Longtime Standardbred breeder, owner, trainer and driver Paul Kurtz passed away on August 25 at the Guelph General Hospital. He was 77.
The Ariss, Ont. horseman was also a professional engineer, and designed the half-mile ovals at Flamboro Downs, Grand River Raceway, plus some tracks at training centres in Ontario. During his design of Flamboro Downs at the age of 33, he was chosen to serve as director of racing as well as overseeing the building of the track.
In the ‘70s, Kurtz’s Flamboro model was an entirely new design based on a different ratio of banking on the turns and featured an all-weather stone dust base. The aim was to reduce the need to slow down in the turns as well as minimizing the stress on horses’ legs and muscles. The new track was 80 feet wide, making it wider than any other Ontario track.
Kurtz also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Woolwich Agricultural Society (which owned and operated Elmira Raceway), and later the Grand River Agricultural Society (which owns and operates Grand River Raceway). He was an instrumental part of the team which brought Grand River Raceway to fruition in 2003.
Family and friends are invited to the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph for visitation on Wednesday, August 27 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a vigil to be held at 6:45 p.m. Funeral mass to be celebrated at St. Boniface Church, 1394 Maryhill Rd., Maryhill, on Thursday, August 28 at 10 a.m. with burial at St. Boniface Cemetery, Maryhill to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to New Hope Animal Rescue, the Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Foundation, or to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Cards are available at the funeral home (519-821-5077) or condolences may be left online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.
Paul’s complete obituary can be found here.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Paul Kurtz.
(Grand River Raceway)
