John L. Smith, 72, of Lambertville, N.J., died on Monday, April 18, 2022. Born in Lambertville, John was a lifelong area resident.
As a young man he was a successful professional horse jockey. A protégé of the legendary Willie Shoemaker, John raced at tracks throughout the eastern United States including Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, Green Mountain Racetrack in Vermont, Garden State Track and Liberty Bell Track in Bensalem.
Upon retiring from racing John worked as a trainer at Hell Mountain Horse Farm in Tewksbury, N.J. Later John worked as a handy man and painter.
He enjoyed time with his family and friends. John was the son of the late Harry W. and Anna E. Heston Smith and the brother of the late Harry James Smith and Maria E. Dennis. He is survived by his son Darren Smith; his sister Beverly Knechel and her husband Andrew; his brothers Russell Smith, Herbert Smith, Robert L. Smith and his wife Kim, Bruce W. Smith and Richard Hart and his wife Pamela; his many nieces and nephews, their families and his many friends.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (vhmfh.com). There will be calling hours on Saturday morning at the funeral home from 9 am until the start of services. Interment will follow at the Holcombe-Riverview Cemetery, Lambertville, N.J.
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