Rick Leigh dies at age 73

Richard “Rick” Leigh, a longtime steward and racing official in Kentucky and elsewhere, died Sunday morning following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 73.

Leigh died of cardiac arrest in a hospital in Florence, Ky., after having a difficult time breathing, according to his stepson, Tyler Picklesimer, also a steward and longtime racing official in Kentucky.

Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, Leigh was an Air Force veteran who began a nearly 50-year career in racing by working in various capacities at Waterford Park, now Mountaineer Park, ultimately becoming a racing official. Starting in the mid-1980s, he served as the racing secretary at Turfway Park for more than 25 years while also working as a steward and official at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and Kentucky Downs. His last job was as a steward at Belterra Park in 2019.

Leigh, who wintered in Florida in recent years in semi-retirement, was known as easygoing and fun-loving, but he also was known for his integrity.

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“Rick loved the game and all its characters,” Picklesimer said. “He always chose to take the high road and was very well-respected among his peers and horsemen alike.”

Picklesimer, who took over as racing secretary at Turfway for his stepfather in 2013, said Leigh was comparable to the other local racing secretaries of his era, Jerry Botts (Churchill) and Howard Battle (Keeneland), both of whom also have passed.

“They all were extremely gracious in that they afforded young officials to learn under them,” he said.

Besides his stepson, Leigh is survived by his wife, Amy; his daughter, Raina Baize; and his stepdaughter, Harmony Myers. Arrangements are pending.