Eulogy for Terry Holton

May 08, 2007

Ohio horseman Terry Holton was laid to rest in his hometown of Newark, Ohio, on Monday, and his longtime friend Fritz Drake, who worked in Ohio harness racing for many years, including stints with the Ohio Horsemen's Association and the Ohio State Racing Commission, delivered a touching eulogy. Below is Drake's eulogy.

On behalf of Terry and his family, I would like to thank everyone for coming yesterday and today to pay your final respects to Terry and to celebrate his life. I think the turnout on both days is a real testament to Terry Holton and how truly special he was to all of us. Thanks so much for the time and effort you put forth to say goodbye to our dear friend.

Before I get any further into my remarks, I would like to express the heartfelt gratefulness from Terry�s children to his soulmate, Sandra Burns, for the wonderful care she provided to him during his illness. Sandra, your loving concern for their father during this most difficult time was indeed remarkable, and I hope you take solace in the fact that they specifically requested I include their feelings toward you as part of this address.

Today marks the second time that I have been asked to undertake this solemn but necessary duty. The only other eulogy I delivered was for Henry Grinsfelder, a former horse owner and good friend to many in this room,including Terry, when he passed away nearly 20 years ago. The only problem was nobody bothered to inform me that I had been chosen to deliver Henry�s final farewell until five minutes before the service was to begin. I often wondered what the backup plan was in the event I had said no. Talk about winging it on the run--but we all managed to get through it, and Henry, God rest his soul, has yet to retaliate.

I can�t blame Terry Holton for short notice with respect to today's eulogy. For the record, he asked me to deliver this address on Oct. 19, 2004, two weeks after being sent home from the hospital with little hope to live past Thanksgiving. As I left his home on Granville Rd. that sunny but cool fall day, I told myself there was an excellent chance that I may have seen him alive for the final time. Boy, did he prove me and so many others wrong! As we all know, Terry made a miraculous recovery in the face of impending death, which earned him the nickname �Miracle Man.�

I first met Terry in the late 60�s, and our relationship was cemented just a few years later. Gene Riegle was my father�s trainer at the time, but Terry catch-drove a few of his horses when Gene had a conflict, and he did a bang-up job on each occasion. In the late 70�s, dad and his partners decided to go exclusively with Terry, and they were together for nearly 20 years. It was during that time that our friendship took off despite our 15-year difference in age. For a kid who was intoxicated by harness racing, Terry was a larger than life figure to me, as was Gene Riegle, Joe O�Brien, Billy Haughton and other legends of the sport. Our age disparity never entered into the equation.

Throughout the years, Terry did things for me and I did things for him, but isn�t that what friends are supposed to do? One of the most important things Terry did for me was to help me land my first job in the horse racing business with the Ohio Harness Horsemen�s Association. I know there were others who helped in that effort, but it was Terry who got the ball rolling. He was a true friend for all the right reasons, and I am forever indebted to him for what he did to help me almost 23 years ago.

Terry Holton was a lot of things to a lot of people. To his children, Richey, Ryan, Tara and Troy, he was simply Dad, a source of encouragement as they stepped from the nest and carved out their own course in life. Through Tim and Ty, who came along later in life, he stepped back in time to his days as a kid when he played sports, whether in the backyard or an organized setting, from sunrise to sundown. Until the moment he left us, Terry was truly a kid at heart.

To Sandra Burns, his loyal companion these past several years, he was the "Big T" with the big heart, the man she moved heaven and earth to accommodate, especially these past three years. To me and his legion of friends, he was the Big T as well, but he was also "Bubby" long before Bubby Brister ever played a down in the NFL. To the many young people that worked for him throughout the years and went on to enjoy their own success in harness racing, he was a mentor at some point along the way.

Whatever the relationship, he was a special friend to us all. For to know Terry was to know the human condition in all its greatness and its vulnerability. He was blessed with some enormous talents and virtues that were at times overshadowed by flaws that all of us can identify with. Despite his faults, there is not a person in this room who doesn�t feel that with Terry�s passing he or she has lost one of the greatest friends he or she will ever have. His unique persona inspired in people a strong sense of loyalty toward him--to look beyond his flaws and accept him for the many fine qualities he had.

Even at a young age, Terry believed there were four key ingredients to finding happiness in life. He expressed his belief in a poem he authored as an eighth grade student, which he titled �The Four Leaf Clover.� Terry shared the poem with longtime friend Dale Ford, who passed it along to me. It reads as follows and will stand on its own merits:

The Four Leaf Clover

I know a place where the sun is like gold,

And the cherry blossoms burst in the snow.

Down underneath is the loveliest nook,

Where the four leaf clover grows.

One leaf is for faith, one is for hope,

One is for love and so,

But God put another one in just for luck,

And if you search you will find where it grows.

But you must have faith, you must have hope,

You must be kind and so.

If you will work and you will wait,

You will find the place,

Where the four leaf clover grows.

Author, Terry T. Holton

Terry possessed a devious but fun-loving side as well. Perhaps the best example of this was the night that he, Jerry Knappenberger and Benny White conspired to have breakfast delivered to the home of former Ohio Harness Horsemen�s Association general manager Jim Powers at about 3 o�clock in the morning. After a night out on the town, the three of them decided to call Frisch�s to place the order--eggs, bacon, toast and home fries--and then had the food delivered via cab. Their efforts were not wasted, as Jim answered the door and promptly ate the food before returning to bed. Several years later, Jim would say that was one of the best breakfasts he�d ever had, and he didn�t even have to pay for it. God bless Jim Powers!

But Terry Holton�s legacy will forever be defined by his career in harness racing. He was a man�s man in a male-dominated profession. He was very committed to the sport and had enormous respect for its history and tradition. This simple fact was exemplified by his nearly 40 years work as an Ohio Harness Horsemen�s Association director, where he constantly worked to improve the business he dearly loved. He was an intense competitor on the racetrack who hated to lose, but was more often than not the first in line to congratulate the winner. The word jealousy was foreign to his vocabulary. He was a true professional in every sense of the word.

His name was synonymous with success for the better part of five decades at Scioto Downs, his home track where he felt most comfortable and often held court on the backstretch. From Clever Napoleon to Kuzzin Kat and every good horse in-between, whether it be Round Dance or Travelogue or Domitian, Heritage Time, Casino Dealer, Decisive Almahurst, Oil Tycoon, Keystone Martial, Son Sum, Charlie Hill, Crown Rich, Skeets Dream or a slew of others, Terry�s ability as a horseman was never an issue. Put simply, he was one of the best, as evidenced by his 2006 induction as the 32nd member into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame, an honor he cherished and was truly humbled by.

But Terry just wasn�t a force here in the Buckeye State. He was a regular campaigner at The Meadows in Pennsylvania during the spring and fall months when Scioto was dark. He was also well-known and well-respected at tracks in Chicago, where Heritage Time, Domitian and others from his stable competed against the very best and more than held their own.

He had the privilege of training and driving horses for some of the best owners in this state, people who paid their training bills on time and did not interfere with the operation of his stable, entrusting him to make decisions that were in the best interests of the horse. There were just a few things that he insisted I cover in this eulogy, and this was one of them. Terry emphasized how fortunate he was to work for people like Bill and JoAnne Norman from Coshocton; the Critchfield brothers, Bob and Hank, from Wooster; the Honorable Judge John Hazard and his wife Jeanne from Caldwell in Noble County; Fred and Linda Polk from Zanesville; Dr. Alan and Ruth Longert of Columbus; my father, Bob Drake, and his partners from Findlay; and Bob Kauffman, who was so supportive of him these last few years. Believe me, the list could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Terry also had many other interests besides harness racing, including American history, sports and politics. He was blessed with a near photographic memory, which served him well over the years. He was an authority on the Civil War and spent many a night schooling me and others on the various developments that took place in that epic American struggle which forever changed the course of this nation.

Terry was a lifelong supporter of the Cleveland Indians, and could recite the everyday lineup and starting pitchers for the 1948 and 1954 teams, generally regarded as the two best in franchise history, at the drop of a hat. He also took great pride in the various achievements of local Licking County athletes who were good enough to find success at the next level, whether it was at Ohio State or some other college or pro team.

But Terry�s biggest interest outside of harness racing may very well have been politics. He was a staunch Democrat and proud of it, and wasn�t one of those people that switched sides when the party fell out of power here in Ohio or on the national scene.

Despite his clear allegiance, during our next to last visit just a couple weeks ago, he told me his all-time favorite politician was former Ohio governor Jim Rhodes, who of course was a Republican.

Governor Rhodes was a huge supporter of harness racing during his 16 years in power, and he and Terry were good friends. It was also during that visit that Terry made what I thought was a brilliant observation, saying that if Governor Rhodes were still in charge he would have found a way to bring slot machines to the racetracks, while at the same time convincing the citizens of Ohio it was good for the state. I could not have agreed with him more.

Conventional thinking may suggest Terry lost his battle with cancer, that dreaded demon that doesn�t discriminate and could care less whether you�re black or white, rich or poor, educated or uneducated. I respectfully disagree. Only 4 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer live a year. Terry lived three years. He won the battle. Terry may have lost the war, but he won the battle.

But Terry told me more than once that he would not have survived without all the cards, letters, prayers, phone calls, personal visits and unselfish actions of so many people who put their busy lives and careers on hold to lend encouragement and assist him in his fight. Terry�s heart was truly touched by the outpouring of support he received from all of us, repeating time after time that it blew him away and brought him to his knees. He considered himself, as baseball icon Lou Gehrig once said, �the luckiest man in the world.�

Having said that, he asked that I recognize a few people that were so good to him during this difficult period in his life.

To Sandra, you were a warrior with a cause, and your refusal to quit 2 � years ago when the odds seemed insurmountable was the inspiration he needed to continue the fight. He told me you were the toughest woman he�s ever known. To brother Bernard, brother-in-law Fred Dixon and Terry�s band of sisters--Cleo, Sueann, Judy and Connie--the fact you all lived so close was comforting to Terry because he knew you would be there for him when he needed you most.

To his team of doctors--family physician Jim Soldano, oncologist Jeff Zangmeister and surgeon Tom Vara, who all took a special interest in Terry�s situation and were at a loss for words to explain his miraculous recovery in 2004. Terry wanted me to thank each of you for going the extra mile to ensure that he enjoyed a quality of life which he found to be acceptable.

To daughter-in-law Holly Holton, for all the times you put off or missed work to drive him to the doctor or hospital when he didn�t feel up to it, and for bringing him into your home for several weeks this winter so he wouldn�t be alone while Sandra remained in Florida with the horses. I�m not sure if he told you how much he appreciated all that you did for him these past three years, but rest assured he told me.

To Jerry Knappenberger, undeniably his closest ally for over 50 years, your loyalty to him was non-negotiable, whether it was as his friend or serving for 27 years as business manager of the racing operation. Whatever the need, you were the go-to-guy that he came to depend on. I know Terry had a tendency to go off on you from time-to-time, which you should take as a compliment. He did it because he needed a place to vent, and he knew you would not take it personally. Knappy, you should know Terry loved you like the second brother he never had. Thanks for being such a good soldier every step of the way.

To fellow Scioto horsemen Scott Mogan, Jim Arledge Jr. and Danny Collins, for your willingness to jog and train the horses when Terry and Sandra were unable to will never be forgotten by either of them. Thanks for all you did to help keep things on track, because it was a huge relief to both of them. To Joe and Lyndel Adamsky, two of the most decent people on earth, thanks for your prayers and spiritual support.

To Skip Hoovler, Benny White, Jason Settlemoir, Herman Brickel, Skip Bozart, Dale Ford, Fred Noe and John Hoffman and Dick Snelling, two of Terry�s longtime friends here in Newark--thanks so much for your frequent phone calls and in many cases, personal visits. Terry really appreciated your efforts to stay in touch, telling me so during our final time together on April 27.

And last but certainly not least, special mention goes out to Weldon Stockwell and members of the Christian�s Harness Horsemen Association for the manner in which they reached out to Terry. Your efforts helped rekindle Terry�s faith in the Lord and made him a better person in his final years.

As a final tribute to Terry Holton, I would like to conclude today�s eulogy in the following manner:

Bubby--It�s been a helluva ride. It was far too short, but there�s a part of me that says you didn�t get cheated. You lived life to the fullest and gave it your best shot. During your 65 years and 169 days on earth, you did it your way, from border to border; from coast to coast; from Rock Springs to Hollywood Park.

Big T--Your passing is profound and has left a void that will take a long, long time to fill. We will miss your booming voice, strong handshake and warm smile. You fought the good fight and never complained. We shall carry on in your absence, inspired by the brave manner in which you accepted your fate. Your spirit will never ever die.

Terry--The bugle has sounded for the last time, and you have made your final call to the post. The race is now over, and I pray that you find eternal peace at that big racetrack in the sky. So long, my friend. So long.

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