Mussellam, agent, dead

Jockey agent Geoff Mussellam died suddenly Thursday at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. He was 48.

Mussellam, who had been booking mounts for apprentice Jason Pang, had been in the hospital with meningitis. According to friends of the family, Mussellam had recovered from his bout with a rare form of the disease and was making plans to go home when he developed a fatal blood clot.

Until becoming an agent this year, Mussellam had worked at various jobs at Hastings. He was the program director for many years. His most recent job was as communications manager, a post in which he had a large hand in developing the first Hastings fact book. He was also the racing analyst for the province newspaper and set the track's morning line.