from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Raymond V. Ireland, 84, affectionately called “Razor,” died Dec. 21, 2012, at home with his family.

He was born June 23, 1928, in Westfield, Maine, the son of the late Vernon G. and Hilda K. Ireland. He was raised in Westfield and attended The Ross one-room schoolhouse. He graduated from Presque Isle High School and played basketball on the Future Farmers team.

He grew up working on his parent’s farm and loved telling stories about that time throughout his life. As a young man he enjoyed and excelled at boxing, organized a bowling team called the PI Bachelors and a softball team called the Ireland Gazelles, traveling throughout the county and New Brunswick. He also enjoyed playing cribbage and bridge, golfing and hunting with his friends.

His greatest joy in life aside from his wife, Bobbie, and his family was the time he spent at the barn training horses, his true calling in life. He entered the horse racing business in 1955 and soon established his first stable — Ireland, Holmes & Dumont. Later he owned a stable with Murray Kenney and Tom Perkins and raced in the first Maine stake racing program. He was quickly racing throughout New England, Canada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky and Florida.

Notable and favorite horses of his included Governors Choice, D I Sweetie, Persuadable, Fred And Barney, Pine Magic, He’s Ah Corker and Kerogen. He developed an expert’s eye for picking out horses and excelled in the breeding aspect of the horse business. He continued to train horses into 2012.

He had many friends in the New England racing circuit, but enjoyed the fairs in Maine the most. The year 2003 was a milestone for him as he was honored for his considerable contributions and support of harness racing in the Sire Stakes. During the 150th anniversary of the Northern Maine Fair, Mr. Ireland was presented an award by the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association for 50 years of distinguished service in the horse racing industry.

He was a longtime member of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association, MSBOA and the USTA.

Mr. Ireland is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bobbie; siblings, Ethel Condon and Dick; children and grandchildren, Billy and son Jason; Teddy’s daughter Cary; Kim and wife Wendy and daughter Emily; Becky and husband Albert Martin and their children Aaron and Jessica; Pammie and husband Gene Lynch and their sons, Nick, Toph and Benji; John and girlfriend, Lynn and his son, Jeramy; and Sherry Plissey and husband Lance and sons Dylan and Jake; great-grandchildren, Kayla, Ruby Herrera, Olivia Martin, Aiden Martin and Raymond Lynch; and his lifelong and best friend Richard “Flick” Adams. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Teddy; and great-granddaughter, Carly Rae Herrera.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 436, Augusta, ME 04332; or The Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 87, Westfield, ME 04787.