Bruce Johnstone, trainer and NYRA racing official, dies at 76

Bruce Johnstone, a former trainer and racing official for the New York Racing Association, died Wednesday at his home in Sea Cliff, N.Y., after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 76.

Johnstone, a native of California, was a lifeguard and restaurateur before he got into racing in the 1970s. Johnstone, whose father had been a vet in New York, began working at Claiborne Farm and then came to New York in 1972 and worked for Lefty Nickerson. Johnstone worked with the horse Big Spruce, a nickname given to Johnstone by fellow horsemen due to his size. Johnstone also was nicknamed the Marlboro Man after it was learned he auditioned to be the character used in the cigarette company’s advertising campaign.

Johnstone worked for the Phipps Stable from 1974-80, working under trainers John Russell and Angel Penna Sr.

In 1980, Johnstone went out on his own and was hired by Jose Sahagun, an owner in Venezuela who wanted to make an imprint in the United States. One of the first horses Johnstone trained for Sahagun was Secrettame with whom Johnstone won the 1983 Shirley Jones Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Secrettame became the dam of Gone West, a multiple stakes winner who became a noted stallion.

Before Sahagun could truly delve into the U.S. Thoroughbred market, however, he was hurt by a financial crisis in Venezuela, driving him from the industry.

“This was a job of a lifetime; it just didn’t last long enough,” Johnstone told Andy Serling in a 2018 podcast, “Across the Board” archived on NYRA.com.

Johnstone regrouped and trained for more than two decades before retiring in 2007. Among his other notable horses were stakes winners Buck Aly, Preporant, Jay’s Crown, Daunting Era, and the Grade 1-placed Schway Baby Schway.

According to Equibase, Johnston won 198 races from 2,090 starters and his horses earned $5.5 million in purses.

After he stopped training in 2007, Johnstone went to work for the New York Racing Association as manager of racing operations. Much of that job was acting as a liaison between horsemen and management.

“Bruce was just a really great guy,” trainer Phil Serpe said. “He always had something good to say. He put a lot of time into this business. We all liked Bruce, and it’s always great to work with a guy that you like.”

“I don’t know anybody that didn’t like Bruce on the racetrack,” said Anna Hollander, a former exercise rider and longtime friend of Johnstone. “He was very noble, very professional, had a lot of integrity.”

Johnstone is survived by his daughter, Kelly.

Arrangements were pending.