UPDATED JULY 2, 2011:
There will be a celebration of Ray’s life on Sunday, July 3 at 5 p.m. at The Potomac Hunt Club on Peach Tree Road in Barnesville, MD.
Contributions may be made in his name to Hospice of Frederick County, 516 Trail Avenue, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Maryland 21702.
Raymond Allaeys Carter died peacefully and painlessly at home in Middletown, Maryland on June 20, 2011 from complications related to prostate cancer.
He was born in Yorkshire, England in 1930 and when he left school he began a five-year jockey apprenticeship at a racing stable in Newmarket. This was interrupted when he was drafted into the British Army where he served two years as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery regiment known as the King’s Troop; a ceremonial troop that pulls caissons with horses and serves at Royal funerals.
After completing his apprenticeship he was a National Hunt jockey for nine years, competing in steeplechase races at most of the tracks in England. In 1960 he moved to America and briefly lived in Middleburg, Virginia and continued racing at point-to-points and sanctioned meets until about 1965, when he became a self-employed farrier. He taught riding to many children competing on the “A” show circuit when he was at Chartwell, Inc. in Potomac, Maryland from 1972 to 1978. He also foxhunted with the Potomac Hunt and was an honorary whipper-in.
In 1980 he moved to the Middletown Valley in Frederick County, Maryland and became the professional huntsman for the New Market – Middletown Valley Hounds for many years. In his spare time he raced his motorcycle in road races from Canada to Daytona. He continued foxhunting and eventing when he retired as huntsman and when he could no longer ride he successfully competed his horses in combined driving events.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his son, Raymond and daughter-in-law, Louise; and remembered by his close friends, Kerry Mattern, Mary Miller, Janet Hitchen, and generations of foxhunters and equestrians.
ORIGINAL POST
Ray Carter died peacefully and without pain at home the evening of June 20, from complications related to prostate cancer. He was a long time Honorary Whipper-In at Potomac Hunt in the ’70s and ’80s, then was the Professional Huntsman at New Market Middletown Valley Hunt. He was formerly married to Janet Hitchen. His wife, Pat Carter, is an ex-MFH at New Market Middletown Valley and also a former Honorary Whip at Potomac.
Ray started out as a steeplechase jockey in England and then in the US. For many years, he was an official at the Potomac Hunt Races and many point-to-points in Virginia. He was a well respected farrier and later took up driving horse teams, competing in many shows and events. Pat and Ray rejoined Potomac as Associate Members several years ago. He will be greatly missed
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