David Pate, longtime trainer, dead at 70

David Pate, a longtime trainer in Kentucky and Ohio, died Saturday at Cincinnati’s University Hospital after complications from a brain aneurism. He was 70.

A former leading trainer at River Downs, Pate won 565 races over his career, with purses totaling nearly $5.7 million. With a modest stable of mostly blue-collar runners, his horses won eight stakes, highlighted by Deputy G winning the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2005.

Before beginning his training career in 1972 at Tampa Bay Downs, Pate, a native of Ashburn, Ga., grew up riding horses on his family’s farm and was a jockey for several years, according to Turfway Park publicity.

Pate’s last starter ran Feb. 17, 2012, after which his wife of 30 years, Peggy, took over their stable’s training.

“He was a good guy,” said trainer Jeff Greenhill, who shared a barn at Turfway with Pate. “His owners really enjoyed it when they came out. He and Peggy, both – it was all about the horses.”

In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters Sonia Pate, Ida Dooley, Michelle Bryant, and Nicole Wood; sons Maxie and Travis; and brothers Steve, Bobby, and Ronnie.

Visitation is scheduled for from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home in Independence, Ky., with a memorial service there Friday at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be sent to the family of David Pate c/o Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051.