Albert Lynn Stone, who served as CEO and president of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., for 14 years from 1970-'84, passed away Monday in Lexington, Ky. He was 95.
Stone joined Churchill Downs in 1961 as resident manager, and was named the ninth president in track history in 1970 when he replaced the retiring Wathen Knebelkamp.
Stone led Churchill Downs into the 1970s and 80s. Under his leadership, a 15-year program of $10 million physical improvements to the facility was completed in 1980. The capital projects included new Skye Terraces, a press box, jockey quarters, 12 new barns, fire-resistant tack rooms, sprinkling systems in all barns, a recreation building, restroom facilities and steel, fireproof stairways in the grandstand and clubhouse.
In the early '70s, Stone jointly served several years as president of both Churchill Downs and Hialeah Park in Florida. During his tenure at Churchill Downs he also served two terms as president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of North America.
Stone also witnessed three Triple Crown runs during his tenure as President of Churchill Downs: Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).
Born Oct. 18, 1925, in New Orleans, Stone served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, where he spent three years including time in the South Pacific.
After his service to his country, he pursued a career in professional baseball signing with the New York Yankees and playing several years with other minor league teams. Due in part to a playing injury, his career path next moved him into professional baseball management with the then Boston, and later Milwaukee-based, Braves organization.
In 1958, he led the move of the Braves Triple-A team to Louisville, serving as general manager of the Louisville Colonels.
Following his retirement, he moved to South Florida, where he continued to serve as a consultant to Churchill Downs along with other racing and sports organizations. Throughout his professional career and during retirement he led and served on numerous professional and civic boards including the American Horse Council, Jockey Club Round Table, and Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Stokes Stone; three sons, Michael Stone (Katharine Friel) of Versailles; Patrick (Nora) Stone of Lawrenceburg, and Steve (Leslie) Stone of Nicholasville; two step-children, Charles (Christine) Halloran of Washington, D.C., and Ann Tarter Halloran of Lexington, and; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
A public visitation was held 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 28) at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, Ky. Private funeral services will be at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Harrodsburg Road with private burial to follow in Camp Nelson National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to: American Legion Man O' War Post #8, 1230 Man O' War Place, Lexington, KY 40504, or the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter – Kaden Tower, 6100 Dutchmans Lane, Ste 401, Louisville, KY 40205-3284.
The post Lynn Stone, 95, Churchill Downs President From 1970-’84, Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
