Steward and Racing Secretary Leigh Dies at 73

Rick Leigh, a longtime racing official who served in numerous capacities, including racing secretary at Turfway Park and a steward at Keeneland, died Oct. 4 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence, Ky. He was 73.

Leigh, whose sharp wit and infectious laugh made him a popular figure in racing offices and press boxes around Kentucky, eased into semi-retirement about seven years ago, as his stepson, Tyler Picklesimer, moved into the role as director of racing and secretary at Turfway Park. Leigh was racing secretary at Turfway for approximately 25 years, and continued working as a racing official elsewhere in a reduced capacity after his departure.

"Rick was one of those guys, when I first came to Turfway 20 years ago, that everybody looked up to," said Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach. "On the racing side, on the business side, everybody in the place looked up to Rick. They called him 'Big Daddy' for a reason. There was no problem too big or too small for him to deal with."

Picklesimer followed in his stepfather's footsteps by becoming a steward. Picklesimer is also the racing secretary at Kentucky Downs.

During Leigh's time at Turfway, the Northern Kentucky track in 2005 became the first pari-mutuel track in the United States to offer racing on Polytrack, a mix of synthetic fibers combined with a vertical drainage system. 

At Turfway, Leigh oversaw a series of races called the Kentucky Cup, which in the 1990s and 2000s were popular with fans and horsemen. In that series, 1997 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Silver Charm and Wild Rush memorably dead-heated in the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) in 1998. Other horses such as Captain Steve, Guided Tour, Perfect Drift, Roses in May, and Hard Spun won the Classic.

Leigh "was just a good guy. He did the right things," Bach said. "Any call he made—I'm sure he did this in the stewards' booth too—he made for the right reason. He explained it to people, and if people left with a decision they weren't looking for, they understood completely why he arrived at the decision he did."

In addition to his role as a racing official, Leigh was an avid golfer and sports fan. His residence was in Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ella.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Amy; Picklesimer; daughters, Raina Baize of Lexington and Harmony Myres of Hebron; and siblings, Linda Bebout and Joe Leigh. Leigh also leaves behind his grandchildren, Tanner and Bailey Baize.

Services for Leigh will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations can be made to SecondStride.org, Alzheimer's Association, or Kidney Cancer Research. Condolences can be expressed online.