Snowden Carter dead at 83

Award-winning racing writer Snowden Carter, who had been longtime general manager of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, died of heart failure Feb. 3 at his home in Owings Mills, Md. He was 83.

Carter won the Thoroughbred Racing Associations writing award - now the Eclipse Award for newspaper article - in 1956 for his coverage in the Baltimore Evening Sun of the rivalry between Needles and Fabius in the Preakness. He was also a two-time winner of the National Steeplechase Association's magazine writing award. He wrote Daily Racing Form's Maryland breeding column in the 1980's and 1990's.

Carter began as an editor at the Maryland Horse Breeders Association's magazine, Maryland Horse, in 1961, and the following year joined the association as general manager. Within a year, Maryland had begun a state breeding incentive fund that became a model for other jurisdictions.

Carter also operated a six-mare breeding operation in the 1960's.

Carter is survived by a daughter, Lucy Acton, editor of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred; two sons, Bruce and George Carter; and 10 grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Feb. 14 at St. Stephens Traditional Episcopal Church in Timonium.