Sam Cronk (Hoofprint, Inc. photo)
Chris Sobocinski/Delaware Park
WILMINGTON, Del.—Delaware horseman Sam Cronk, who trained and stabled horses at every Delaware Park live racing season since 1969, passed away on Saturday, October 5. He was 89.
The native of New Milford, Pennsylvania, recorded his last training victory this year when Erika Neuberg’s home-bred Boyd’s Band won a maiden race at Delaware Park on September 20. Cronk had been in the top ten of the track trainer standings more than a dozen times including being the leading the trainer from 1989 through 1991.
The lifelong horseman, who trained both Thoroughbreds and Arabians and who also rode and trained Quarter Horses, notched his first career Thoroughbred training victory at Charles Town Race Track in 1969. In his career, he saddled more than 1,100 winners including D Day, who he owned and trained to win the Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico in 2010. He was also the leading trainer at Pocono Downs from 1972 through 1974.
