Trot Insider has learned that horseman Keith Stonehouse of Lunar Rock Stables passed away on May 27 in the St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox, BC. He was 87
.
Keith is survived by his wife, Bertie, their sons George and Charlie (a daughter, Susan, died in 1976), his sister, Jean Pocha of Langley, B.C., grandchildren Linda, Tara, Shayna, Gina, Stephen, Elliot and Maire, great-grandchildren William and Charmaine, and his dog, 'Buddy.'
Keith, a veteran of World War II, bought the Lodge on Hornby Island and ran it for 28 years. Their warm hospitality is still fondly remembered by many people in the Vancouver area and elsewhere. Soon after they sold in 1978, the Lodge property became Tribune Bay Provincial Park. After leaving the Lodge, Keith and Bertie built a waterfront home on Hornby and Keith began to indulge his lifelong passion for horses. For three decades, he bred, trained and raced standardbreds under the Lunar Rock Stables banner.
Until recent years, it had been a common sight on Hornby to see Keith on a sulky, exercising a horse on one of the island's dirt roads. When he passed, he still had a horse at the track. He was also a long-time supporter and advocate for Greener Pastures, the society that finds new homes for former racehorses.
A memorial celebration of Keith's life will be held on Hornby Island in the fall, at a time and place to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greener Pastures through Canadahelps.org or by mail to PO Box 10096-3600 248 St., Aldergrove, B.C., V4W 3Z5.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Keith Stonehouse.