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Francis R. Bond, 86, dies
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
(Photo from the archives of the New York Daily News)
Batavia, NY---Francis R. Bond, 86, a long me owner, driver and trainer at Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway, died peacefully Tuesday morning, December 26, 2017 at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, NY.
“Franny” Bond was born in Buffalo, NY on July 27, 1931. He became a Marine a er leaving school and began boxing while in the service in the Armed Forces Title Fights.
He fought in the lightweight class and eventually worked into the featherweight division. The then 126-pound “figh ng Marine” was described as “a game and lively scrapper who could take a hit and come back with a be er one.”
Corporal Bond became one of the Marine’s top boxers, winning a featherweight tle in 1953 while o en mes figh ng men from the professional ranks between service bouts and some mes compe ng in higher weight classes.
Bond con nued to fight professionally in the Golden Gloves a er he le the service under the name Bobby Bond and was trained by Angelo Dundee who also condi oned the likes of Muhammad Ali, George Foremen, Sugar Ray Leonard and Carmen Basilio. He competed in 15 professional fights all over the eastern seaboard including New York City at Madison Square Garden.
Bond first got involved in harness racing in 1966 and eventually got his trainer and driver’s licenses. He ran a small stable for the next 39 years, seeing most of his driving success in the 1970’s (where he scored 135 of his 189 careers victories) and most of his training accomplishments (total of 108) between 1990 and 2000. Bond also occasionally catch-drove horses when the opportunity arose.
Bond’s last winning effort came on May 16, 1996 behind H F Harriet at Buffalo Raceway.
Bond was an entrepreneur and made a buck anyway he could. He owned a so drink distributorship, ran the track kitchen at Batavia Downs and sold hay, straw and feed for many years while, and a er, he was compe ng himself. He was known by everyone on the backstretch and was an affable individual his en re life.
No memorial informa on has been relayed.
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Tim Bojarski 716-572-1801 President - United States Harness Writers Association Hoof Beats Magazine Columnist Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts Publicist Plainridge Park Publicist Batavia Downs Publicist and Track Handicapper
"Show class, have pride and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself" -Paul "Bear" Bryant
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