LEXINGTON, Ky. - Oct. 6, 2019 -Multiple Graded Stakes winning trainer, Richard "Dick" J. Lundy, passed away on Oct 5th, 2019 after a hard fought bout with cancer. He was 71 years old.
Dick, who was from Mount Kisco, New York, was an accomplished equestrian training the on the hunter/jumper circuit in California.
In the early 1971's he decided to switch to thoroughbred racehorses. He worked as a foreman under Hall of Fame trainer Lucien Laurin at the same time Riva Ridge and Secretariat were in barn 5 at Belmont Park.
He then served the country in the Army and after that he joined Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham's barn in Southern California. Lundy spent 7 years with Whittingham and was fortunate enough to work around such animals as Dahlia, Exceller, Erins Isle, Providential, Our Suiti Pie, Queen to Conquer, Sirlad, Balzac and Galaxy Libra.
In 1983, Lundy was offered a private job for Virginia Kraft Payson on the east coast. In his second year of training, he won the Grade I Travers with Carr De Naskra.
Lundy had gained notoriety by quickly recording stakes wins with Salem Drive (G2 Winner), Uptown Swell (GI Winner), Milesius (GI Winner )and Lac Ouimet (G2) all for Mrs. Payson.
In late 1986, Lundy decided to branch out and form a public stable based out of Payson Park and Belmont Park. Ironically, the barn at Belmont, Barn 5, where he worked for Lucien Lauren, now was occupied with Lundy's horses.
One of his best horses, Jade Hunter won the Gulfstream Park Handicap and the Donn Handicap in 1988 at Gulfstream Park. Later that year, Dick was offered the private training job with Allen Paulson and moved back west to organize the 120 plus stable. Not soon after taking the job, Lundy was in the winners circle with Fowda, Blushing John, Ravinella, Bello Horizonte (Ire) and Dinard, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in 1991.
Also in Lundy's string was Opening Verse, the winner of the 1991 GI Breeders Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.
After leaving California, Lundy returned to Ohio and opened up a moderate public stable for some time, before leaving training and becoming president of Halstrum, LLC.
In a short training career, Lundy's statistics are note worthy:
In 2450 starts, he recorded 403 wins, 371 seconds and 313 thirds with purses over $17,310,810.
Dick's & Suzy's passion was working and developing young dogs, as his wife Suzy owns a dog kennel in Waynsville, OH. They were fortunate enough to be a part of Fifi, the doberman who made it to the final round at Westminster Dog Show in 2011.
Dick leaves behind a wife, Suzy and two brothers, Marty and Gary. A Celebration of his life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Old Friends, where Dinard (age 31) is living out his retirement.
Contact
Catherine Riccio
