Columbus, OH — Francis Frederick ‘Rick’ Morse, 76, died Jan. 4, 2024, at his home in Schuylerville, N.Y.

Mr. Morse was born Dec. 26, 1947, at Yonkers General Hospital during the Blizzard of ‘47. The first born of Francis Frederick Edgar Morse and Dorothea Marie Hespe, he grew up in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

He was a 1966 graduate of the Hackley School in Tarrytown and received a B.A. from De Pauw University in Greencastle, Ind., in 1970. He received his J.D. degree from Syracuse College of Law in 1973 where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. He was admitted to the New York Bar the following year and worked for the New York State Insurance Commission from 1973-’98 where he was Assistant Chief in the Life & Health Bureau and finally Chief Insurance Attorney at Life & Health. His work included life annuity and health product regulations and litigation of unfair claim settlement practices among many other insurance aspects.

His true passion was the raising, training and racing of his many Standardbreds at Saratoga Racetrack. His interest began barely before attaining his driver’s license, whereupon he was a frequent visitor, some say permanent fixture, at Yonkers Raceway during his high school and college days. His numerous horses, present and past, include American Rascal, Major Camby, Olde Broadside, Amazing Amanda, B B Royale, Hathaway Anne, Hathaway Cody, Boardwalk, Bettor On Top, Lite The Fire, D A’s Bad Boy, Elite Town, Ironstone Alert, Camboree, Fulmar Hanover, Barrister Lobell, Angus Hanover, Mighty Boniface and Ticket To Freedom among others.

Mr. Morse is survived by his sister, Marianne; and brothers, Robert and Christopher. He also leaves his longtime friend and horse trainer, Linda Flynn, and Gene and Deborah Willis. The family is ever grateful for their steadfast friendship to Mr. Morse these many decades along with their provision of fun stories and insights to his equestrian passion and professionalism.

A race at Saratoga Racetrack will be dedicated in his honor in the Spring. A gathering to remember his life with friends, colleagues and family will also take place in late Spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame, (352 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs), Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program of Oxford, N.Y. (www.phsap.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).