E. Palmer Heagerty, described as “one of the greatest chartcallers ever produced in this country,” died in January from a heart attack at the age of 43. Nine days before his death, the Maryland native was named supervisor of field operations for The Morning Telegraph-Daily Racing Form.
Heagerty’s loss prompted numerous memorials, including a race to be named in his honor at Bowie, with The Morning Telegraph-Daily Racing Form editor/publisher J. Samuel Perlman to be on hand from New York to present the trophy to the winning connections.
Wrote The Maryland Horse: “A man of impeccable character and extreme intelligence, Palmer was likely to have achieved success in any line of endeavor he might have chosen to pursue. Fortunately for Thoroughbred racing, he went to the tracks as a teenager. . .
“His death leaves a void which will never be filled. Like Man o’ War, his kind don’t come along very often.”
Snowden Carter was appointed general manager of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, although his position was considered more of that of “field secretary.” Carter’s appointment was announced shortly following the death of the MHBA’s longtime business manager, Stewart Sears, who had been with the association since 1939.
Larry Abbundi, a graduate of New York University, was named the new assistant racing secretary at Delaware Park. Gaining initial experience with the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association, Abbundi had a long career in racing. Having once worked as an official at Churchill Downs, the Rockville, Md., resident was the current assistant racing secretary at Charles Town as well as a racing official at Pimlico, Laurel and Bowie.
