The very well respected horseman George Gilmour, who passed away two and half years ago, was memorialized at Monticello Raceway on Monday, July 6 with a race named in his honour.
Gilmour, one of four famous driving brothers including Hall of Famer Buddy Gilmour, was a longtime regular at Monticello Raceway and during the 1960s and '70s his name could always be found near the top of the drivers standings, both in races won and driving percentage.
A career horseman, Gilmour became a 'Mighty M' regular in 1965 when Buddy sent a stable of racehorses to compete here with George in charge.
An easy going affable gentleman, Gilmour reined 1,802 winners during his driving career. Later in life, he concentrated on training and developed the multiple stakes winner Dexter Nukes, a winner of 19 of 29 races during the 1989 campaign. The son of No Nukes bankrolled $1,027,602 during that year and earned a record of 1:51:3 when that clocking was not as normal as it is today.
His wife, Pat (John Campbell’s aunt), and their children, along with family and friends were on hand for the presentation in the race won by Jimmy Marohn up behind Valentine De Vie.
Also that afternoon, Kyle DiBenedetto moved closer to a career milestone when he reined two winners on the card and now is just 15 wins away from 5,000.
(With files from Monticello)