Carl Becker Passes

Carl Becker, a 2018 inductee into the Communicators’ Corner of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY, passed away on Monday after a brief illness. He was 84.

Carl, a native of St. Elmo, Illinois, entered the harness racing industry as a breeder, owner, and track announcer in 1964. A protégé of Hall of Famer Stan Bergstein, Carl served as track announcer for Grand Circuit meetings at various Midwestern fairs, including Springfield, DuQuoin, and Indianapolis, as well as the Fall Trots at Lexington’s Red Mile. He also worked for many of the sport’s premier auction houses as a sales announcer, including the Standardbred Horse Sales Co., P.W. Tully’s Garden State Sales Co., the Lexington Selected Sales Co., Tattersalls, and the Blooded Horse Sales Co.

A 1958 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he was named Outstanding Senior in the College of Agriculture, Carl was co-founder of both the Illini Classic and Hoosier Classic Sales Companies, and he served on the board of directors of both the Illinois Standardbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association (ISOBA) and the Downstate Classic, Inc. He also served a stint as superintendent of speed at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in the late 1960s.

Carl established Fair Meadow Farm in 1980 and bred the winners of $40 million over the course of the past four decades.

Carl is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 60 years, as well as sons Jon, Kurt, and Kris. Kull Funeral Home, 114 W. Washington Ave., Altamont, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association or the donor’s choice.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Carl Becker.

(USTA)