Paul Schosberg, a former leader of New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. and the father of New York-based trainer Richard Schosberg, died on Monday following complications from surgery related to cancer, according to a release from New York Thoroughbred Breeders. Schosberg was 79. While Schosberg had a long career in politics and advocacy, he was also a Thoroughbred breeder and owner, through his Pine Lane Farm in Katonah, N.Y. He was a two-term president of New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., and a director of the organization for 12 years. “Paul was a symbol of class and a true gentleman,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, the executive director of the NYTB, in a release. “It is hard to summarize how much respect I had for him and his leadership.” Schosberg began his career as a journalist, eventually rising to the position of bureau chief of a newspaper in Westchester County, N.Y. He then served as chief of staff to two U.S. congressmen from New York, Richard L. Ottinger and Herman Badillo, both Democrats. Following that, he served as the heads of two institutions advocating for community bankers. His son Richard Schosberg has long trained on the New York circuit, having saddled 837 winners from 5,451 starts since taking out his license in 1988. In addition to his son Richard, Schosberg is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; a brother, Peter; a daughter, Jill Stoller; and three grandchildren.