi rst 18-year-old to receive a license as a T oroughbred racehorse trainer. He worked out of tracks in Upper Marlboro, Bowie and Laurel from 1971 until 2006. Charles F. Carbaugh, 83, of Owings Mills died on May 31. He trained horses at the Old Coliseum in Baltimore City. Carbaugh was also a bricklayer and a superintendent at the Cycle Shack in Randallstown. Algard Bell of New Windsor died on June 5 at the age of 90. Bell
served in World War II in the Navy. He was a self-employed accountant whose clients included the Maryland Horse Racing Commission, Balti- more Colts and Maryland Sports Authority.
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