Richard W. “Rich” Wilcke, instrumental in the 1986 launch of the Maryland Million and who later served as director of the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program, died April 18 at Shelbyville Hospital near his residence in Pleasureville, Ky.
Born in 1943 in Albany, N.Y., and a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in agriculture, Wilcke served in the Marine Corps Forces Reserve, then held a number of positions in education, broadcasting, and communications before being named president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Council for a Competitive Economy. He was there from 1979-'84.
In 1986, after the late broadcast legend and horseman Jim McKay created the Maryland Million, an event modeled after the Breeders' Cup, Wilcke was hired as executive vice president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and executive director of Maryland Million prior to its first running. The Maryland Million is the longest-running racing event devoted to the promotion of regional or state breeding programs.
Wilcke left Maryland in 1995 and spent nearly 20 years at the University of Louisville, first as a faculty member in the College of Business and later as director of the Equine Industry Program. He retired to his Quarter Horse and Hereford Cattle farm in Bethlehem, Ky., in 2014.
Former students remembered Wilcke for his joy of teaching, keen insights, sense of humor and infectious laugh. One student shared a poem, written and published by Wilcke (see below), expressing the eternal optimism of horsepeople
During his career, Wilcke volunteered his time and expertise helping numerous organizations, including the Kentucky Equine Education Project, American Quarter Horse Association, American Youth Horse Council, and Kentucky Horse Council, among others.
Wilcke and his high school sweetheart, Janny Nyquist, were married in 1966 and they had five children. He is survived by his wife, daughters Ardith, Caroline and Madlen, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Sons William and Benjamin preceded him in death.
Arrangements are being handled by Prewitt Funeral Home of New Castle and Eminence, Ky., which said a private memorial service will be held later this spring.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Brown Cancer Center at UofL Health.
Any Year Could Be Your Year
By Richard W. Wilcke
If your horses are your passion
But they don't bring too much cash in,
And you're wondering if there's hope within your range,
If when buying, bids go higher,
But when selling, there's no buyer,
And you're just about convinced your luck won't change.
***
If your money hole is drying,
But you can't win a race for trying,
And those training bills keep piling up sky high,
If you've paid some high stud fees,
But all your foals have crooked knees,
And it's getting to the point you want to cry.
***
If you've bought some stallion shares,
But the horse just can't get mares,
And his 2-year-olds are shin-bucked on the shelf,
If “pay these bills” is all you're hearing,
But folks owing you keep disappearing,
And you're feeling pretty sorry for yourself.
***
Don't give up! Consider this,
You're one big horse away from bliss,
And that champion may already be on your place,
Every year we start all over,
With a chance to be in clover,
Any horse can burn your mortgage if he can race.
***
True, you're sorry that you got 'em,
When the market's at the bottom,
And the problems get you feeling kind of blue,
But don't forget, not for a minute,
And you shouldn't, since you're in it,
Any year could be the year your dreams come true.
The post Wilcke, 79, Passes; Led Maryland Million, UofL Equine Industry Program appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
