Peter Howe, trainer of flat and steeplechase champions, dead at 83

Peter Howe, one of four people in U.S. racing history to train a champion in both flat and steeplechase racing, died on Thursday night in Charlottesville, N.C., at the age of 83.

A former rider of show horses, Howe began training in 1966 for Marion duPont Scott’s Montpelier Stable, which had stables at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, plus private training facilities in Virginia and South Carolina. In 1972, the Howe-trained Soothsayer – a steeplechaser who ran competitively from 1970 to 1975 – was voted champion steeplechaser. That same year, Howe was the leading steeplechase trainer in races won, following up on the same title he had shared the year prior with trainer Sidney Watters Jr.

In 1976, a flat runner trained by Howe, Proud Delta, was named the champion older filly or mare after winning six of 14 starts, including the Grade 1 Top Flight and the Beldame, along with the Grade 2 Hempstead. Owned by Montpelier, Proud Delta distinguished herself in the breeding shed, producing Grade 2 winner Lyphard’s Daughter, whose daughter Delta Princess produced Hall of Famer Royal Delta.

According to biographical data, Howe started more than 1,500 runners who earned more than $3 million in purses during his career. He retired from training in 1994 after suffering an accident while riding. Earlier this year, he was inducted to the Virginia Steeplechase Hall of Fame.

Howe’s daughter Jill Byrne is currently the vice president of racing at Colonial Downs, following stints in broadcasting and other racing endeavors. In addition to Jill, Howe is survived by a son Jeffrey, and another daughter, Debby, plus four grandchildren.