Herb Ollive, former rider, dead at 51

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Former jockey Herb Ollive died last Friday following a massive heart attack. He was 51.

Ollive was one of the top riders in Alberta before he retired to become a jockey agent at Hastings. Ollive had a very successful career as an agent, most notably as the agent for leading riders Chris Loseth and Dave Wilson. He also served as a steward at Hastings in 2007.

Ollive will always be associated with Pole Position, who won the 1979 British Columbia Derby with Ollive aboard carrying 130 pounds.

He is survived by two daughters, Kaitlyn, 9, and Tiana, 10, and a son, Brandon, 14.

A celebration of Ollive's life will be held at Hastings this Wednesday at noon in the George Royal Room. A funeral will be held in Ollive's hometown of Stettler, Alberta, at the Stettler Community Hall at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ollive Children's Trust Fund.