CARTHAGE, N.C. – Former Vernon Downs regular Robert A. (Bob) McNulty, 80, passed away at his home in Carthage, N.C.
A native of Scranton,Pa., McNulty followed his father, Tony, into the Standardbred sport, competing at tracks in his home state and throughout the northeast. Although he later trained trotting and pacing horses at the Norwich fairgrounds, the 5’10”, 160-pound horseman was stabled at Vernon Downs in central New York for 36 racing seasons (1953 - 1988). During his distinguished career, the well-liked horseman won 1,272 races and $1,733,934 in official purse earnings. Following his retirement from active racing competition in 1988, McNulty operated the Eastwood Tack Shop near Pinehurst, N.C.
Services were conducted on Nov. 24 at Pinelawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Southern Pines, N.C., with the Carthage, N.C.-based Fry and Prickett Funeral Home providing military honors for the U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine H. McNulty; a daughter, Roberta LaClair of Carthage, N.C.; two sisters, Patricia Enright of Auburn and Sally Walch of Lanesboro, Pa. along with two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.