Longtime Pompano Park horseman Fred Cohen passed on Thursday (Dec. 14) after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 66.

Cohen's career stretched over more than four decades in which he sent 703 horses to the winner's circle. Though he also drove—sparingly—he piloted well over 150 winners, with his last one earlier this year with Thekeptman in a Florida Amateur Driving Club event.

"I love that club," he recently remarked, "because they do so much good for so many people."

Among his many successes over the years were Prairie Tracker, who dominated the Open Fillies and Mares events when she raced, Buttler, Fox Ridge Eric, Karen Miller, and Legacy Franco, of which competed in high-class claiming events.

When asked recently about a few of his most memorable highlights during his career, he said, "Well, the trotter Youre Next is right up there, I'll tell you that."

Youre Next won the first 13 starts of his career under the guidance of Cohen.

Another 2017 highlight was in the Sweetheart Pace, which was won by the Cohen-trained Cabo Real in 1:53.1 with driver Laurie Poulin.

When asked what advice he gave his Sweetheart driver before the race, Cohen said, "I told her to drive him like Wally Hennessey would drive him—nothing more!"

Laurie sent Cabo Real right to the front and led the entire route, winning by almost two lengths.

"See," he smiled, "you did exactly what I told you to do!"

A memorial will be held honoring Fred Cohen at a later date.

(Pompano Park)