New England Jockey, Trainer Amonte Dies at 85
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Frank Amonte Sr., who rode and trained horses on the old New England circuit for more than 60 years, passed away peacefully at his Winthrop, Mass., home on Nov. 3. He was 85.
Amonte, who hailed from Brooklyn, N.Y., began his career at Belmont Park before relocating to the New England tracks, and he also rode in Cuba early in his long career. He hung up his tack at age 76 after finishing second in a claiming race at Suffolk Downs on Sept. 6, 2011. When Amonte rode his last winner on the day of his 68th birthday on Sept. 5, 2003 at the North Hampton (Mass.) Fairgrounds, he was believed to be the oldest winning rider in the United States.
According to Equibase statistics, which date only to 1976, Amonte rode 1,734 mounts and had a record of 106-161-208 with earnings of $515,649. As a trainer from 1995 to 2014, Amonte sent out 227 horses, with a record of 9-15-23 and $79,459. In a storybook ending to his training career, his lone starter in 2014 won at Suffolk Downs on May 7, 2014.
Amonte leaves his wife of 50 years, Ligia Morales Amonte, and is survived by daughters Lisa Gutierrez, Doreen Amonte-Araujo, and April Esposito, and son Andrew Amonte; 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home in East Boston, on Nov. 7.