Obituary of Kenneth (Ken) Carl Amthor

March 6, 1932 - Vanguard, Saskatchewan, 
July 1, 2022 - Bragg Creek, Alberta

Ken Amthor beloved husband of the late Allison Joan Amthor (nee Shepard), of Bragg Creek, AB, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2022 at the age of 90 years.

Ken was born March 6, 1932 in Vanguard, Sask, growing up on the family farm in Hallonquist, Sask. He attended the one room schoolhouse through grade eight and secured his first serious job as the fire chief of the schoolhouse from age 11 through 13. He would arrive one hour prior to all other students, to light the fire and get the school warm. Having skipped grade two, Ken was only 13 years old when he left home to continue grades nine through twelve in Vanguard. Ken lived in a hotel and three separate homes over the course of the four years. At age 17, he attended the University of Saskatchewan, earning his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

The Amthor homestead was 4 miles from school and the mode of travel was horseback. By the age of 14, the estimated miles ridden was 14,000. Ken joked it didn’t take long for him to have the fastest horse during lunchtime and after school horse races. This early love of horses continued throughout his lifetime. Ken started racing in Sask and graduated to the Western Canada Circuit in short order. 

Ken was an entrepreneur his entire life with a brief employment stint with Stanolind Oil & Gas Company in Leduc, AB. This employment lasted six months until opening day of the racing season and Ken effectively packed his tack and went to the racetrack. Stanolind executives tracked him down at the track and offered him an amazing opportunity with time to disburse his horses, which Ken turned down to stay with the career he loved. His first really successful horse, Blue Hood, launched his racing career that spanned 50 years until he retired from active training. Ken continued as an owner, collaborating with his trainer son, Gordon. 

Ken met his wife, Joan, at the racetrack when he had a horse his eventual wife really wanted. Her trainer, Bud Greenwood, was good friends with Ken and said although he wouldn’t claim the horse from Ken, he would introduce them. That introduction resulted in a 57-year marriage and a farming and thoroughbred racing partnership during their lifetime. Ken proposed to Joan in 1958 and presented her with the ring that Blue Hood could afford. Ken and Joan had a wonderful marriage, and they shared the love of ballroom dancing, the simple life of the farm in Crossfield, and most of all the love of each other and their children, Gordon, Carla and Allison.

Ken was named the head of the Canadian section of the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA) in 1963. He was the first prairie horseman to be named to this position and ultimately was also the youngest Canadian ever elected to the Presidency at age 35. Ken was invited to join the Alberta Racing Commission (ARC) in 1976 and remained a member of the ARC through 1991. Ken was the first commissioner that was allowed to be an active trainer and a member of the commission. Ruling on your peers while being an active trainer, was an amazing statement of recognition of his fairness and integrity, that he exercised throughout his lifetime.

Ken and Joan travelled to Kentucky and New York from 1964 through 1989, attending Keeneland and Fasig Tipton horse sales. Ken excelled as a “pin hooker”, someone who could spot weanlings and yearlings that were excellent race prospects and sales entries. They topped the sales in AB with these entries several years running. Ken and Joan raced winters in California and Arizona until their children were old enough to start school. 

Ken and Joan owned and operated two insurance agencies, Amalgamated Insurance, in Carstairs and Airdrie. Ken often commented it was the first time he realized there was life outside of the racetrack. Ken enjoyed his time in the insurance business and maintained relationships established during this time until his passing.

Upon retirement, Ken and Joan moved to Bragg Creek and wintered in California, wishing to be close to their son, Gordon. After Joan’s passing in 2015, Ken became Carla’s co-pilot and spent immeasurable time with his daughter. Upon a cancer diagnosis in 2019, Ken ultimately moved to live with Carla, and both felt the past three years had been an amazing gift of time and sharing. Gordon returned to Canada to share this time as well.

Ken is a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge #48 in Crossfield, a long-standing member of the Elks, and approximately 45 years with the Eastern Star. Ken joined so that he could go through the chairs with Joan as she was Worthy Matron and he, Worthy Patron.

Ken is survived by his children, Kenneth Gordon Amthor, and Carla Marie Amthor. He was predeceased by his wife, Allison Joan Amthor (nee Shepard) and daughter, Allison Elaine Amthor.

Ken’s favourite saying was “I’m fantastic” and it was his standard response to a question of how he was feeling, right up to the end.

A Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Amthor’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes for Ken, may be made directly to the Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society, thoroughbredaftercare.ca

In living memory of Ken Amthor, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click Here to View Kenneth Amthor's Memorial Card

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