Leon Cable passed away, age 71

Columbus, OH — Longtime harness racing industry participant Leon Richard Cable, 71, of Pompano Beach, Fla., passed away on July 10 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Ill.

Cable was born on Oct. 21, 1950, in Effingham, Ill., the son of Philip M. and Roselin (Barns) Cable. He graduated from St. Anthony High School. After working with his dad and brothers shoeing horses, he went to Pompano Park in Pompano Beach, Fla., where he was hired as a farrier for Billy Haughton. He remained at that track for 50 years where he was a farrier, driver and trainer of harness horses until it closed this past season. Cable shod at numerous tracks, such as Scioto Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Vernon Downs, Shenandoah Downs and Tioga Downs when he became ill.

Cable was an amateur driver with 451 driving wins and 334 training wins. He ran the Leon Cable Stable for years. Leon is from a four-generation family of Cable shoers, with Leon being from the second generation.

In 2016, Cable received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Harness Writers Association Florida Chapter for an individual who worked devotedly within the industry for an extended period of time.

Cable is survived by his siblings Ruth Ann Bales, Raymond Sr. (Patty) and Marilyn Thomas, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brothers Philip H. and Charles.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Southern Tier Amateur Driving Club, 1569 Talmadge Hill Road South, Waverly, NY, 14892.

From the USTA