Longtime SoCal Owner Herrick Dies at 97

Donna Herrick, a beloved and enduring presence in the Southern California racing community and a pillar of Del Mar, died April 15 at the age of 97, surrounded by family. Alongside her late husband Bill, Donna was deeply devoted to Thoroughbred racing for more than four decades. Together, they were not only passionate owners but also among Del Mar's most loyal patrons, maintaining a fifth-floor suite for nearly 30 years and becoming fixtures of the seaside track each summer. Their impact on the sport extended well beyond their presence. As owners, the Herricks campaigned several accomplished runners, including grade 2 winners Magnum and Nuclear Debate, and multiple grade 3 winners including Robyn Dancer who was third in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1); Classy Women, Lasersport, and Short Route. Magnum also delivered a memorable performance when finishing a thrilling second in the 2006 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) behind the legendary Lava Man. Medici Code captured the 2007 running of the Del Mar Derby (G2T). Years later, that legacy came full circle as their daughter, Susie Galland, racing in partnership with Little Red Feather, returned to the Del Mar winner's circle when The Padre (IRE) captured the 2025 Del Mar Derby in an emotional continuation of a family tradition deeply rooted in the track they loved. Donna's influence on racing lives on through her family. Her son, Joe, is a trainer, continuing the hands-on horsemanship that defined the Herricks' approach to the sport. Her daughter, Susie, remains actively involved as an owner, while Joan and George Scott also carry forward their own family's racing interests. Together, they represent a new generation guided by the same passion, integrity, and love for the game that Donna and Bill embodied. More than their success on the track, Donna will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and the deep relationships she built within the racing community. To many, Del Mar was simply a summer destination, but to Donna, it was home. She is reunited with her beloved husband Bill, with whom she shared a lifetime of memories in racing and beyond. Donna is survived by her children Kathy (Terry) Lathrum, Joan (George) Scott, Bill (Rose) Herrick, Leann (Jim) Van Langen, Susie (Britt) Galland, and Joe (Erin) Herrick, as well as 20 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Their legacy endures not only in the record books, but in the family and community they helped shape.