Racetrack jack of all trades Randolph Cutshaw dies at age 84

Randolph Cutshaw, a retired jockey, trainer, and agent who later in his career spent time working as the "colors man” at Fair Grounds, died Feb. 18 in Williamsburg, Va., according to his wife, Melodie Cutshaw. He was 84.

Cutshaw died in a hospice house, said Melodie Cutshaw.

“He was terminally ill with three forms of cancer,” she said.

Cutshaw was born in Versailles, Ky. He made his way onto the backstretch before he was old enough to be licensed in what would become a lifelong career path.

“He told me he used to get thrown off the racetrack when he was 14 and he’d go and jump the fence until they caught him again,” recalled his wife. “He became a bug boy at 16, and his brother was a jockey also, Oliver Cutshaw.”

Melodie Cutshaw said her husband rode on the East Coast, at such tracks as Monmouth Park and Saratoga, on the West Coast, and also in Kentucky. He later spent time working as a jockey agent, representing the Turcotte brothers for a time, including Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat.

At other points in his career, Cutshaw worked for Elizabeth Arden, Marion duPont Scott, Dr. Alex Harthill, Don Winfree, Dewey Smith, Shug McGaughey, and Louie Roussel III. His work also took him to England and Japan.

“He had a full life before I married him,” said Melodie Cutshaw.

The couple would have been married 42 years on March 19.

In addition to his wife, Cutshaw is survived by the couple’s daughters, Joshlynne Davis and Darragh Cutshaw, and five grandchildren, Kelcie Stingley, Peyton Davis, Raeleigh Holland, Gemma Holland, and Paisley Cutshaw.

“When he died, I told him I’d be fine,” Melodie Cutshaw said. “I said, ‘You’ve been waiting long enough, go get on that horse you’ve been wanting to get on.’ His body jumped, like he was jumping in the saddle, and he had a smile on his face. And it was so peaceful.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.