by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — Panfilo ‘Bob’ Constantino, 71, died Dec. 4, 2011.

Mr. Constantino was a well respected horseman and blacksmith. He was among those whom the New England haness writers presented achievement awards this past October, but he was unable to attend.

He spent a half century at his trade, which included everything from grooming, owning, training, driving and blacksmithing.

“He did it all,” remarked Plainridge CCO Gary Piontkowski. “He was a wonderful and caring person.”

He owned horses with Elaine Thorn and also trained horses for Jack Kirraine, who captained the 1960 Olympic hockey team that beat the Russians in Squaw Valley.

Mr. Constantino also helped Greg Sewell become a blacksmith and also played a major part in the sucess of the Jim Hardy stable favorite Slim Down. He put special shoes on the trotter who went on to compile a record of 46-18-16 in 136 starts with earnings of $252,120.