John Bell, jockey turned agent, dies at 79

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Former jockey and prominent jockey agent John Bell died Sunday after a battle with cancer at 79.

Bell won back-to-back runnings of the marathon Valedictory Handicap on Knight’s Turn in 1979 and 1980 at Greenwood. As an agent, he had the most success with multiple Sovereign Award winner Todd Kabel, who won the Queen’s Plate twice. Among the other riders he represented were Chantal Sutherland, David Moran, and Neil Poznansky, who was voted the Eclipse Award as North America’s top apprentice in 1996.

Visitation for Bell will be from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday at the Newediuk Funeral Home, Kipling Chapel, at 2058 Kipling Ave. in Toronto. A service will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Benedict Church at 2194 Kipling Ave. Interment will be at the Assumption Cemetery at 6933 Tomken Road in Mississauga, Ontario.

Donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund can be made by visiting its website.