OBITUARIES
BENJAMIN HARDAWAY III
MR HARDAWAY, founder of the Midland Foxhounds in Georgia, and one of American hunting’s most influential figures, has died aged 98.
Mr Hardaway was born in September 1919 in Columbus, Georgia, and was inspired to start hunting when he heard hounds at night as a child, buying his first hounds at the age of 11.
He served with distinction under US General George S
Patton in the Second World War, but after his military service, and working for the family business, he founded the Midland Foxhounds outside Columbus in 1950.
“I don’t know why, but there was something in me,” Mr. Hardaway reportedly said. “I knew in my guts I was going to foxhunt.”
He was master for 67 years, hunting both coyote and foxes. Known for his skill in breeding, packs across the world have benefited from Hardaway crossbred lines, including in the UK, and he had friends throughout the hunting world.
The Midland is still flourishing, with Mr Hardaway’s son-in-law Mason Houghland Lampton and grandson Mason Hardaway Lampton as joint-masters.
Mr Hardaway spent his last years following hounds by truck, and retained an interest in breeding until the end. He died on 19 October at home, within yards of the kennels he founded.
At his death, Mr Hardaway was still joint-master of the West Waterford, an office he had held since 2007.
PATRICK HASLAM
A DISTINGUISHED and successful trainer who had winners at every racecourse in England, Scotland and Wales, Mr Haslam died on 14 October aged 69. Mr Haslam saddled more than 1,000 winners during his career, which spanned almost 40 years.
Among his major victories was the Group One Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in 2005, which he won with Kinnaird.
He retired in 2010 and his son Ben took on the training operation at Middleham, North Yorkshire.
Ben described him as “a brilliant trainer, one of the most respected men I’ve ever known, but most of all a very loving father”.
Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, paid tribute to the “clever and versatile trainer”.
“He had great energy and a passion for the sport of racing, not just training horses,” he added.
“He was always interested in what was going on in the industry and was much admired and respected by his colleagues.”
AP McCoy and Silvestre De Sousa are among the many others to pay tribute to Mr Haslam.
GLENYS DODD
MS DODD, a leading figure in the world of Shire horse breeding, died on 6 October aged 72.
Among the horses she bred was Burlington Park Tudor, who competed at the British ridden heavy horse final at the 2016 Horse of the Year Show.
Ms Dodd also served as district commissioner of the Furness & District branch of The Pony Club.
Victoria Clayton of the Shire Horse Society said everyone at the society was “deeply saddened” to hear of Ms Dodd’s passing.
“Glenys was a very special lady whose Burlington Park Shire Stud was synonymous with quality and Glenys’s passion for the breed,” she told H&H.
“Glenys was more than just a breeder and supporter, she was one of the cornerstones of the breed in her native Cumbria and her warmth and encouragement for other enthusiasts, newcomers and competitors alike was unrivalled.
“The society held Glenys in the highest regard and her passing leaves a massive void.
“The Shire family has lost one of its finest.”
RON SHAW
A LOYAL supporter of military racing, Mr Shaw died peacefully at home on 29 September aged 86.
He won the Grand Military Gold Cup four times as an owner and had a runner almost every year since his first victory in 1988.
His first victory came with the 50-1 shot Columbus, trained by the late Fulke Walwyn and ridden by Charlie Lane.
His other winners were trained by Patrick Chamings.
He took the title in 2001 and 2003 with Kings Mistral, ridden by Henry Norton and Alex Michael respectively; and his final win was in 2008 with Bolochoir under
Alex Michael.