by Robin Clements

Sacramento, CA — After a lengthy battle with liver and stomach cancer, Jim Grundy died August 5, 2009, at the age of 74. He will be memorialized with a trackside service at Cal-Expo on Sept. 26.

His first love was hockey, playing in the American Hockey League for the Cleveland Barons until a knee injury in 1958 ended his professional career. Going into the family business of harness racing, Jim Grundy found his second niche in life as a top driver/trainer.

Jim apprenticed under famed horsemen Eddie Cobb, Clint Hodgins and Frank Popfinger before going out on his own at Monticello Raceway in the early 1960s. His big break came in 1965 when he drove many of Howard Bessinger’s horses including the free for all trotter Missle Toe. There, Jim became one of Monticello’s leading drivers, winning the dash title in 1971 and 1972. In 1973 he was leading the dash race with 132 victories when he and his wife, Deborah, a former school teacher and bookkeeper for the stable, headed west for sunny California.

It was in California where Jim blossomed into one of the state’s top driver/trainers. Teaming with good owners like Chris Bardis and Lloyd Arnold, Jim became one of the horsemen to beat in the California Sires Stakes with such performers like Googie,(1:56.1, $278,567), Hugabear (1:53, $505,061), Steam and Easel.

Jim retired from the sport in 1999 with 2,617 driving victories and $10.3 million in purse winnings.

Always willing to lend a hand to a fellow horseman, especially with a young trotter, Jim could usually be found on the Cal-Expo backside, still watching the horses train or race from the rail with his keen eye.

“Jim’s expertise with young horses always made him our first choice to share driving duties with Steve (Desomer),” said Vickie Desomer.

Lou Pena recalls with a grin, when he first started driving, “Jim would get so mad at me when I’d go to the front and then park someone. After the race he would yell at me saying, ‘Why are you driving like you’re on a motorcycle? I want to be able to race these things (horses) next week!'”

“He was a very good horseman and could rig a horse right. I used Jim a lot on Charlie Meyers and my horses at Hollywood Park. He was competitive, yet still a nice guy,” recalls Bob Johnson on using Jim as a catch-driver.

Gene Vallandingham remembers when Jim and Deborah first came to California. “He was a good guy and horseman. And Jim was very good with the young horses.”

“Jim was very dear to me and my family along with many others in this sport,” said Jim Perez, executive director of the California Harness Horsemen’s Association. “He was a mentor for me growing up, and it’s sad but most of the people racing here now didn’t get to see Jim in his heyday. He was one of the best at all aspects of the sport.”

“When Rick (Kuebler) and I came into the harness business in 1971, Jim Grundy already had career statistics from his days of racing in upstate New York. He had moved to California to ply his trade and lucky for us in this state he did. Jim was not only the consummate horseman, as proven by his tremendous success with young trotters and pacers, but he was a real gentleman, always willing to answer questions and give advice when asked. California harness racing has lost a real friend and his Hall of Fame career will not be forgotten,” said Fred Kuebler, race secretary at Cal-Expo.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Art, and his mother, Eva. He is survived by his brother, Art, and sister, Marlene; two nephews, Glenn and Brent; and four other nephews and nine nieces.