Owner Durst Dies at 89

Murray Durst, the colorful co-owner of the graded stakes winner and one-time favorite for the 1998 Kentucky Derby (G1) Lil's Lad , passed away Sept. 27 at the age of 89.

Durst, born in Queens, N.Y., in 1932, was the son of Austrian and Polish-Jewish immigrants who became founder and CEO of companies engaged in medical insurance fraud detection. He purchased Lil's Lad at the 1996 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $160,000 from the consignment of Longfield Farm, agent, before selling interests to William Farish and Centennial Farm. Lil's Lad was second in the 1997 Moet Champagne Stakes (G1) and was favored in the 1998 Florida Derby (G1) after easily winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) over Coronado's Quest. But Lil's Lad was disqualified from first and placed second in the Florida Derby for bumping Cape Town down the stretch.

After finishing second to Halory Hunter in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), Lil's Lad was withdrawn from the Triple Crown three weeks before the Kentucky Derby due to a chip in his left front ankle.

Durst, who arrived at Gulfstream Park on race days in a purple, limited edition Indianapolis 500 Corvette, ran horses in his name and with his wife, Lillian. 

Services will be held Friday, Oct. 1, at 10:30 a.m. ET at Sharon Gardens, 273 Lakeview Ave., Valhalla, N.Y.