Bob Farrington Arrangements Set

Published: October 14, 2014 11:32 am EDT

The man most associated with fabled pacer Rambling Willie, horseman Bob Farrington passed away Monday afternoon from an apparent heart attack at the age of 85.

One of harness racing's first superstar trainer-drivers, especially in the Chicago circuit, Farrington was a six-time national driving champion, taking the title in 1961 and 1962 and again from 1964 through 1967.

Born in Richwood, Ohio on July 15, 1929, Farrington won 36 driving titles with 30 of them coming on Chicago-area tracks, including six at both Sportsman's Park and Washington Park.

Elected to the Harness Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 1979, Farrington was the first driver ever to win 200 races in a season (1961), first to win 300 races in a season (1964), first to win 300 races twice, and first to win 300 races three times.

During a 1963 program at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, Farrington drove six times and won all six races. Farrington retired from driving with 3,163 victories in 1992 and went on to be a high profile trainer.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Bob campaigned Rambling Willie, written about as "The Horse That God Loved" in a novel by Philip S. Pikelny and Donald P. Evans. The pacer later toured North America, racing and signing his book with his unique hoof mark.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home in Richwood, Ohio, on Sunday (Oct. 19). Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 20), with interment at York Cemetary.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, 240 Main St. Goshen, NY 10924; or Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association, 157 N. Main St., Salem, NH 03079 for the Rambling Willie Scholarship.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bob Farrington.

(with files from Harnesslink)

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