Robert W. Camac
Encyclopedia
Robert W. Camac was an American horse trainer
and owner/breeder in Thoroughbred
racing
. He was murdered in 2001.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware
, Bob Camac came from a Thoroughbred horse racing
family in which two of his uncles worked as trainers. He became a professional trainer in 1976 and built a successful career working primarily at smaller racetracks in Delaware
and Philadelphia. In 1988, he was the leading trainer for the fall-winter meet at Philadelphia Park Racetrack
and although he was never in the national limelight until after his death, during his career Camac trained the winners of 1,811 races. A well-respected and well-liked trainer, fellow horseman John Servis
told The New York Times
that Camac "was more than just a trainer, he was a good businessman and would manage his owners' stables. Not too many guys had the kind of overall knowledge he had."
For a number of years Bob Camac trained horses for stable owner Arthur I. Appleton, earning a Grade I
win in the 1992 Philip H. Iselin Handicap
with Jolie's Halo. Camac bred the 2003 New Jersey horse of the year, Gators N Bears, but it was Smarty Jones
who was his most important breeding accomplishment. Camac trained for Roy and Patricia Chapman, owners of Someday Farm. For them, Camac purchased the filly I'll Get Along
for $40,000 at the 1993 Keeneland September yearling sale
. I'll Get Along won twelve races and earned $276,969 before becoming a broodmare. Camac suggested that the Chapmans breed her to Elusive Quality
. They agreed, and Camac arranged the mating which on February 28, 2001, produced a colt given the name Smarty Jones.
on December 6, 2001. Their funeral service was held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pennsville, New Jersey and they were buried in Gracelawn Memorial Park in New Castle
.
Thirty-six-year old Wade Russell, Maryann Camac's son from a previous marriage, was arrested and charged with their deaths. Russell plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter
and was sentenced to twenty-eight years in prison. He was later transferred to a psychiatric facility in Trenton, New Jersey
, after authorities had to place him on suicide
watch.
Following Bob Camac's death, Roy and Patricia Chapman sold most of their horses but on the advice of a friend, kept Smarty Jones
.
Robert and Maryann are survived by their daughter, Tracy Stranahan, as well as their grandchildren.
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
and owner/breeder in Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was murdered in 2001.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Bob Camac came from a Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
family in which two of his uncles worked as trainers. He became a professional trainer in 1976 and built a successful career working primarily at smaller racetracks in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and Philadelphia. In 1988, he was the leading trainer for the fall-winter meet at Philadelphia Park Racetrack
Philadelphia Park Racetrack
Parx Racing and Casino is a thoroughbred horse racetrack and racino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It currently houses 3,300 slot machines.-History:...
and although he was never in the national limelight until after his death, during his career Camac trained the winners of 1,811 races. A well-respected and well-liked trainer, fellow horseman John Servis
John Servis
John C. Servis is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who was a relative unknown until May 2004 when his horse Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby. The colt then went on to win the Preakness Stakes further increasing Servis' reputation...
told The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
that Camac "was more than just a trainer, he was a good businessman and would manage his owners' stables. Not too many guys had the kind of overall knowledge he had."
For a number of years Bob Camac trained horses for stable owner Arthur I. Appleton, earning a Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
win in the 1992 Philip H. Iselin Handicap
Philip H. Iselin Handicap
The Philip H. Iselin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to horses three years of age and older, the race was first run in 1884...
with Jolie's Halo. Camac bred the 2003 New Jersey horse of the year, Gators N Bears, but it was Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
who was his most important breeding accomplishment. Camac trained for Roy and Patricia Chapman, owners of Someday Farm. For them, Camac purchased the filly I'll Get Along
I'll Get Along
I'll Get Along is a Thoroughbred Filly racehorse by Champion Sprinter Smile and out of the stakes winning Foolish Pleasure mare Don't Worry Bout Me, tracing tail female to the mother of all blue hens, La Troienne...
for $40,000 at the 1993 Keeneland September yearling sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
. I'll Get Along won twelve races and earned $276,969 before becoming a broodmare. Camac suggested that the Chapmans breed her to Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality is a thoroughbred racehorse.Elusive Quality stands at stud at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He raced in the colours of Darley's principal, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. Prior to standing at Darley America he stood at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky...
. They agreed, and Camac arranged the mating which on February 28, 2001, produced a colt given the name Smarty Jones.
Death
Sixty-year-old Robert Camac and his fifty-five-year-old wife, Maryann V. Camac, were shot to death at their farm in Pedricktown, New JerseyPedricktown, New Jersey
Pedricktown is an unincorporated area within Oldmans Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 08067....
on December 6, 2001. Their funeral service was held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pennsville, New Jersey and they were buried in Gracelawn Memorial Park in New Castle
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
.
Thirty-six-year old Wade Russell, Maryann Camac's son from a previous marriage, was arrested and charged with their deaths. Russell plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
and was sentenced to twenty-eight years in prison. He was later transferred to a psychiatric facility in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, after authorities had to place him on suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
watch.
Following Bob Camac's death, Roy and Patricia Chapman sold most of their horses but on the advice of a friend, kept Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
.
Robert and Maryann are survived by their daughter, Tracy Stranahan, as well as their grandchildren.