James Casey: Gentleman trainer with lifelong friends and accomplishments
SHEPHERDSTOWN — James W. Casey made his indelible marks on the sports world, no matter where he found himself.
As a high school coach of several sports and later as an athletic director, his larger-than-life influence knew few bounds.
As a trainer of thoroughbred horses, his winning ways — especially at the Charles Town Races — made him a virtual legend in his own time.
Casey was a man of humility who had time for everybody who wanted to gain insight from his personal experience.
While at James Wood High School in Winchester, he gave counsel to younger coaches and athletes for decades.
He was mainly involved in football and wrestling, before moving off the playing fields or gyms into the school’s athletic director’s chair.
Those younger coaches he was involved with became experienced coaches themselves. And when they did, there was always praise and thanks for the kind treatment Casey had shown them.
When he retired from mentoring and coaching at the public high school level, Casey and his wife, Eleanor, became further involved in thoroughbred racing.
He went from being the face of James Wood Colonel football or wrestling, to joining with his wife to become leading figures in the competitive world of the area’s thoroughbred racing.
When the West Virginia Breeders Classics became this state’s richest day of racing, Casey quickly became the leader in terms of purse winnings, races won and numerous awards handed out by the state’s governing organization.
And then he and his wife purchased property in Kabletown and established the acreage at Taylor Mountain Farm to breed, raise and train thoroughbreds. That was in 2000.
Casey was 70 years old by that time in his much-accomplished life.
His eye for thoroughbreds, which might become valued sires for his growing band of broodmares, helped him become the dominant force at Charles Town Races.
From the beginning of his storied career as a trainer, he had the likes of Royal Consort, Dancing Czar, Weshaam, My Boy Adam, Luftikus and Windsor Castle as the sires of many thoroughbreds on his list of West Virginia champions.
One of Casey’s money-winning champions was Russell Road, a thoroughbred that he trained, but did not own. Russell Road went on to win three consecutive West Virginia Breeders Classic races at Charles Town Races.
In 2015 at age 85, Casey won the West Virginia Breeders Classic with Charitable Annuity.
When his win total in West Virginia Breeders races rolled on past 30, he was the trainer with the most career wins in those coveted events.
Casey owns training records for wins, stakes earnings and befriending and influencing others.
As is nearly always the condition, a person’s legacy and life are remembered by what they have shared and done with their time, in their involvement with others.
Casey’s legacy was etched with his continuous generosity, humility, kindness and friendship. He passed away at Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson on Jan. 8, at the age of 92.