Robert L. "Bobby"
Gordon, 65, dies
Monday, July 17, 2006 - by Chris
Schick, for the Sacramento Harness
Association
Robert L. “Bobby” Gordon, 65, for
more than 40 years a noted
driver-trainer and track executive,
died this past Friday. Gordon is
survived by his wife of 32 years
Kris, and four daughters, Sonia,
Gina, Abby, and Sabrina.
Bobby Gordon
Gordon got his start in Ohio under
trainer-driver Bob Farrington and
went on to dominate the West Coast
circuit as a trainer, from the late
70s until the early 90s. He trained
many great stars, including BC
Dauber, Theora Hanover, Peety, Stand
By, Pack leader, and Calvary
Officer.
He was a past president of the
Western Standardbred Association and
the California Horse Breeders’
Association, and in the early 1990s
served as a director of the U.S.
Trotting Association. He was
president of Premier Harness Racing
at Los Alamitos, and was very
instrumental in keeping harness
racing alive in California in the
mid 90s.
At the time of his passing Gordon
was director of backstretch
operations for the Sacramento
Harness Association, and was very
instrumental in starting the new
not-for-profit corporation, which
operates the current meet at
Cal-Expo Raceway.
Services will be held this Wednesday
at 3:30 pm (PDT) at St. Ignatius
Loyola Church, 3235 Arden Way, in
Sacramento.
The fourth race at Cal-Expo on
Wednesday will be the Bobby Gordon
Memorial, and a winner’s circle
ceremony will also be conducted.
