Horseman Ben Bolon of Washington, Pennsylvania passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, after battling health issues. He was 79.
A native of Jerusalem, Ohio, Bolon was the son of Paul W. and Irene Bolon. As a young boy, he quickly picked up his father’s interest in Standardbred horses. He began racing horses at the Ohio fairs with his father and later, when his father began racing horses at The Meadows, followed him there.
At The Meadows, Bolon established himself as a talented driver, picking up catch-drives to win three straight Meadows driving titles in the 1970s, while also operating his own public stable. He trained Open-class horses as well as claimers and young horses.
Although a soft-spoken man, Bolon was a friendly face on The Meadows’ backstretch and participated in activities ranging from softball games to golf tournaments to driving competitions. At one time, announcers at The Meadows called him “Rollin’ Ben Bolon.”
Bolon retired from driving in 2009. His last win came with Its Cool, a horse owned by his nephews, Spencer Kahrig and Kyle Bolon.
In 1990, Bolon married his wife, Darla, who he met at The Meadows. His wife and their daughter, Caitlyn, survive, along with a grandson, Wesley; a brother, horseman Rodney (Sally) Bolon; two sisters, Kitty (Kenneth) Kahrig and Becky McGee; nephews and fellow horsemen, Greg (Kara) Kahrig, Spencer (Dana) Kahrig and Kyle (Sarah) Bolon; and other nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a daughter, Amy Starr, and a sister, Jen Kimble.
Memorial donations may be made to The Meadows Chaplaincy or New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ben Bolon.