Campbell reducing role with Dogwood Stables

Cot Campbell, the longtime president of Dogwood Stables and a pioneer in racing syndicates, said Wednesday that he no longer will form new partnerships and is decreasing his involvement in the sport.

Campbell, 84, said from the stable’s Aiken, S.C., headquarters that the Dogwood legacy “probably will continue in another form,” possibly with longtime officials Bill Victor and Jack Sadler running it.

“I’ve done this for 40 years and it’s been wonderful,” said Campbell. “I’m going to continue managing the 45 partnerships we still have, and I may remain active in racing by racing my own horses and in other ways. But at this point, I just don’t want my plate any fuller than it is.”

Campbell long has been known as an icon and an eloquent spokesman for the racing industry after transforming Dogwood from a small partnership in 1969 into one of the top stables in North America. Top horses raced by Dogwood were 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall, along with Storm Song, Inlander, Southjet, Wallenda, Trippi, Limehouse, and Aikenite.

Campbell also is the author of several books and spearheaded the stable’s long-running and prestigious Dominion Award, which was discontinued this year.