Article & Journal Resources

Anthony Foster and Orville Clarke, Freelance Writers

Track and field and horse racing enthusiast Richard Ashenheim, who passed away yesterday at age 80 in Bermuda, was remembered as a source of information and inspiration. He was 80.

President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), Howard Aris, described Ashenheim, who was also a Hall of Fame Inductee in horse racing, as "a very outstanding, committed, dedicated track and field official".

Ashenheim, also a past president of the JAAA, "was the most prominent of all statisticians in this region; as a matter of fact, he was even used by the IAAF as a statistician".

Aris said Ashenheim was an honorary life member of the JAAA and also a recipient of the IAAF Veteran's Pin, as well as a board member of the Carreras Sports Foundation.

The JAAA boss also said: "Richard Ashenheim brought to bear the legal strength of his background (to the JAAA), ensuring that we follow all the various rules and guidelines in the field of track and field.

"His passing, therefore, is regretted and I extend condolences to his wife and the rest of the family. We will sadly miss him."

Teddy McCook, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association, remembered Ashenheim as a "chief statistician, not only for the region, but for the judicial committee of the IAAF.

"His contribution has been wide and varied of the sport and not only in Jamaica, but at the very highest level," added McCook, himself a former JAAA president.

Deeply mourned

McCook said having just really retired, it is sad that he did not get to watch track and field in a more relaxed atmosphere.

"His passing is deeply mourned."

Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), described Ashenheim, who will have a race at Caymanas Park run in his honour today, as "a person who serves sports and athletics very, very well ... and is loyal to sports, especially athletics".

While saying he was best known as a statistician, Fennell, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, added that Ashenheim was a "source of great knowledge about the sport", one whom he said "contributed to the sport in many ways.

"It's a great loss to all of us and we wish his family well," concluded Fennell.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), Rudolph Muir, also paid tribute to Ashenheim for his contribution to horse racing.

"Richard did a tremendous job to the Jamaica horse racing fraternity and also to the legal profession.

"Richard served as the attorney who was engaged to the commission for many years, during which he gave yeoman service and helped to advance the rules of racing as we know them today.

"His interest also included the area of track and field athletics, and his meticulous records are a testament to this.

"A Hall of Fame inductee and member of a prominent racing family which gave us Legal Light, among other outstanding racehorses, Richard shall surely be missed. On behalf of the JRC, I extend condolences to his family."

Ashenheim was a director and vice-chairman of Caymanas Park Limited during the '70s. He was the holder of the national honour, the Commander of the Order of Distinction, and was educated at Jamaica College and Oxford University in England.