Stanton, Del. , August 15, 2011 — The Delaware Park family was deeply saddened upon hearing the news of the passing of legendary trainer Carl Hanford on Sunday. The Hanford family has been a fixture at Delaware Park for decades.

“We are very sad to hear the news about Carl (Hanford),” said John Mooney, the Executive Director of Racing at Delaware Park. “He proved himself as a trainer. He was a very thorough horsemen and he was very knowledgeable about racing. He went on to become a highly respected and accomplished steward and racing official. In every facet of his life and career, I remember him most for his thoughtfulness and fairness. He was an exceptional man with an exceptional family. He will be missed.”

In the 1960s, Carl Hanford was an active trainer at Delaware Park where he conditioned the legendary Kelso for many summers. Hanford won the Diamond State Handicap with Kelso in 1966. After his training career, Hanford was a steward at Delaware Park.

Millie Hanford, Carl’s wife of 48-years, worked for nearly three decades as the paddock gate attendant before her passing in 2005.

His daughter Gail is an active trainer and has horses stabled at Delaware Park where Hanford spent most of his mornings and afternoons during his retirement years.

Hanford was inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame in 1968; the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1999; the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2006; and the Delaware Park Wall of Fame in 2009.