Retired Trainer Ben Perkins Sr. Dies at 89

Ben Perkins Sr., a fixture as a trainer on the New Jersey Thoroughbred racing circuit since 1958 and whom Equibase credits as having trained 854 career winners including 1981 Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) winner Five Star Flight, has died at the age of 89, his family announced.

Funeral services are pending.

Perkins Sr. took out his trainer's license in 1958 and trained at Garden State Park, Atlantic City Race Course, the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park before his retirement in 1999. He trained 11 graded stakes winners, with Five Star Flight winning the 1981 Haskell by five lengths over heavily favored Lord Avie. Conveyor was his other top-level stakes winner, capturing the 1994 Meadowlands Cup (G1).

In data collected from 1963-1999 by Equibase, his horses earned more than $13 million overall. He won his first race at Monmouth Park in 1958, according to Monmouth Park publicity—not reflected in Equibase statistics.

Monmouth Park honored Perkins with the Virgil "Buddy" Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, the track's most prestigious honor, in 2007.

Following his retirement from training, he set up and managed several racing partnerships and stables in his advanced age, well into his 80s. During this time, he oversaw the bloodstock operation of New Farm.

It was for New Farm that as a trainer won the Meadowlands Cup with Conveyor and 1996 Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (G2) with Appealing Skier, among other races.

Perkins is survived by his wife, Geraldine; son Ben Perkins Jr.; daughter Pinky, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.