Lexington, KY — Longtime Standardbred horseman Skip Jay DeMull passed away March 26, 2025. He was 67.
A third-generation horseman, he was born Sept. 11, 1957. Racing primarily at Michigan racetracks and county fairs, Mr. DeMull’s career spanned more than 50 years.
The fourth of six children born to John and Helen DeMull, Mr. DeMull was raised on the family farm in Sand Lake, Mich., where horses were bought, sold, trained and/or consigned to the bi-monthly auctions held at the farm. Mr. DeMull’s early years laid the solid foundation for his future successes.
“We had horses all of my life,” he recounted in a 2006 article written by Mark Adair for the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Magazine, which featured the DeMull racing legacy.
As a driver, Mr. DeMull won more than 2,300 races over his career, with his fastest victory of 1:50.2 coming behind Smarter Yet at The Red Mile in Lexington, Ky., on Sept. 7, 2013. Ironically, it was Smarter Yet who gave him his 2,000th career victory, with that milestone event coming on Oct. 10, 2015, at Northville Downs.
Other top horses Mr. DeMull was involved with over the years include Patrick O’G, who earned more than $320,000 competing in the 1980s. He and his wife, Julie, bred and raised the $121,000-winning Majestic Neva, who later went on to a successful broodmare career, with one of her offspring being Claudius Q, who earned more than $420,000 on the racetrack.
Other standouts for Mr. DeMull include Chicory Wind, Bristol, Natural Forces and Augie’s, who may not have been his fastest but was arguably his most popular. He and Augie’s represented Northville Downs in the city’s annual Fourth of July Independence Day parades, where they developed a fan club of young people, where a good time was had by all.
One of Mr. DeMull’s more memorable driving victories came on May 3, 2014, when he directed Bold Decision to a score in the final harness race ever held at Hazel Park Raceway.
In 2012, Mr. DeMull was honored by the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association with its prestigious Dan Rathka Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to racing in the Wolverine State.
Mr. DeMull’s signature quote was “it’s all good,” and thinking of him makes it truly all good.
Mr. DeMull and his wife Julie were both 20 years old when they were married on Oct. 2, 1977. The couple was known through the Michigan horse racing community for their friendly and helpful personalities. They were lifetime partners for 47 years; and the time passed very quickly.
In addition to his wife, Julie, Mr. DeMull is survived by siblings, Sue Hopp, Sam (Jackie), Scott and Shawn (Alison); mother-in-law, Joyce; brothers-in-law, Tom and Steve (Heidi); sister-in-law, Diane; and many nieces, nephews and friends who he thought of as family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Steve; and father-in-law, Tom.
Mr. DeMull and Julie attended, and are members of, Crossroads Community Church at 28900 Pontiac Trail in South Lyon, Mich., where a Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday (May 17) to honor Mr. DeMull’s memory and his rejoicing in the promise of everlasting life. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the service following. The service can be livestreamed at www.ecrossroads.net.