Horse Transporter, Owner Clark Dies at 74

As a pioneer in air horse transport and a passionate Thoroughbred owner and breeder, there were few waking moments Dave Clark didn't spend thinking about horses, and by all accounts, he also spent plenty of nights dreaming about one day landing the big horse.

Clark died of cancer Sunday evening, Oct. 18 at age 74 in Little Rock, Ark. Clark, who also lived in Destin, Fla., was the founder of the successful Air Traffic Service Corp, which would see its subsidiary, Interstate Airlines, become a leading horse transporter in the U.S. Many of those horses would be scheduled by the H.E. "Tex" Sutton Forwarding Co., which later would be purchased by Clark.

Clark, with his friend Sutton, founded Iron Horse Farm in Perryville, Ark. Sutton passed away in 2000. Among the top horses campaigned by Clark was Leelanau, winner of the 2001 Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) for juveniles at Churchill Downs.

"He took a lot of pride in shipping many of the top horses in the world," said son Rob Clark, current owner of H.E. "Tex" Sutton. "He just loved owning and breeding horses. He had a work life doing something he loved and also was able to pursue his passion owning and breeding horses."

Rob Clark noted that H.E. "Tex" Sutton arranges flights for horses, and in the 1970s Tex Sutton would begin doing frequent business with Clark's airline. The two would become friends and their Iron Horse Farm would become the largest Thoroughbred breeding farm in Arkansas. Clark also served as president of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders' and Horsemen's Association.

"My dad loved the action of going to the track—he enjoyed the action, enjoyed betting on his horses," Rob Clark said. "He loved everything about racing, from going to the track to going to the farm to visit the babies."

Some of the trainers Dave Clark had horses with included Steve Morguelan, who conditioned Leelanau; Bob Holthus; and Randy Morse. Clark was able to watch by television when his Street Strategy won a tough allowance-optional claiming race Oct. 9 at Keeneland, believed to be the first mile race ever contested on the main track there.

Morse believes Street Strategy, a 4-year-old son of Street Sense  , could end up being Clark's most successful runner.

"Owners like him are hard to find," Morse said. "He was old timey. He hired you and let you do your job. He let you do what you needed to do; he was great. It was just an absolute pleasure to work for him. 

"He was like everybody else; he was looking for the big horse. Street Strategy, I think, is going to end up being that kind of horse we've been looking for."

Rob Clark said his father was thinking ahead when he purchased Tex Sutton.

"I think one of the reasons my dad purchased Tex Sutton was that he saw my interest and saw an opportunity for me as well," Clark said. 

Dave Clark also created the Clark Family Foundation, dedicated to supporting children's health and well-being, and has supported many organizations for children over the years, including several major gifts to Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation. 

Born in Muskegon, Mich., Clark is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Laura Clark (her partner, Deborah Rawn); daughter, Leslie Clark; son, Robert Clark (his wife, Davina); daughter, Elizabeth Taylor (her husband, William); and brother, Robert W. Clark (his wife, Jane). He has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. at 11 a.m. CT Friday, Oct. 23.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association (ALZ.org) or the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF.org).