Gilbert G. Campbell, co-owner with wife Marilyn, of Stonehedge Farm South near Williston, Fla., died Sept. 16 at Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts after a brief illness. He was 91.
Besides his wife Marilyn, Campbell is survived by daughter Susan Campbell and son Gary Campbell. His son told the Lowell Sun: "Despite his remarkable success in business, he was incredibly humble. He was such a down-to-earth person who would treat the janitor with the same respect he would treat the CEO."
Campbell, a successful businessman in several industries, is most remembered for his stellar accomplishments and decades of dedication to the Florida Thoroughbred industry. Longtime Stonehedge Farm South manager Larry King commented: "He loved his horses and we inspected them all every time (the Campbells) came down, and he would say, 'I can't wait to see these run.'
"Marilyn is very involved and loves the horses … and his wishes, which he had told me many times, was for (the operation) to keep right on going forward."
A leading Florida breeder and former president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Campbell was a multiple graded stakes-winning owner whose horses earned more than $13 million under his own name from 2000-17. Racing under the Stonehedge banner from 2017 to the present day, his horses racked up an additional $6 million in earnings.
Campbelll ranked among the top 100 owners by wins in North America in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013, according to Equibase statistics. His top homebreds include Blazing Sword, a grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire; graded stakes winners Ivanavinalot (dam of dual champion Songbird); Watch Me Go; and Friel's for Real.
Stonehedge South won the Florida Breeder of the Year Award for the 2016 racing season, when their horses earned $2.7 million, with five stakes winners from 91 wins overall.
There are 15 Stonehedge-bred winners of The Florida Sire Series. Most recently Cajun's Magic and Dean Delivers, two sons of the Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze , brought home the exacta for the owner/breeder in the July 31 FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
According to the Lowell Sun, Campbell was a founding member and past president of the Lowell Home Builders Association and is past president of the Massachusetts Home Builders Association. He has also served as vice president of the National Home Builders Association and was a lifetime director. In 2002 he was elected to the Northeast Builders Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the New England Turf Writers Hall of Fame.
