Joe Negri Jr., Northern California owner, dies at 78

Joe Negri Jr., 78, who owned and raced horses in Northern California for more than 50 years, died last Saturday in Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital of kidney failure, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Negri bought his first racehorse when he was in his 20’s. Negri also bred horses.

Negri ran his family’s restaurant in Occidental, near Santa Rosa, and frequently included Occidental in his horses’ names. He attended the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa this year, going to the track in a wheelchair before walking to his box seat. His Love Occidental ran fifth and eighth in two starts at the fair this year.