David Ratchford Obituary
Lorne David Ratchford of North Sydney, N.S., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 with his loving family by his side, at the age of 80.
Born in North Sydney on March 15th, 1944, Dave was the son of the late Lorne and Félicie (Bénac) Ratchford.
On September 3, 1966, Dave married the love of his life Marguerite, and they rode off together in a horse and buggy to begin their amazing life. Within four years, they had four daughters, and the family then became known as “Dave, Marg and the Girls.” As a father, he modelled patience, love, support and created a close-knit unit. He was a great man who loved spending time with family and friends. Known to many as “Poppy” his home was open to all, where you could hear him telling great stories of his life that was filled with excitement and adventure. His love and support for others had no boundaries as it extended beyond family to friends, neighbours, and those he connected with.
Throughout the years, he had many interesting and successful careers. In his younger years he was employed with CN Marine and CN Rail. He retired as partner of Salter Ratchford Insurance in 2007. However, his true passion and talent was showcased when selecting yearlings, training, driving, and owning over 375 horses in his lifetime. His harness racing career started at the age of 16 when he bought his first horse. Dave had stables at tracks locally, throughout Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the US from Foxborough to as far south as Pompano. He loved to win, and he drove to victory more than 1600 times. Some career highs were winning the Governor’s Plate, the Maritime Breeders Dairy Queen Race, several Ontario Sires Stakes and driving in The Gold Cup and Saucer. His greatest success was his stallion, Century Farroh who won the Breeder’s Crown, The North American Cup Consolation along with many other top races and received three prestigious O’Brien awards in 2020 and 2021. Dad also served as Director of the Maritime Breeders Association and The Northside Horseman’s Association and was inducted into the Northside and Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame.
Dave is survived by his loving daughters, Bernadette (Jim) MacNeil, Lorna (Patrick) O’Grady, Monica (Claude) Sampson and Karen (Glenn) Cox and his twelve cherished grandchildren, Haley, Brennan and Kate MacNeil, Emily, Brendan, Kieran and Molly O’Grady, Chase, Lenee and Luc Sampson and Blake and Shann Cox. Also surviving are his sister Elise Ratchford (Marcel Jackman), brother Greg Ratchford, his sisters in law and brothers in law, Kay and Malcolm Batherson, Johnnie and Karen MacMillan, Normie and Linda MacMillan, Malcolm and Linda MacMillan, Leo Doyle, Linda Ratchford and Mary Beth MacMillan along with several special cousins, nieces and nephews and dear friend Muriel Wilkie.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Marguerite (MacMillan) Ratchford, his parents Lorne and Félicie, brother John, sisters-in-law, Mary Ratchford, Diane MacMillan and Mary Ann Doyle; brothers in law Dennis and Charlie MacMillan, father and mother-in-law, Norman and Frances MacMillan.
The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick O’Grady as well as the entire staff of the ICU at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for all their care and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Alzheimer’s Society or to the charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences can be left for the family by writing on the tribute wall of the obituary page at
www.wjdooley.com.
As a family we were blessed to spend an incredible amount of time together, travelling around the world, having suppers together and just “Horsin’ Around”. The countless memories are special and will remain with us forever. We love you, Poppy.
