Lorne David Ratchford of North Sydney, N.S. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 with his loving family by his side, at the age of 80.

Born in North Sydney on March 15, 1944, Dave was the son of the late Lorne and Félicie (Bénac) Ratchford. On Sept. 3, 1966, Dave married the love of his life, Marguerite, and they rode off together in a horse and buggy to begin their amazing life. Within four years, they had four daughters, and the family then became known as “Dave, Marg and the Girls.” As a father, he modelled patience, love, support and created a close-knit unit. He was a great man who loved spending time with family and friends. Known to many as “Poppy,” his home was open to all, where you could hear him telling great stories of his life that was filled with excitement and adventure. His love and support for others had no boundaries as it extended beyond family to friends, neighbours and those he connected with.  

Throughout the years, he had many interesting and successful careers.In his younger years, he was employed with CN Marine and CN Rail. He retired as partner of Salter Ratchford Insurance in 2007. However, his true passion and talent was showcased when selecting yearlings, training, driving and owning over 375 horses in his lifetime. His harness racing career started at the age of 16 when he bought his first horse. Dave had stables at tracks locally, throughout Nova Scotia, Ontario and the U.S., from Foxboro to as far south as Pompano. He loved to win and he drove to victory more than 1,300 times. Some career highs were winning the Governor’s Plate in 1970, the Maritime Breeders Dairy Queen Race in 1990 with Charlottes Buddy, and driving in The Gold Cup and Saucer with Opal Creed in 1970. His two and three-year-old colts and fillies have won several Atlantic Sires Stakes races and Ontario Sires Stakes races. Some most notable include: LJ Super Chief, Charlottes Buddy, Silver Dragon, Dunville Chips, Eat Me Up, Ms Mac N Cheese and Denali Seelster.  His greatest success was his stallion, Century Farroh, who won the Breeders Crown and the North America Cup Consolation, along with many other top races, and received three prestigious O’Brien Awards in 2019 and 2020. He also served as Director of the Maritime Breeders Association and The Northside Horseman’s Association and was inducted into the Northside and Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame.

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Dave is survived by his loving daughters Bernadette (Jim) MacNeil, Lorna (Patrick) O’Grady, Monica (Claude) Sampson and Karen (Glenn) Cox, and his 12 cherished grandchildren Haley, Brennan and Kate MacNeil, Emily, Brendan, Kieran and Molly O’Grady, Chase, Lenee and Luc Sampson and Blake and Shann Cox. Also surviving are his sister Elise Ratchford (Marcel Jackman), brother Greg Ratchford, his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Kay and Malcolm Batherson, Johnnie and Karen MacMillan, Normie and Linda MacMillan, Malcolmand Linda MacMillan, Leo Doyle, Linda Ratchford and Mary Beth MacMillan, along with several special cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friend Muriel Wilkie.

He was predeceased by his loving wife Marguerite (MacMillan) Ratchford, his parents Lorne and Félicie, brother John, sisters-in-law Mary Ratchford, Diane MacMillan and Mary Ann Doyle, brothers-in-law Dennis and Charlie MacMillan, and father and mother-in-law Norman and Frances MacMillan.  

The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick O’Grady as well as the entire staff of the ICU at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for all their care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Alzheimer’s Society or to the charity of one’s choice.

Visitation will take place at W. J. Dooley’s Funeral Home on Friday, June 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral to take place under the direction of Fr. Doug MacDonald at St. Joseph’s Parish, Archibald Ave., North Sydney on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. Reception immediately following at the Northern Yacht Club, Seaview Drive, North Sydney.  

The family was blessed to spend an incredible amount of time together, travelling around the world, having suppers together and just “horsin’ around.” The countless memories are special and will live on forever.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of David Ratchford.