Jean Chalk, long-time racing official, dies at 88

Jean Chalk, a racing official for 50 years in Kentucky, Maryland, and other jurisdictions, died early Sunday in hospice care in Florence, Ky., from long-term effects of a stroke. He was 88.

According to his daughter, Peggy Pate, Chalk was born in 1933 and grew up in a racing family, competing as a jockey for about 12 years, then as a trainer, before he began working as a racing official in 1969 through the mentorship of Keene Daingerfield. He went on to work at a multitude of tracks, primarily as a steward, throughout the eastern half of the United States, including in Delaware, Virginia, and Indiana, along with his longest stints in Kentucky and Maryland. He was still working as a steward at Delaware Park in 2019 before his health began declining.

Besides his daughter, Chalk also is survived by his son, Ted Chalk, a trainer prior to his retirement in 2003, along with 11 grandchildren and step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. His wife, also named Jean, died in 2007.

Stith Funeral Home in Florence is handling arrangements, and a memorial service will be held at the Florence United Methodist Church in the coming days, according to his daughter.