FADC honoring the passing of Leon Cable

Though the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) has been silenced somewhat by the closure of Pompano Park, the FADC has come up with a novel way to honor one of their own longtime harness racing members, Leon Cable.

Cable passed away recently from complications of a stroke at the age of 70 but the FADC, without a racing venue, has decided to honor him with Memorial races in two locales—joining the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) and the Southern Tier Amateur Club (STAC)—as they, too, honor Cable for his exceptional work as a farrier (blacksmith), trainer, driver and all-around great friend to so many in the industry.

FADC President Dein Spriggs and Treasurer Tom Eichas remembered Cable as a superior horseman in every arena saying, “He was a fixture at Pompano Park for a half century and had a heart of gold, helping those in need from before the sun came up in the morning through the midnight hours, if necessary.”

Trainer Angie Coleman remembered Cable as a “miracle worker,” saying, “I was having a difficult time with one of my horses and Leon advised me to try this certain new bit to see if that would help.

“Not only did it help, but she was also in the winner’s circle the first time we tried it. I was awestruck by his knowledge and willingness to help. To me, he was a miracle worker!”

Joe Chindano, Jr., a driver-trainer at the track, concurred.

“He was an exceptional all-around great horseman and was respected by all of us—young and old!”

The GLADA group will hold a memorial for Cable on July 25 in Fowlerville, Michigan with the FADC adding purse money to the event and a blanket to the winning connections.

Amateur Driver Steve Oldford is leading the festivities in Michigan and reflected on Cable’s half-century career revealing, “Leon is a gentleman that came from Illinois, and it is only right that we Michiganders, as his neighbor, honor his memory and greatness.

The FADC is also adding purse money to the Tioga Downs event, as well, the date to be determined.

STAC spokesman Jeff Schaefer, an amateur driver in his own right, said, “A guy like Leon Cable is a one-in-a-million kind of guy. He did so much good for so many of us that it would take a book to cover it all.”

Since its inception, the FADC, due to the generosity off their members donating all driving earnings to charity, has donated over $240,000 to worthy causes including, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, New Vocations and the CHHA, among others.

by John Berry, for the FADC