Russell Bennett, member of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, dies at 94

Russell “R.J.” Bennett, a prominent owner/breeder in British Columbia and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, has died at age 94.

Bennett, along with his wife, Lois, bred and/or raced over 60 stakes winners. He was a member of the Jockey Club of Canada for almost 40 years and was involved in Thoroughbred racing in Canada since the 1950s. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007, and, in 2015, received the prestigious E. P. Taylor Award of Merit at the Sovereign Awards ceremony.

The Bennetts campaigned Travelling Victor, who in 1983 became the first horse not raced in Ontario to be voted Canadian Horse of the Year. They also captured the 1983 Sovereign Award for outstanding breeder.

The Bennetts also raced multiple stakes winners Lord Nelson and Always a Dixie, among many others. At one time, they stood stallions Dixieland Brass and Maudlin at their Flying Horse Farm.

Russell Bennett was president of the British Columbia division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society from 1991 to 1994.