Eugene Pokornowski Passes

Published: May 8, 2018 10:54 am EDT

Standardbred horse owner Eugene R. Pokornowski, 77, passed away on Friday, May 4.

Pokornowski and his brother Raymond co-owned a number of Standardbreds and raced them at Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs. A member of the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association, he continued racing horses until about 10 years ago.

In partnership the Pokornowski brothers co-owned Murph Ofthe Turf ($102,208), one of the most popular Standardbreds to campaign on the western New York circuit in the 1970s.

Pokornowski and his brother bought Wally’s Club 20 in Kaisertown in 1969; they updated the place and renamed it Porky’s Amber Lounge.

“They remodelled it to how they wanted the bar and they never changed it,” said his grandson, Craig Pokornowski. “His pride and joy was that bar. It was his dream.”

Porky’s, at 2028 Clinton St. near South Ogden St., became a fixture in one of Buffalo’s old-time neighborhoods, and Pokornowski could be found behind the bar until just recently.

He was a lifelong parishioner at St. Casimir’s Catholic Church and a member of the Holy Name Society.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, the former Frances E. Ramsey; daughters, Lynn Sokolik and Allison Winkowski; sons, James and Scott; brother, Leonard; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday (May 8) in Fourteen Holy Helpers Catholic Church, 1350 Indian Church Road, West Seneca.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Eugene Pokornowski.

(USTA)

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