Harness Tracks of America has announced that Brody Johnson, its brilliant young executive assistant, was found dead yesterday afternoon in his home in Fort

Collins, Colorado.

Johnson, a graduate of the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona, had worked with Stan Bergstein and Paul Estok at HTA the past six years, producing the monthly racing surveys and studies that have been a shining highlight of research for member tracks of HTA.

Brody was taking graduate courses at Colorado State University while producing his monthly reports and telecommuting to HTA.

Estok, who had mentored Brody during his days at the RTIP and at HTA, was Brody’s closest friend. Estok and Bergstein are en route to Fort Collins.

Johnson, extremely intelligent and gregarious, was popular with all who knew him. He played a key role in all HTA operations and at HTA’s annual meetings, and was working on plans for the upcoming meeting in March at the time of his death.

Johnson's latest project was editing the monumental HTA survey of racino legislation issued this week.

Harness Tracks of America sent out condolences today to Johnson's family and friends for the shocking loss. Also, please join Standardbred Canada in sending out condolences to the family and friends of Brody Johnson.

(With files from HTA)