Luther H. Lyons

Luther H. Lyons, a top horseman of the mid-century, passed away in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in Dover, Del., on Sept. 28, 1999 after a short illness. He was 80.

Mr. Lyons trained and drove Adios Harry p,4,1:55 ($345,433) during that world champion's aged campaigns, which included history's first 1:55 race mile—a record that lasted nearly 15 years. At one time Adios Harry owned 13 world records at various distances.

Clad in red and light blue, Mr. Lyons conditioned one of the sport's leading stables in the late 1940s and '50s. He trained and drove horses owned by his late father, J. Howard Lyons, at Harrington Raceway, and then shipped north to race at Yonkers and Roosevelt, where at one time the Lyons Stable was the leading privately owned stable in New York racing.

In addition to Adios Harry, Mr. Lyons campaigned a number of top horses during the era, among them Noble Dean p,2:03.3h ($108,948), Symbol Change p,2:03.4h ($53,827) and Thistle S Son 2:05.3h ($36,948). He later raced Carlisle 4,T1:57 ($544,272) and owned Nanseroan p,6,1:58.4f ($175,785), his top pacer during the 1970s.

Mr. Lyons both bred and owned Betcha I Catcha p,6,1:59.4h ($59,876), and also bred Best Investment p,5,1:59.4f ($173,992), Grateful Pat p,8,2:02.1f ($85,293) and Lach p,6,1:59 ($81,028).

Co-owner and operator of Sugar Hill Farms in Greenwood, Del., for many years, Mr. Lyons made his last pari-mutuel drive on Nov. 6, 1982, at Harrington, and continued to train his homebreds until last February.

He was a member of the USTA, Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, Bridgeville Lions Club, Temple Lodge 9 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and St. Johnstown United Methodist Church. He also was a member of the St. Johnstown Cemetery Board for many years, and was president at the time of his death.

Preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, in 1998, Mr. Lyons is survived by son Monty, daughter Dolores Batson, sister Marceil Morgan, five grandchildren and four great-grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Co. or the Ambulance Squad, both at P.O. Box 1, Greenwood, DE 19950

Luther H Lyons