William M. “Mark” Gilmour, passes at age 63

Harness racing horseman Mark Gilmour of Orchard Park, New York, passed away on Friday (April 19) after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Mr. Gilmour was a lifelong member of the harness racing community, having been born into it as the son of Hall of Fame driver and trainer Buddy Gilmour, grandson of Hall of Fame driver and trainer Levi Harner and nephew of five Gilmour uncles who also all trained and drove.

After getting his driver’s license at age 18 in 1979, Mr. Gilmour would go on to drive for the next 28 years, posting 355 wins with just under $2 million in earnings while driving across the northeast United States and Canada. He had a career year in 1985 when he posted 51 wins and $302,000 in purses. He occasionally catch-drove for Billy Haughton at Saratoga Raceway and did pilot the Open pacer Willow Napoleon (1:57.1, $341,147).

Mr. Gilmour is survived by his longtime partner Ann Pascarella, sisters Karen (Alan) Murphy and Lori Gilmour and cousin Dale Gilmour.

There are no visitations scheduled, however there will be a private service held in May. Mr. Gilmour will be laid to rest with his parents William “Bud” and Gwen Gilmour in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation or Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York.

by Tim Bojarski, for UNY USHWA