by John Berry

Pompano Beach, FL— Gerald Francis O’Mara, known for seven decades around the harness racingworld as “Frank,” passed away today, January 4, 2017.

The 84-year-old O’Mara, succumbed to pneumonia in Floridaafter suffering from ill health for several months.

USTA photo

Frank O’Mara campaigned Mystic Park, a winner of more than $700,000.

O’Mara is probably best known for developing and campaigningthe great Mystic Park, winner of the American Trotting Championship, The DexterCup and the Yonkers Trot.

He also campaigned the fast performer Keystone Accent,Timely’s Best Man, a winner of over $700,000, and the very fast—but erratic attimes—General’s Skipper.

Timely’s Best Man was driven on many occasions by Frank’sson, Mark, who also campaigned thegreat Jate Lobell. Yet another son, Dan, sat back of Babe Kosmos, voted AgedTrotting Mare of the Year in 1984.

Born July 25, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, Frank O’Mara wasan honor student and an “11-letter man” in high school, earning a scholasticscholarship to Michigan State University.

As fate would have it, Frank wound up back on the familyfarm when his father became temporarily blind.

He drove his first race in 1951 and won his first race atthe Hale, Michigan fair in 1952.

After “piling up” four wins during the 1952-1953 seasons,in 1954, O’Mara left the farm and went to work on an ore carrier in the GreatLakes—that is until a storm did some quick readjustment of his career strategyand it was back to the track for the 1955 season to, earnestly, begin his grandcareer.

Among his early successes were winning the M & M Trotwith Top Pro, 15 straight wins with Kindly Rodney and 16 consecutive victorieswith Danny Lite.

In 1959, Frank thought it was time for Danny Lite tograduate from the fairs to the “big time” and he brought the horse to HazelPark to enter the Beaubien Stake.

At that point in their careers, both horse and driverwere unknown quantities so, before the Danny Lite entry would be accepted,certified funds had to be put up.

Off at 40 to 1, O’Mara bided his time as there was afierce battle going on up front and, at the end of the 2:02 mile, Danny Liteand Frank O’Mara were no longer unknown.

He drove the last of his 1,859 lifetime victories on July29, 2014, four days after his 82^nd birthday.

Surviving members of the O’Mara family include his wife,Cheryl, sons Mark (Martha), Dan (Kristi), Sean, Joshua, and daughters Dawn,Crystal and Michelle.

A memorial ceremony is to be announced in the nearfuture.