Al Roehl, a purebred owner and regular contestant for the disabled, passed away on March 24 in Lexington, KY after a brief illness.
Among his peers, his handicap skills have earned him a place in various challenges, including national tournaments. He owns racehorses with his wife Jan and in small partnerships. His previous runners include Prayer Service, a grant winner at Churchill Downs, Oaklawn Park and Ellis Park. Gelding was retired to Roehl’s Lexington ranch after being retrained to pull carts. “Al was always happy,” said Steve Margolis, one of the coaches Roehl recruited. “He is a close friend, not just a customer. He is always cheerful no matter how his horse runs. He was so knowledgeable about the game that he understood why a horse wouldn’t win.”
In addition to Jan, Al is survived by his four children, Jeff (Gina), Melanie (Bob), Tyler and Christopher; stepbrother Sara and Alex (Erin); and four grandchildren. A celebration worthy of a man who has had a great life will be held in Chicago this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of one’s choice.
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Al Roehl, Prayer service, Steve Margolis.
