from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Brooks Sayre, 90, of Pomeroy, Ohio, died April 27, 2013.

Mr. Sayre began training horses in 1976 and began driving the following year. He won his first race driving Salem Spook at the Proctorville, Ohio, Fair on July 27, 1977. He continued training and driving until his retirement in 2007.

As a driver, he had 967 lifetime starts with 152 wins and $234,171 in purses. His best year came in 1982 with a summary of 86-38-13-13, earnings of $68,271 and a UDR of .576. In that year he finished second by a half length in the $100,400 Ohio Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly trotters at Northfield with L E Townson.

Additional outstanding horses that Mr. Sayre raced for his sister, Wilma Styer; brothers, Paul and Howard Sayre; and others were My Lady Escort p,4,2:00.1f; Terrescort p,4,1:57.2f; My Good Lady p,3,1:53.4f; Camescort p,3,2:00.4h; My Ladys Pocket p,1:56f; My Good Sam p,2,1:57h; and El Townson 4,2:02.1f ($120,454).

He is survived by his bride of 70 years, June; daughter, Paula (Jack) Welker; son, Roger (Christine); grandchildren, Don (Amy) Swatzel, Philip (Liz) Swatzel and Steve (Tara) Swatzel; and seven great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be on Tuesday (April 30) at the Cremeens Funeral Home, 823 Elm Street, Racine, Ohio (Meigs County) from 6-8 p.m. His funeral will be held at the same location on Wednesday (May 1) at 2 p.m.