Obituary of F. Donald LaPlace

F. Donald LaPlace, 85, a resident of Burgoyne Rd., passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at his home with his wife by his side. Born January 20, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY he was raised by his late mother, Helen M. LaPlace and his aunt, Alice Kelly. At the age of 16, Don went to work at the racetrack and worked with Hirsch Jacobs and became a contract rider in 1947. In 1948 he rode 40 races for Hirsch and exercised Stymie. He became a trainer in 1960 and saddled 3 horses and won 3 races. In 1965 he exercised for W.C. Freeman and worked the Mutuals for NYRA. He went on to be the Morning Line Oddsmaker for NYRA, retiring in 1995, but continued to work from home for the next 5 years. He was a member of the Jockeys Guild Inc., was a founding member of the Windy Hill Golf Club, and was a communicant of Notre Dame-Visitation Church in Schuylerville. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by several aunts, an uncle, and several cousins. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Joan R. LaPlace of Schuylerville; his cousin, Rev. David Kelley of Waterford; stepdaughters, Kathleen Farragu of NYC and her children, Grant and Jessie Sabatino, Deborah E. Scibelli of NYC and her children, "The Sparkle Hill Mob", James (Christine) Scibelli and son Thomas, Heather (Nick) Calgano and son Benjamin Francis, and Elizabeth (Jeff) Monteleone; Susan (Danny) Hardcastle of Florida and sons, Sean and Nick Mejais; his sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Edward Dempsey of Ballston Spa and their sons, James (Kathy) Dempsey of Ballston Spa and Mark(Stephanie) Dempsey of Austin, TX; brother-in-law, Carmen Sanders and his daughter Theresa Elliot of Spring, TX; several friends, including Steven and Julie Wallace of West Auckland, England, his dearest friend Francis Anglim of Unionville, PA, Lenny Hale, Lou Ferrari, Rob Levy and several others at NYRA. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10am Monday, November 9, 2015 at Notre Dame-Visitation Church with Rev. David Kelley, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday from 2-4pm at Flynn Bros. Inc. Funeral Home, 13 Gates Ave., Schuylerville, NY 12871. Memorials can be made in his memory to General Schuyler Emergency Squad, PO Box 111, Schuylerville, NY 12871.