Veteran New Jersey Horseman Forbes Dies at 73

John H. Forbes, a longtime trainer and president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, passed away Jan. 31. He was 73.

Born in Maryland, Forbes spent his entire career in the racing industry, following both of his parents into the training game. He moved his operations to New Jersey in the late 1970s and has been a Garden State mainstay ever since.

"John was New Jersey racing," said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, operators of Monmouth Park. "He was a tireless advocate for the industry, for the horsemen, and for Monmouth Park.

"With a boundless capacity for kindness, John embodied everything good about this business—honor, integrity, compassion, and selflessness," Drazin continued. "More than that, John had an infectious energy for racing. I will forever cherish our many years working together and appreciate not just our friendship but our collective effort on behalf of the horsemen to better this industry and the lives of those who work in it."

From 14,681 starts, Forbes won 2,174 races that included 87 black-type stakes and banked more than $32 million in purses as a trainer. Among his long list of accomplished runners were five-time graded stakes winner Get Serious and graded stakes winners Amarillo, Boyce, Jess C's Whirl, Peanut Butter Onit, Pukka Princess, and Tale of the Cat , who went on to be a successful sire. He also trained six-time stakes winner The Cool Virginian.

Forbes gave up training on a daily basis in 2012, but was certainly no stranger to the Monmouth Park grounds. That year he embarked on a new project, Bluegrass Mini Golf, overseeing the construction and operation of it. He was instrumental in delivering the US Mini Golf Open in 2014 and again in 2017. His work earned him a spot in the US ProMiniGolf Hall of Fame.

Upon giving up his trainer's license in 2012, Forbes turned the operation over to his longtime assistant Pat McBurney.

"John and I spent decades together experiencing all the highs and lows that this business has to offer," McBurney said. "It was always a team effort with John. Even after he stopped training on a day-to-day basis he was equally involved as an owner, adviser, and most importantly a friend. It's hard to imagine Monmouth Park without John, but Monmouth Park will forever be better because of John."

Forbes leaves behind his wife Vicki, son John T. Forbes (director of operations at Monmouth Park), two daughters, Anne and Carrie, and two grandchildren.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no services will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Forbes's name to the Backstretch Community Assistance Program, whose address is 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, NJ, 07757. BCAP assists New Jersey horse racing stable employees in the areas of counseling, health, education, recreation, and benevolence.