Longtime Trainer Pete Salmen Jr. Dies at 81
Description:
Former Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president and longtime trainer Pete W. Salmen Jr. died Oct. 17 in Lexington. He was 81.
A longtime horseman born in Hazel Park, Mich., Salmen trained 406 winners from 2,770 starters from 1976-2005, according to Equibase, whose statistics are incomplete prior to 1976. His horses made over $6.8 million over that stretch. Among the top horses he trained were graded winners T. V. Vixen and Bourbon Belle, the latter a millionaire.
He was elected to the board of directors of the KHBPA and also served two terms as president, working to strengthen the horse racing industry in Kentucky.
According to his obituary on Obittree.com, Salmen was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Donna Oak Salmen, and is survived by his children, Peter W. Salmen III (Rachel), Susan S. Bunning (Mark), and Catherine S. Wright (Roger), all of Lexington; and his sister, Patricia Baker of Indiana. He is also survived by grandchildren Amanda Kelsey, Eric Bunning, William Salmen, Phillip Salmen, Paul Wright, Doug Wright, and Emory Wright, and one great-grandchild, Reagan Kelsey.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to KHBPF, Inc., a charity that serves backstretch workers in Kentucky, at 3729 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40214.
Funeral services will be Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at Johnson's Funeral Home in Georgetown, Ky., after visitation begins at 1. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 21 at the Georgetown Cemetery.