Bill Galvin Passes; Arrangements Set

Published: September 26, 2020 03:57 pm EDT

Trot Insider has learned that Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer William ‘Bill’ Galvin of Mississauga, Ont. has passed away at the age of 89.

A native of Arnprior, Ont., Galvin made a tremendous impact on horse racing in the country -- so much so that he was part of just the second class to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s Communicator category.

Galvin was a Canadian horse racing historian, poet, author, publisher, educator, horseman, humanitarian, publicist, former thoroughbred racing official and executive editor of TROT Magazine.

His promotions transcended racing. He led a charge to bring harness racing onto the ice on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal and expose the sport to thousands of potential fans, one of those a young future Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

He started the Race for MS fundraiser to gain exposure for the sport, and ran numerous other high profile campaigns dedicated to the well-being of horse racing during his career. He was also a member of the Advisory board for the School of Equine Studies at Toronto’s Humber College of Applied Arts.

Galvin was the director of special promotions (harness and thoroughbred) for the Ontario Jockey Club and publicity chairman for the Greenwood Centennial Program. He produced a History of Grand Circuit Racing in Canada and the Golden Horseshoe Circuit Press Book, conducted equine poetry and art competitions for grade school children and organized both trotting under saddle races at Greenwood and intercollegiate harness driving championships.

He published Ballads of the Turf in 2006, was the first publicity chairman of the Sovereign Awards and published a 100-year history of racing at Greenwood and Woodbine. Galvin, the former president of the North American Harness Publicists Association, was a regular weekly contributor to Canadian and U.S. harness trade magazines, and wrote a regular nightly review of the races for the dailies and other media.

More recently, Galvin established 'The Stable That God Loves' as a fundraiser for the Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada. He continued to work with racetrack chaplaincy programs, serving as the Vice-President of the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada Inc. He also delved into Standardbred racehorse ownership, co-owning 2020 two-year-old winner Shes A Sassy Beach with Woodbine Mohawk Park's Ken Middleton.

Bill’s sense of family and loyalty extended into many loving and deep friendships which he cherished and were of great significance to him. He was loved and respected for his many contributions and accomplishments in the horse racing world. Throughout his life, Bill continuously sought ways to help others through which he established many lasting connections. He strongly believed in the healing, friendship and comfort of horses, a love and passion shared with all he met.

Bill will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him. His passion for life, positive outlook, laughter and endless stories are forever ingrained in our hearts. We know he is smiling down on all of us and cheering on his Fighting Irish from the best seats in the house.

Cherished husband of the late Anny (nee Braun). Loving brother of Catherine Wallace (late Jack). Predeceased by his brother Ewart (late Jessie) and his sister Mary Cole (late John). Son of the late Michael and Ethel (nee Millar). Bill was also loved and will be greatly missed by Kurt and Lilly Braun and his large extended family in Ottawa, Mississauga, Michigan and Germany.

Bill’s final care and arrangements have been entrusted to the Pilon Family Funeral Home and Chapel Ltd., Arnprior where a private family visitation will be held. Extended family and friends are welcome to join us on their electronic devices for a live broadcast Funeral Mass which will be celebrated in St. John Chrysostom Church, Arnprior on Tuesday, September 29 at 11 o'clock. Interment Malloch Road Cemetery, Arnprior. For those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bill, please consider the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bill Galvin.

(with files from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)

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