Columbus, OH — Jack Edward Perry, 96, died peacefully Dec. 22, 2021, in Troy, N.Y., where he was born and raised.

He fell in love with the sport of harness racing through a friend that owned Standardbreds and was a member of the USTA since 1966. He decided to participate in the sport as a way to relieve stress (it’s ok to laugh). He loved his horses and was able to design and build a training facility that had a half-mile track matching Saratoga Harness.

Racing under Perry Racing, LLC, a majority of his campaigning was done at Saratoga, but Mr. Perry also enjoyed at trip to The Meadowlands for the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations with his prized mare, Secret Alert.

He taught his farm manager, trainer, long time driver, and son-in-law, Kevin Gould, who proudly sported the green and gold colors of Perry Farm.

Mr. Perry spent his winters in Celebration, Fla., and brought his prized yearlings with him so he could watch as they learned their trade. Noteworthy racehorses were Perrys Gold Crown, Alotta Fella, and Mr Malarky. Perry Farm, the breeding part of his business, produced Action On The Road, among others.

He was also part of a syndicate that owned the Michigan Hall of Fame stallion Veeba Rova, and he owned another stallion, Mogul Monster, who stood at the former Little Farm of Kinderhook, N.Y.

Mr. Perry kept his first ever horse, a mare named Alotta, and retired his last official racehorse, Two Heart.

Mr. Perry was the son of the late Cutler D. and Emily (Hauser) Perry. He was president of C.D. Perry & Sons, Inc. of Troy, which was founded by his father in 1936. He was proud to see his company complete the City of Troy Stabilization Project which repaired and stabilized the 95-year-old seawall along the banks of the Hudson River which was damaged by Hurricane Irene.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Cynthia (Brelia); children, Bruce (Sally), Jacqueline (Kevin) Gould and Richard; stepdaughter, Jeanne O. (Tim) Arnold; grandchildren, Adam Gould, Brittany Gould, Kaitlyn Gould O’Brien, Stephanie and Nicole; and great-grandchildren, Lucas O’Brien, Lauren O’Brien, Emma, Sophie and Riley. He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank H.

Please visit parkerbrosmemorial.com to share memories and expressions of sympathy with the Perry family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program, P.O. Box 253, Oxford, NY 13830 or the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205.