Almer Holmes Passes
Longtime horseman Almer James Holmes passed away peacefully at Brantford General Hospital on Saturday, April 26 in his 84th year.
A year ago Almer suffered a stroke, dealt with Alzheimer's disease, and lately a bedsore and Influenza B, which took his life.
Beloved husband of 57 years to Madeline. Dear father of Bill (Allison), Mike (Nancy), Keith (Patricia), and 10 grand children.
Almer was a lifelong horseman racing Standardbred horses all over Ontario with his son Mike. He was a skilled farrier all his life serving some of the best Standardbred horses and trainers all over central Ontario. Almer raced horses himself as far back as 1954 at such tracks as Old Woodbine Raceway, Garden City, Connaught Park, Rideau Carleton Raceway, Richelieu Park, and all the current tracks in Ontario. After retiring from shoeing at the age of 65, Almer continued to train a few Standardbreds with his son Mike right up until three years ago, also raising beef cattle and pigs on his farm.
Almer was a member of the Rainy Lake Hunt Camp for over 32 years.
Friends may call at Marlatt Funeral Home "Swackhamer Chapel," 195 King Street West, Dundas on Tuesday, April 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, April 30 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Stenabaugh Cemetery.
In kindness, donations to the Canadian Standardbred Adoption Society would be appreciated by the family.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Almer Holmes.
Another old friend gone.
Another old friend gone. Deepest sympathy to the Holmes Family. I had a picture of Almer, Dick Johnson and I standing in the paddock at Connaught in the mid fifties.
John and Mary Jane Findley
Our condolences to the family
Our condolences to the family on Almer's passing. Almer trained horses for my father in the early 60's and developed several top horses of that era including Baron Atom and Niagara Chance. As a farrier he was unsurpassed, a real perfectionist, none better at getting yearlings to stand right.
Brian and Gay Webster
ALMER was friends with my
ALMER was friends with my parents since i was young child WE Had many visit by ALMER at our house He was perfect gentleman and a very sharp horseman That will sadly be missed my condolence go the HOLMES family RIP