Former Jockey, Trainer, Owner, Vinson Dies at 90

Graded stakes-winning trainer, owner, and former jockey Garner H. Vinson died July 2 in a hospice facility in Florida from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 90.

Following a brief stint as a rider, Vinson became a trainer in the early 1970s and saddled multiple stakes winners at Rockingham Park and Suffolk Downs in New England in the 1980s and 1990s while also campaigning horses at tracks up and down the East Coast. 

Verbarctic, whom he owned and trained, won the Westchester Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1985, and the son of Verbatim also finished second in both the Stymie Handicap (G3) and the Assault Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct that same year. 

Vinson and his wife, Elaine, left New England in 1995 and in 1997 purchased a 60-acre property in Ocala that they named Verbarctic Farm after their best horse. Verbarctic enjoyed a comfortable retirement there, lived to age 30, and was buried under his favorite tree at the farm. 

Vinson is survived by his widow and sons Lee, who runs the family's breeding, breaking, and training operation at Verbarctic Farm, and John, who is a trainer based at Gulfstream Park and has the family's homebreds in his stable. 

Vinson was cremated, and his ashes were buried with his family in Paducah, Texas, where services were held.

Equibase statistics dating back to 1976 that continue through 2015 indicate Vinson started 1,787 horses for a record of 305-230-251 and his runners earned $2,682,970.