Justice, of Dell Ridge Farm, dead

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Frank Justice, the owner of Dell Ridge Farm with his wife Mattie, died here Saturday at age 79. No cause of death was given.

Justice bred such stakes performers as multiple Grade 1 winner Shakespeare, whom he campaigned in partnership with William Schettine. Other Dell Ridge-bred stakes-winners include Morning Line, Kid Kate, La Verita, and Tiger’s Rock. He also raced, in partnership, the two-time graded winners Della Francesca and Wiseman’s Ferry.

Justice and his business partners founded Coal Mac in 1971, then sold the business to Ashland Coal in 1988. A Pikeville, Ky., native, Justice opened Dell Ridge in 1998 on land that previously had belonged to Hill ’n’ Dale Farms.

Justice is survived by his wife, sons Frank D. Justice II and Jason Ledford Justice, daughters Bridget Justice and Karla Corbin, three siblings, and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services were to be held Tuesday, Feb 28, at 1 p.m. at the Pikeville Main Street Church of Christ.

Memorial donations can be made to Mission Works, care of Main Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 2747, Pikeville, Ky., 41502 or to the University of Pikeville, 147 Sycamore Street, Pikeville, Ky., 41501.