from the Doherty Family

Clifton, NJ — It is with great sadness that the family of James Francis (Jim) Doherty, 74, of Clifton, N.J., announces his peaceful passing at Villa Marie Claire Hospice in New Jersey on March 14, 2015.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Hall of Fame driver/trainer Jim Doherty died March 14, 2015.

Mr. Doherty was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on Sept. 27, 1940, son of the late James Francis Doherty and Anna Mary (Clancy) Doherty.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne (Cinek); sons, James Francis III (Jodie) and Michael Erin; grandchildren, Christopher, Laura, Jamie, Cadence and Clancy; brother, William (Rita); sisters, Mary Murphy (William), Martina Shannon (Donald), Patricia Loughery (Merrill), Anne Gilbride (Paul) and Evelyn; sister-in-law, Roxanney; numerous nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; mother-in-law, Lillian Cinek; and sister-in-law, Christina MacGilvray (Scott). Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Peter and Paul.

Mr. Doherty knew from an early age what his lifetime career would be. He first experienced horses through his father Frank’s logging business and harness racing interests, leading to his introduction to harness racing at Exhibition Park in Saint John. He acquired his first Standardbred while attending St. Malachy’s High School. In 1959, he won his first race and quickly was on his way to a lifelong love of the sport.

He worked continuously to improve his stable and was soon on the road to bigger racetracks, first in Montreal and then to New England.

Mr. Doherty was elected to the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame and soon after to the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame and New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in Canada.

Having excelled on the New England circuit, he answered the call to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Racetrack in 1976. His skills as an all-round horseman — owning, training and driving — soon came to the forefront amongst the best the sport had to offer, resulting in Mr. Doherty being elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y.

He had many world class horses, four of the best being No Nonsense Woman, Starchip Enterprise, Fool’s Goal and Green With Envy. He won many major races in the U.S. and Canada, including the Canadian Trotting Classic, Maple Leaf Trotting Classic, Breeders Crown, Valley Victory, Delvin Miller Memorial, Goldsmith Maid, World Filly Trotting Derby, Roses Are Red, three Provincial Cups and many more.

In 1982 he won the $519,000 New Jersey Classic driving Pitt Boy, the same year he competed in the World Driving Championship in Australia.

In 1972, Mr. Doherty was the leading percentage driver in both the U.S. and Canada and in 2002 received the Glen Garnsey Memorial Trainer of the Year Award from the United States Harness Writers Association. He received the New Jersey Sports Writers Association Harness Racing Man of the Year Award in 2007.

Also known as “Gentleman Jim” for his honesty, integrity and consideration of others, he liked to meet with family and friends to reminisce and share stories about horse racing and his favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers.

Mr. Doherty was a member of the United States Trotting Association, the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York and Standardbred Canada.

Funeral services will be on Friday (March 20) at 10:15 a.m. from the Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Ave., Clifton, N.J., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 400 Mt. Prospect Ave., Clifton. Private cremation to follow with interment of ashes to follow at a later date. Visitation will be Wednesday and Thursday (March 18-19) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on both days.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Please visit www.bizub.com for driving directions and online condolences.