Longtime trainer Daniel M. "Speedy" Smithwick Jr. died April 23 in Middleburg, Va. He was 62.
The son of Hall of Fame trainers Dot and Mikey Smithwick, he followed in his parents' fabled footsteps. Smithwick would become one of the nation's top amateur steeplechase jockeys with wins, including the 1984 Virginia Gold Cup, the 1985 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, and the Iroquois Steeplechase (three times). He later became a trainer of both steeplechase and flat-racing Thoroughbreds.
Smithwick was born Oct. 27, 1959, and while growing up juggled his time between Hyde, Md., Middleburg, and Long Island, N.Y. He spent his summers on the estate of Lillian Bostwick Phipps watching his dad train steeplechase legends such as Neji and Top Bid. He got married Dec.10, 1988, to Eva Dahlgren, who shared his passion and gift with horses. Together they began their flat-track careers training for the late Jack Kent Cooke in California and Kentucky, and it was on the flat where Speedy found a path different from his parents and his true passion.
He raced across the country at tracks like Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Saratoga Race Course, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, and Arlington International Racecourse. Many of the friends he made along the way would stay with him for the remainder of his life, like his beloved groom Clementino Salazar. He trained multiple graded stakes winners for various owners, with some of his favorites including grade 2 winner Zignew, grade 3 winners Double Found and Ziggy's Act, graded-placed multiple stakes winner Glacial, and multiple graded-placed winner Suave Voir Faire. Training from 1991-2020, Smithwick conditioned 335 winners, which included 12 black-type winners. His runners earned nearly $7.9 million. His best year came in 2007 when his stable won 38 races from 181 starts and made $585,311.
Smithwick's last starter was Morgan's Ford Farm's River Deep, who finished seventh in the Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel Park in October 2020.
Smithwick was a fascinating storyteller, recalling with clarity every horse he trained or rode. After the death of his mother, Smithwick returned to Sunny Bank Farm in Middleburg, where he and Eva dabbled in steeplechase, foxhunting, and herding cattle. Smithwick was known for his sense of humor, his kindness, and his optimism.
He is survived by Eva; daughters Kathy Smithwick Swain and Patricia Smithwick; granddaughter, Dorothy Adelaide Swain, who was named after his mother; brother Roger; and many close friends.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, Va., Monday, May 16, at 11 a.m. ET with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs.
