Racing photographer Bill Scherlis dies at age 96

Bill Scherlis, a track photographer at Del Mar and the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, died on Dec. 1 at the age of 96, according to Del Mar publicity officials.

A native of Philadelphia, Scherlis had been living in a care facility for more than a year. At an advanced age, he still was an annual visitor to the Del Mar summer meeting in recent years. Scherlis was track photographer at Del Mar from 1945 to 1975 and photographer at the Los Angeles County Fair for 54 years.

The Del Mar stands are adorned with photographs taken by Scherlis of horses being exercised, including photos of horses in the nearby ocean, and of celebrities from the post-war era visiting the races. Some of the photos hanging in the Brigantine restaurant near the track were taken by Scherlis, according to his son Marc.

A memorial service is being planned for February.