Mark North, longtime jockey agent, dies at 49

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mark North, a longtime jockey’s agent in California and the Mid-Atlantic region, died Wednesday due to complications of lung disease, according to his friend Alan Sherman.

North was 49. He had been staying with Sherman.

Sherman, an assistant trainer to his father, Art, said Friday that funeral arrangements were being planned.

North was representing jockey Kyle Frey as recently as the beginning of this month. Frey won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on Blended Citizen on March 17. The booking was arranged by North, according to Richie Silverstein, who is representing Frey.

Born in Grants Pass, Ore., North was a jockey at the same time as Sherman. Sherman recalled on Friday that North worked as an outrider on the East Coast following his riding career, but was primarily focused on representing jockeys.

Through his career, North represented such riders as Jesus Castanon, Alberto Delgado, Stewart Elliott, Jose Pietri, Kate Repp, Jose Rivera Jr., and Marcia Stortz.