Paul Vance, songwriter and horse owner, dies at 92

Paul Vance (who was born Joseph Paul Florio on Nov. 4, 1929), a world-renowned American songwriter, record producer and Standardbred harness racing owner, passed away Sunday, May 30 at the age of 92.

He passed away with his daughter, Paula Vance at his side.

Vance, along with co-writer Lee Pockriss wrote hundreds of songs.

His most successful songs were Catch A Falling Star, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini and Tracy. He wrote more than 300 songs during his long career.

As a harness racing owner, the United States Trotting Association lists Vance as owning or leasing 167 horses during his career. And he was reported breeding 129 mares during that time period.

The best horse Vance owned was the top pacer Secret Service, a 27-time winner of $454,000 with a race record time trial at The Meadowlands in 1:53.2 back in 1981. Secret Service was trained by Vance’s son Joseph Vance. His son ran the stable for his father’s horses.

The last horse that Vance owned in partnership with Tom Haughton was Cathy’s Princess T, 5, 1:53.1F $123,875, who sadly was killed in the barn fire at Olympia Training Center (formerly South Florida Trotting Center) in Boynton Beach, FL on March 16, 2016.

In a quote from her Facebook page on Tuesday, daughter Paula Vance said;

It has been reported that the service will be private.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink