Judge, horse owner John R. Knight dies

John R. Knight, a presiding judge who also won the 2001 Adios Pace as the owner of Pine Valley, died Friday at Heritage Manor in Springfield, Ill. He was 79. His son, David, trains horses at The Meadows.

 

Mr. Knight was born in Port Huron, Mich., and was a huge University of Michigan football fan, helping as an alumni recruiter for 20 years.

 

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He later was a professional golfer on the PGA and Senior's Tour before later becoming a racing official and serving as presiding judge at The Meadows for many years. During his retirement days he invested in Pine Valley, who won the Adios at the track where Knight had watched many editions of the classic race from the stand.

 

In 1992 Mr. Knight was inducted into the Springfield (IL) Sports Hall of Fame.

 

In addition to his son David and daughter-in-law Brenda, Mr. Knight is survived by two daughters, Nancy Alexander and Julie Seman and her husband Tony; four grandchildren; one sister and nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

A funeral Mass was scheduled to be held April 28 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield.