It has been announced that longtime horseman and racing administrator John Ratchford passed away on Tuesday, September 6, surrounded by his adoring family, at his home in North Sydney. John lost his brave battle with cancer just eight days short of his 78th birthday.

Precious husband for 19 years to Linda Shepherd Ratchford and amazing father to his five children, there are no words to describe the void his loss will leave in our lives.

John (born September 14, 1938) is survived by his daughters, Eileen ‘Susie’ Gouthro and Karl, Tanya Romeo and Carey, Beverly ( MacRae) Ratchford and Ron and by his sons, John Jr. and Michael and Lisa. Also surviving John are his three step-children, Jennifer MacEachern (Larry), Murdoch MacEachern (Danielle) and Alan MacEachern (Shauna).

His large family includes his four grandchildren, Amanda Ratchford (Kyle Davis), Caelin Romeo (Jason Reynders), Carey Romeo (Sydnee Parker) and Ella MacRae; five step-grandchildren, Evan MacEachern, Nathan MacEachern, Andi, Penny and Oliver MacEachern, as well as two beautiful great-grandsons, Owen Davis and Jaxx Reynders, all of whom he considered to be the smartest children ever born.

His brothers, David (Marguerite) and Greg and sister, Elise (Marcel Jackman), will forever long for the company of their big brother. John was greatly loved by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Shirley and Joe Leblanc, Joan Byers, Georgie and Angus Stewart and Thelma and George McInnis.

In January 1995, John lost his wife of 36 years Mary (O’Neil) Ratchford, always loved and missed by John, his children and grandchildren. Mary’s family, Sonny and Ann O’Neil, Reni and Ann (O’Neil) Patry and Beverly O’Neil will miss him greatly.

John was also predeceased by his parents, Lorne and Felicie Ratchford; brothers-in-law, Michael and Eddie O’Neil; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Johnson, as well as beloved cousins on both sides of his family.

For almost 60 years, John’s own business as an insurance broker earned him the title of gentleman and friend by countless clients. For many years his focus was home and auto insurance and of course horse insurance and later as a broker he dealt with life and health and investments. John’s life blood was his horses, beginning with his very first, Jolly Marl, when he was just 21 and thereafter too many to count. He could take a horse apart and put it back together and loved every minute he spent at his beloved barn.

For the past few years a great source of pride for John was the fact that his grandson, Carey Romeo, was involved in harness racing and drove his Papa’s horses! For the past three years John has been the main man at Northside Downs and worked tirelessly to help make it successful.

In October, John and his brother, David will be inducted into the Northside Sports Hall of Fame, an honour which made John extremely proud.

John’s wonderful legacy of courage, love, energy, humour and mentorship gained him an unbelievable circle of friends who showered him with loving respect throughout his illness.

Thank you John – Thank you for everything!

Visitation for John will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church with Rev. Patrick O’Neill officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton or the VON.

Online condolences may be sent to wjdooley.com.

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