Former trainer Laurie Hussey passes on

Businessman and former racehorse trainer, Laurie Hussey, patriarch of the Hussey racing family, died early Monday morning at age 76, following a long illness.

Hussey, who had been ailing with cancer for some time, was a top-flight trainer at Caymanas Park in the early and mid-70s before migrating to the United States with his family at the beginning of 1978. He returned home many years later.

Hussey's family includes his wife, Ruth Hussey, a former champion owner; sons Percy, trainer; and Hall of Fame jockey, Charles, a former champion who has ridden more than 1,000 winners at Caymanas Park.

The Husseys are owners of the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel on Waterloo Road, and also the Long Pond and Hampden Sugar Estates - operating under the Everglades Farms brand - among other business interests.

Hussey saddled a total of 197 winners at Caymanas Park. Some of his best known horses were the 'A1' campaigners RAMVIN, STAR DANCER, AEROQUIP and the 1974 Oaks winner, TITANIA, along with WINDOVER LASS, BLUE FELLA, VICTORIAN AGE, ODE TO SPRING, PRINCE CHARMING and FREEZIN' FAST, on whom Charles, then a 12-year-old Jamaica College student, rode his first winner in 1971.

Laurie is survived by Ruth, five children and 13 grandchildren.

Hussey joins a growing list of persons associated with local racing to have died in recent months. They are trainers Lloyd 'Bigga' Gordon and Robert A. Taylor, as well as jockeys Anthony Baker and Kemar Lynch. Taylor died from a stroke as recent as last Wednesday night.

- O.C.