Robert Tucker, the owner of Stonegate Farm in Glen Gardner, N.J., passed away early Sunday morning in New Jersey. He was 90.
Tucker and Stonegate bred and raced many top performers over the years, with his horses trained by his friend Ed Lohmeyer. One of their first top horses together was the pacer Landslide. Among their recent stakes winners was the filly pacer Ideal Nuggets. Another recent stakes winner was Classic Lane, winner of the O'Brien Award as Canada's top older trotting mare in 2009. Tucker also bred this year's Breeders Crown finalist All Bets Off.
While Stonegate Farm has been the birthplace of champions, it also was the one-time home of the great pacing stallion Cam Fella. In addition, Stonegate also stood the stallions Pacific Fella, Albert Albert and Dream Away. Stonegate has another yearling consignment in Harrisburg next month.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Robert Tucker was raised on Long Island, about 12 miles from Roosevelt Raceway. His father owned Standardbreds and as a youngster Bob attended riding camps and participated in horse shows. In 1935 the Tucker family moved to a farm in Morristown, N.J., and they had a full assortment of livestock, including horses, pigs and chickens. As a teenager Tucker worked on a dairy farm and fell in love with farm life.
Tucker was graduated from high school in Highstown, N.J., then served in the Navy Air Corps during World War II. He then earned a bachelor's degree at Wesleyan University and a master's degree in economics from Brown University. Bob began his career at Banker's Trust Company on Wall Street but returned to New Jersey in 1954 when he joined the Beneficial Corporation in Peapack. By 1969 he was the company's chief financial officer.
In 1960 he purchased the property he named Stonegate Farm, growing to 350 acres, which is in the New Jersey agricultural preservation program.
Tucker served on the board of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for many years and was appointed head of the board by Governor Thomas Keen. He was also a director of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association for many years, representing breeders.
In 2009, Tucker received the Harness Racing Musuem & Hall of Fame's Pinnacle Award for his support of the museum's work. As president of the CTW Foundation of Wilmington, Del., he arranged for significant support of the Harness Racing Museum's traveling exhibit of its Currier & Ives art collection.
Robert Tucker is survived by his wife, Lauren; six children and 10 grandchildren.
A celebration of Mr. Tucker's life will include a visitation from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 28) at William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Road (Corner of Rt. 206), Chester, N.J. On Saturday (Oct. 29), a service will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Lamington Presbyterian Church, 300 Lamington Rd., Bedminster, NJ 07921. Following the service a reception will be held at Stonegate Standardbred Farm, 508 West Hill Rd., Glen Gardner, NJ 08826. Burial will be held privately at Hilltop Cemetery, Mendham, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetman Lane, Millstone Twp., NJ 08535, or Morristown Medical Center Foundation, 475 South St., Morristown, NJ 07960, Attn: Hospice and Palliative Care Unit.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bob Tucker.
I stayed at the same motel as
I stayed at the same motel as Bob for a number of years when I went to the Harrisburg sale. Bob said he liked staying there because they had a really good restaurant and it was a short walk to his room after a couple of glasses of wine. I am sure he never knew my name but we often talked. I also bought some yearlings off of him. Bob has been at that sale as long as can remember. A nice guy. My condolences to the Tucker family.
A true fan of harness racing.
A true fan of harness racing. In my limited meetings with him I must say no one was ever happier you were looking at his yearlings or more congratulatory when you bought one. My condolences.
My condolences to the Tucker
My condolences to the Tucker family. Horse racing has lost one of its greatest supporters. RIP Mr Tucker.