Delaware horseman Sam Cronk, who trained and stabled horses at every Delaware Park live racing season since 1969, died on Oct. 5. He was 89.
The native of New Milford, Pennsylvania, recorded his last training victory this year when Erika Neuberg’s home-bred Boyd’s Band won a maiden race at Delaware Park on Sept. 20.
Cronk had been in the top 10 of the Delaware Park trainer standings more than a dozen times, including being the leading trainer from 1989-91.
The lifelong horseman, who trained both thoroughbreds and Arabians and rode and trained Quarter Horses, notched his first Thoroughbred training victory at Charles Town Race Track in 1969.
Cronk saddled more than 1,100 thoroughbred winners. One of his best was D Day, who he owned and trained to win the Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico in 2010.
He was also the leading trainer at Pocono Downs from 1972-74.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Longtime Delaware Park horse trainer Sam Cronk dies at 89
