Tony Leonard

What a photographer was he. I have may pictures given to me by Tony and they hang proudly in my home. My favorite is Secretariat winning the Derby and just before the finish line Tony through his eye and camera lense caught the horse in stride with all four feet up off the track. A remarkable photo. I have known Tony since 1981 being introduced to him during my employment at the Campbell House Inn. He and Adele were regular guest in the dining room which bore a lot of his work. The walls had nothing but Tony's pictures of all the great horses which ever so often he would switch around. Truly a very interesting man, very knowledgable man, and a very talented man. His photographs are all over the country and with that being said Tony Leonard will never be forgotten. A very unique individual and friend. My deepest sympathy to you Adele during this time of loss and grief. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Bill Towles

I knew Tony for a long time. His love of horses and their "proper" stances for his pictures were fantastic. Good friends of mine from North Carolina also loved his work and had great respect for him. His love of Secretariat and the many photos of him really meant a lot to me and a lot of my dear friends. I had the pleasure of introducing him to my "equine photographer friend, Nancy Bickford, at a Secretariat Festival in Paris. His equine love "never" subsided and I was very fortunate to live right across the street from his "last" residence in the "Homestead Nursing Facility". I would walk over and speak to he and his wife, Adelle, and check on him with his fantastic nursing staff often.

Rest well Mr. Tony in your "new stall"

I knew Tony for 30 years and he was a Master at his profession. Both of us being photographers always had knowledge to exchange althougth I always thought I gained more from him than he from me. He taught several photography classes for me in past years and could tell the best stories about the people he knew. RIP good friend.

My memories of Tony and Adele are from the 70's when we were in the SWC together. His voice was wonderful-a real crooner-and no one did the National Anthym like he did. Just give him a title and he could/would sing the song. I worked for him in his studio/office for awhile and one thing that fasinated me was his recall of when/where he filmed the horses. When someone needed a shot for the Sales he could find every picture he had taken of that horse by the farm/race/etc. where he took it. The wall of my den contains several pictures done by Tony and some signed. I considered it a great honor to have been friends with both of them and know what a legacy lives on in his pictures. Adele, he is with God now and I am sure he has his camera. Just think what besutiful pictures he is taking now. My deepest sympathy to you.

I met Tony at the Secretariat Festival in October 2010. A very appropriate venue in which to meet the photographer who probably took the most (and the best) photos of Secretariat I've ever seen. Tony was a friendly, gentle soul with whom I grew very comfortable. He would spin a friend of mine and I stories of how he met Adelle, how he fell into a manhole cover while attempting to take a photo of Secretariat leaving the paddock to run in the Derby, and many more. I enjoyed his company, and later, when he moved to the Homestead, I enjoyed seeing Tony and Adelle together. It's true...they held hands almost all of the time. Quite a tribute to love. He taught me a little about how to take a picture of a horse, "ears forward, legs apart." I strive to duplicate what he has taught me, knowing full well I will never forget those words. I will miss you, my friend. It was an honor to know you, even for such a short time. May you rest in peace. Adelle and family, please accept my heartfelt condolences on your loss. Our loss but Heaven's gain.