Trot Insider has learned that longtime Ontario Jockey Club track superintendent Kurt Bernhard Jabelmann, who many referred to as ‘the man with the cigar in his mouth,’ has passed away at the age of 83.

Jabelmann passed away during the early-morning hours of Wednesday, June 1, 2016 while at Barnswallow Place Care Community in Elmira, Ont.

Jabelmann was born in Grabow, Germany on September 22, 1932. At the age of 18, he travelled to Canada looking for work. He managed to get his first job as a lumberjack in Kapuskasing, Ontario. It was a real experience for him. After a year and a half, he left the lumber camp to go south to Fort Erie for warmer weather. He was hired to work on the Peace Bridge before a Fort Erie Race Track job was offered to him – he took it.

At the race track, Jabelmann soon became the track superintendent for the Ontario Jockey Club. He remained employed with Ontario Jockey Club for his entire working life – roughly four decades. Jabelmann retired at the age of 60 while working at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont. Jabelmann was very well respected at the OJC. The organization and horsemen alike both had a lot of love and respect for him. In addition to his wealth of other duties, Jabelmann oversaw the building of barns on the OJC circuit and was commonly the first and last man working at the track on any given day. Long hours, dedication and thorough work were just some of Jabelmann’s trademarks, as were passion, love and appreciation for his job and others.

Jabelmann enjoyed his work immensely, as he enjoyed people, job variety and animals. In turn, animals of all kinds loved Kurt. As a child, Jabelmann slept with the cows and harnessed the horses for the field work. His communication with animals was amazing. After retirement, Kurt started a small dog boarding kennel. Always a giver, he truly served and helped others in need in a true Christian way. Because of this, he will always be remembered for his kindness, cigars and captivating stories. Jabelmann was a proud Canadian and gave back by taking in foster children for many years.

Kurt leaves behind wife Vanessa, son Brian (Alison Read), grandson Travis, niece Annegret Colquhoun, nephews Hans and Ernst Goetze, childhood friends Walter and Erika Wolfrath and will be missed by his many extended family and friends.

Family will receive friends on Monday, June 6, 2016 at the MacKinnon Family Funeral Home, 55 Mill Street East, Acton, ON from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a funeral service commencing at 12 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. Interment to follow at Eden Mills Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be left either on the MacKinnon Family Funeral Home website (by clicking here) or below this notice.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Kurt Jabelmann.