Longtime steward Hicks dies at 88

David Hicks, a former trainer turned steward, died Monday at Kindred Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., following a long illness. He was 88.

Hicks began on the racetrack as a groom and worked as a foreman for trainer George Handy in New England. Hicks took out his trainer’s license in 1951 at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He built a successful public stable and trained for owner Peter Fuller.

In 1969, Hicks began his long, distinguished career as a racing steward, first in New Hampshire, then at Suffolk Downs in Boston.

While at Suffolk, Hicks established a program for apprentice riders that was designed, in part, to promote safety during the running of races. That program is still used by many tracks, including the New York Racing Association’s three venues.

In the 1980s, Hicks worked as a steward at the southern Florida tracks: Calder, Gulfstream, and Hialeah. He worked as a steward at NYRA’s tracks from 1995 until his retirement in 2005.

Hicks is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lenice J. (Peever) Hicks, five children, 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern at Fred Hunter’s Memorial Funeral Home, 6301 Taft St., Hollywood, Fla. A funeral for family members will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, Ill. 60126.