Horseman Bruce Weymouth McGhee, the owner of McGhees' Mile in Aiken, South Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, February 7 at the age of 89.

McGhee absolutely loved his facility, which had been known as the Aiken Mile Track before it was renamed.

“He liked flying his plane and helicopters in his spare time,” Bruce’s wife, Janis, has told the Aiken Standard. “But he told me he got more of a thrill behind the starting gate when they said go (during a harness race) than when he was flying.”

Bruce relocated his family to Aiken in the late ‘70s. It was a match made in heaven.

“Somebody came to him and said, ‘You ought to go to Aiken. It’s a really nice place, and there is a track there that might be for sale,’” Janis explained. “He had never heard of Aiken before, but when he got here, he fell in love with the town and the track. He liked the atmosphere because it was a horsey community. The people were really nice and friendly to him. And the track was beautiful, with big oak trees and red clay that was great for the horses’ feet.”

The article explains that this year’s edition of the annual McGhees’ Mile Standardbred Races is scheduled to take place on March 10, but they will be renamed the Bruce McGhee Memorial Harness Races.

The Aiken Standard piece explains that in addition to his wife Janis, Bruce is survived by four sons – Robert, Mark, Bruce Jr. and Matt – and three daughters – Bonnie Jean, Jessica and Ashley.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bruce McGhee.

(With files from the Aiken Standard)