Long-time racing journalist and historian Edward Bowen passed away Monday, Jan. 20 at his home in Versailles, Kentucky at the age of 82, according to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Bowen was the Blood-Horse Editor-In-Chief from 1987-1992. He was hired at Grayson in 1994, and spent 24 years as the president of the foundation, during a career in racing and journalism which spanned over 60 years.

“Ed’s passing is a huge loss in so many ways,” said Jim Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “His encyclopedic knowledge of the history and traditions of the sport was unequaled—and often served as a resource for many of us who needed to be guided by the past.”

“His enthusiastic leadership at Grayson on behalf of research and the health of the Thoroughbred led to some of the most important initiatives in the history of the breed. Finally, Ed was a peerless ambassador for the sport, always searching for the bright side of stories, and in doing so he was a true gentleman. On behalf of my colleagues at The Jockey Club and our related organizations, we grieve for his wife, Ruthie, his children, and his many friends.”

At his retirement from Grayson in 2018, fellow staffers presented Bowen with a tribute book which tells the story of a life spent in service to the industry.

“I had always admired Ed’s reverence for racing, racing people and the horses long before we worked together at Grayson,” said Grayson’s Chairman of the Board, Dell Hancock, at the time. “Ed has done a tremendous job for the foundation because of this and his affable disposition.”

Bowen grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, attended the University of Florida, and transferred to the University of Kentucky in 1963 to start his career at The Blood-Horse while still in school. From 1968-1970, he served as the editor of The Canadian Horse before returning to The Blood-Horse as its managing editor.

Bowen wrote 22 books on racing. He held multiple jobs in the industry, had his work published in multiple countries, and won multiple awards, including the Eclipse Award in 1972 for outstanding writing in the magazine division. A Kentucky Colonel and a past president of the Thoroughbred Club of America, he was a trustee of the National Museum of Racing, and served over 35 years as chairman of its Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. He was also chairman of its Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor Selection. Bowen was named the Thoroughbred Club of America’s Honor Guest in 2022.

Dr. Larry Bramlage, a member of Grayson’s board of directors, praised the progress that was made at the foundation under Bowen’s steerage.

“During Ed’s tenure as president of the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, the foundation progressed from a somewhat disorganized `also ran’ equine research funder to the premier equine research foundation,” said Bramlage at Bowen’s retirement in 2018. “The Foundation is now the generally recognized leader for research funding for the horse and other species. The selection of research and documentation of results serves as the model other organizations now use as a guide to their own credibility. His tenure as president was the touchstone for where the Foundation has come.”

“The horse and the industry lost a great advocate,” said Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation President Jamie Haydon. “Ed will be missed by us at Grayson and all of the research and veterinarian community.”

He is survived by his wife, Ruthie; his son, George; two daughters, Jennifer and Tracy; and two granddaughters.

An announcement regarding arrangements had not been made as of this writing.