John Quirk, a dynamic force on the US equestrian scene as a writer, journalist, publisher and breeder, has died.

Quirk had multiple careers during his life, including Navy fighter pilot, entrepreneur, novelist and owner of an automotive engineering business in Detroit. In the 1960s he was a part-owner of the San Diego Chargers football team. He married Tish, a well-known equine photographer and breeder of sport horses, in 1968. Together they founded Horses magazine in 1980, and ran it for a dozen years.

The Quirks were inducted into the Spruce Meadows Hall of Fame in 2006. Quirk was instrumental in bringing the Rolex World Cup to Las Vegas. He was also a popular, long-time reporter for Horse Sport until he retired in 2006.

Quirk was recovering from a massive heart attack in December. Our thoughts are with Tish and all those who knew and loved him.

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