Turf writer Dan Farley dies at age 72

Dan Farley, an award-winning turf writer and former president of the National Turf Writers Association, died Friday at a Mechanicsville, Va., hospital. He was 72.

Farley started his career with The Blood-Horse in 1971 and then served as a writer, managing editor, and editor of The Thoroughbred Record. He covered American racing for Pacemaker International for three years in the early 1980s and then worked for the International Racing Bureau.

He served as president of the National Turf Writers Association from 1982 to 1986 and became the American correspondent for the Racing Post when it began publication in 1986.

Farley received the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing from the NTWA in 2009. He retired in 2013, but continued to write blogs and columns for the Racing Post.

Farley is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betsy; his daughters Alison and Carrie; and his grandson Noah.

A memorial service will be held at a future date in Lexington, Ky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the FSH Society (Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy), 450 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420 or through www.fshsociety.org.