Visitation and a celebration of life will be held March 2 in Montreal for colourful sports journalist and country singer Guy Emond, who died Feb. 6, age 77, at a long-term care facility in Joliette, Quebec.
Emond, who'd been suffering from diabetes and other health issues, had strong ties to harness racing. He often wrote about the sport while employed at Montreal Matin, Dimanche Matin and Le Journal de Montreal, and was a regular at Blue Bonnets racetrack.
His brother Claude, who died a year ago at 76, was a longtime horseman, and son Danny worked as track announcer at both Blue Bonnets and Connaught Park.
In a wide-ranging 2014 interview on YouTube taped outside the abandoned grandstand at Hippodrome de Montreal, Emond said the death of horse racing in Montreal hurt him even more than the departure of his beloved Expos, "because I knew all the guys and their families."
He also tells interviewer Jean-Charles Lajoie "I'll die poor, but happy. I had fun."
He is survived by sons Danny and Jean-Marc, sister Michelle, brothers Jean and Andre, and three grandchildren.
Visitation will extend from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Salon Funeraire Lajeunesse Fortin Cenac, 8005 Notre-Dame Street E., Montreal, with a tribute set for 4:00 p.m. The commemoration will continue after at Beaubien Deli, 4023 Beaubien St. E.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Guy Emond.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)
My sympathy to Danny, Jean
My sympathy to Danny, Jean Marc and rest of family. Guy was truly a unique and iconic character. Ever excitable, always gracious. He probably died with little money, I hope he was happy. For sure, he contributed to the happiness of the people around him.
Mes sympathies a Danny et
Mes sympathies a Danny et Jean Marc
Quand j étais jeune je lui écrivais souvent au journal de montréal et il prenais toujours le temps de me répondre c étais grandement apprécié
Plus tard je l ai rencontré souvent a Blue Bonnets et dans les hippo clubs quelle personnage attachante qui étais facile d approche de jasé de sport avec lui
On perd une légende il en aura pas deux comme lui
Mes sinceres condoleances a
Mes sinceres condoleances a la famille Emond pour leur perte d'un GRAND PASSIONER DES COURSES SOUS HARNAIS, quel BON VIVANT. LES ANCIENNES FAMILLES DES COURSES, qui le connaissait,viennent de perdres le MEILLEUR. Encore une fois, mes condoleances.