Hugh J. Gallagher

Hugh J. Gallagher obituary, Goldsboro, MD

Hugh J. Gallagher

Hugh Gallagher Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Sep. 30, 2024.
Hugh Joseph Gallagher, III, of Goldsboro, Maryland, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, at Bay Health Hospital in Dover, Delaware. He was 76.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Virginia Smith Gallagher and Hugh Joseph Gallagher, ll, Hugh graduated from The Boys' Latin School in 1967 and later earned his bachelor's degree from Towson State University. He also pursued graduate studies in philosophy at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., after which he lived briefly in St. Michaels, Md. and Ocean City, Md.

Inspired by the example of his stepfather, Eric Frederick, a long-time standardbred horse racing trainer member of the Maryland Racing Commission, and having worked summers during high school and college at Ocean Downs Racetrack in Berlin, Md., Hugh completed training to become a horse racing steward in the early 1980s. His first meets were at Pompano Race Track in Pompano Beach, Fla., and Scioto Downs Racetrack in Columbus, Oh. In both, he served as State Steward for standardbred racing until early 1987, when he was recruited to serve as presiding judge at the Meadowlands' Standardbred race meet in East Rutherford, NJ - the premier harness racing meet in the United States. He served in that capacity for 10 years.

Hugh returned to Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1997 to work as race director for Bally's, which had purchased Ocean Downs and Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md. After a hiatus away from horse racing, he became Executive Director for the Delaware Harness Racing Commission in Dover, De., in 2005. In 2014, he was hired by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) as the first-ever Safety Steward in Thoroughbred racing nationwide. In that capacity, he worked to ensure integrity and safety at Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Race Track, and Belmont Park. After leaving NYRA in 2021, he officiated race meets in Illinois and New Mexico.

During more than four decades in horse racing, Hugh officiated more than 50,000 Standardbred and Thoroughbred races in several jurisdictions, and became a respected authority on racing safety and integrity. He also played a leading role in the training and education of horse racing officials, nationally, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP); and for the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), as Chair of the Education Committee and Vice Chair of Model Rules. In 2013, in recognition of his exemplary service and contributions to racing integrity, Hugh received ARCI's Len Foote Award, the highest honor bestowed on racing regulators in North America,

Throughout his life, Hugh was an avid reader, particularly on the subjects of philosophy, history, art, religion and spiritualism. He also was a fan of many music genres and musicians, from classical to Latin American, and from Ray Charles to Weird Al Yankovich - two of the artists he hosted in outdoor concerts during his tenure with Bally's at Ocean Downs. Thanks to his childhood summers in Ocean City, Hugh was an excellent ocean swimmer. He was always happiest with his face in the sun and his feet in the sand, especially in the company of his family and friends.

Hugh is survived by his wife, Kimberly Williams Gallagher; their son, R. Patrick Gallagher; his daughters, Grace Gallagher Grammer (Robert) and Elaine Gallagher, and their mother, Kate Edmunds LaMotte; sister, Virginia Keelty; niece Katie Disney (Jack); nephew Kevin Keelty, Jr. (Anna); his cousins, Pat Gallagher (Meg) and Mary Lawrence, Gretchen and Eric Schmidt, Paula and Paul (Julie) Schmidt, Justin Wasilifsky (Nancy), and Matt O'Donnell (Cathy); his in-laws, Ken and Charlotte Williams, and Tim, Kathy, Marley and Jack Savin; and a host of friends and other relatives.

Internment will be private. Messages of condolence to the family may be sent to [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Hugh's memory be made to the Thoroughbred horse rescue organization, Rerun, Inc.( https://www.rerunottb.com/support-rerun-test ) or the Standardbred horse rescue organization, Standardbred Retirement Foundation (https://www.adoptahorse.org/memorial-commemorative).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Hugh Gallagher's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

July 4, 2025

Rick Chinsley posted to the memorial.

October 11, 2024

Virginia Gallagher Keelty posted to the memorial.

October 3, 2024

Katie Disney posted to the memorial.

Rick Chinsley

July 4, 2025

I knew Hugh long before the horses, It was Ocean City and the occasional road trip to Vermont where we had mutual friends. He was always the life-of-the-party and I will miss him dearly. RIP my man.
Rick Chinsley

Virginia Gallagher Keelty

October 11, 2024

The first time I saw Hugh was when our parents brought him home from Mercy Hospital. In those days a woman (and infant) stayed a week after the birth of a child. To my four year old self he seemed small and quiet. As months and then years passed he became much more interesting. He was always smiling and always curious about everything and everyone he came across. He loved to experience things first hand and always wanted to excel at everything he tried. I recall his Sundays as alter boy during mass at St. Mary's where we attended grade school. He spent many nights with a flash light under the covers reading all kinds of books. While still in grade school he started infiltrating the practice field at Friends School to join the hockey players there! He continued his love of hockey when he attended Boys Latin in high school. During his high school days his interest in music exploded and he took up playing the base fiddle too. In my minds eye I can still see him with that huge instrument on his back, heading off somewhere. He loved talking with everyone and he pushed himself to really understand others without judgement. He had enormous empathy and appreciation for all of us. I was so very fortunate to have known Hugh and to have him as my brother.

Katie Disney

October 3, 2024

My first fully formed memory of Hugh is from when I was about 6 years old (1974ish) & he was staying with my grandparents (his mother and stepfather) at their place in the Sea Mist apartments in Ocean city, MD and so was I. I woke up in the middle of the night to sneak into his room, sit down on the bed opposite from him and just stare at him while he was sleeping. Weird, I know but why did I want to do that? My small self was mesmerized by who "Uncle Hooey" (AKA Cocoa Bean) was and what he brought to the table when he visited us. As a child I welcomed the very distinct and individual happiness that myself & everyone around me had when Hugh was with us and I guess I was trying to read what that was all about on his peacefully sleeping face. I remember adoring him and being so fascinated with what he was all about and I believe most of that is how he made people feel when he was interacting with them. He had an uncanny knack for zeroing in on a person´s psyche and knowing what to talk to them about that would bring them the most joy. I saw him do this time and time again throughout my life with literally everyone - from the most standoffish people to the most affable, from cashiers to VIP´s it didn´t matter to him because Hugh made it his mission to get a good rapport going - he could and would legitimately connect and everyone was always better off after an interaction with Hugh. He made us laugh, he made us think bigger, to question, listen, find the ironic, sympathize, form bonds, look deeper, but mostly laugh. I am so thankful that Hugh was a part of my life and for the mountains of memories I have of him. I never figured out how Hugh worked his special brand of magic on people but I watched him from the sidelines over the decades and I saw and felt the effects of his connections with people, what a gift to have witnessed. Rest in peace, "Cocoa Bean"!

Jeanne Schnell

October 2, 2024

Hugh was a consumate professional. He put the "pro" in the word. When I first met him as the NYRA Steward, I knew he was someone I wanted to emulate. Hugh upheld racing integrity to the highest standard and always advocated for the horse. But what struck me about Hugh, more than his professionalism on the track, was his kindness and empathy. If you knew Hugh, you knew that despite everything he had done for racing, his children were his greatest achievement! He was SO proud! My heart hearts for his family and friends, and for racing, which is so much bleaker, without Hugh and his passion, in it.

Kevin Keelty, Jr.

October 2, 2024

The pictures didn't go through. Trying again with smaller pics...
Here are a couple of pictures. Hugh with Astor and Zoe, and Eric Frederick, myself, and Hugh at the track. Great memories of Coco Bean.

Kevin Keelty

October 2, 2024

Here are a couple of pictures. Hugh with Astor and Zoe, and Eric Frederick, myself, and Hugh at the track.

Kevin Keelty, Jr.

October 2, 2024

Rest in peace, Uncle Hugh.

Kevin Keelty, Sr.

October 2, 2024

Hughie was a very important figure in my life. I was very sorry to learn of his passing.

Patrick Gallagher

October 1, 2024

Hugh was always so well dressed, at any age. The saddle shoes were very cool!

Patrick F Gallagher

October 1, 2024

He was sooo well dressed . Saddle shoes; very cool.

Natalie Voss

September 30, 2024

Hugh was always so kind and helpful to me in my capacity as a reporter. I learned a lot from him about his work behind the scenes to keep horse racing fair and safe for all participants, and always thought of him as "one of the good guys" dashing from one challenge to another in the search for justice. If racing had had about 50 more officials like him, it'd be a different world; as it is, the sport benefited enormously from his dedication.

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Sign Hugh Gallagher's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

July 4, 2025

Rick Chinsley posted to the memorial.

October 11, 2024

Virginia Gallagher Keelty posted to the memorial.

October 3, 2024

Katie Disney posted to the memorial.