Ontario owner-breeder William Gierkink dies at 85

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Longtime Ontario owner-breeder William Gierkink, the father of Daily Racing Form handicapper Ron Gierkink, died last Sunday at age 85.

Gierkink managed James Sabiston’s Longview Farm for 30 years before retiring in the mid-1990s. He subsequently raced the popular Moonlight Beauty, a six-time stakes winner of nearly $900,000. He also bred stakes winners Bodust and Barath.

Last year, Gierkink campaigned Toronto Cup Stakes runner-up Rocket Plan, who wound up eighth in the Queen’s Plate.

Visitation for Gierkink will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday at the O’Neill Funeral Home in Stouffville, Ontario. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark’s Church in Stouffville.