Horseman James 'Jimmy' H. Kennedy of Pompano Beach, Florida, passed away on Thursday, March 9, at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. He was 65.
Born Feb. 1, 1952, in Bay City, Michigan, Mr. Kennedy was the son of the late James D. and Gay (Young) Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy trained harness horses for many years, with Joe Hurley's Roll The Dice Stable and Arthur Courtemache among his clients. He winter trained his stable at the Pompano Park training side. He had many friends on the backstretch.
The most notable of Mr. Kennedy’s horses were Shannon Supreme, who finished second in a heat of the 1987 Little Brown Jug, and Aint No Stopn Me p,3, 1:55.1h ($300,747), granddam of 2016 Horse of the Year Always B Miki. Aint No Stopn Me was also the 1995 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes two-year-old filly pace champion. Other winners included 1994 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champ All I Got; Matron winner Vagabond Heart; Spurred On; Jus Chillin Out p,3, 1:50.3 ($303,801); and his homebred Mister Sea p,4, 1:54.3f ($249,859).
In the last decade, Mr. Kennedy became a licensed racing official and for a period of time, until his health failed him, was the starter at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
He is survived by two daughters, Brenna Kennedy (fiancé Matt Rogers) of Ellenville, New York, and Danielle Kennedy (Klaus Busch) of Delanson, New York; and an aunt, Marie Bergweiler of Michigan. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers and sisters.
As per Mr. Kennedy’s wishes, there will be no services. Arrangements are under the guidance of Loucks Funeral Home, 79 North Main St., Ellenville, N.Y.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetmans Lane, Suite 101, Millstone Twp, N.J., 08535.
To send a personal condolence to the family please visit www.loucksfh.com.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jim Kennedy.
(harnessracing.com)