Florida Horsewoman Jessica Hartigan dies aged 62

Jessica Wynn Hartigan, who ran Cashel Stud near Ocala, Fla., with her husband Kevin, passed away peacefully on November 16, according to her family. She is 62 years old.

The daughter of Judith Kirby and James Bartsch, Hartigan was born in Raritan, NJ, on February 13, 1959. She attended Madeira School before moving to France to gallop for several years. When she returned to the United States, Hartigan moved to Ocala, where she worked at the Cashel Stud Ranch and met her future husband. Together they train horses at racecourses and farms. After the deaths of Kevin, John and Sandy Hartigan’s parents, they took over Cashel Stud and raised two children.

Hartigan likes to breed purebreds before sending them into training cages. Under the name Cashel and with Kevin, Hartigan has bred a number of bet winners, including a 2nd place winner, many 3rd place Romacaca, whom Cashel originally raced. Running Stag’s daughter out of Romaca was announced after her third start by owner Frank Calabrese, who won 10 shares with her including Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park and Moderate Handicap (G3T) at Arlington International Racecourse. She earned nearly $945,000. Hartigan has also bred and originally campaigned to stake the winners of Banjo and Without a Doubt. For Hartigan, Banjo, a son of a bogus Enthusiast, will finish third in the Moment of Fools Betting at Calder Racecourse, before winning the Birdonthewire Handicap at Gulfstream Park for Rickey Harris. Hartigan finished in second place twice from Without a Doubt before selling Pentelicus’ son to Richard Duchossois, who won the 2004 Better Bee Stakes at Arlington and the 2005 Crafty Drone Stakes at Arlington. Hawthorne Racecourse with him.

In addition to being purebred, Hartigan enjoys reading, owning dogs, gardening, and running a natural wellness business.

Later as an adult, she splits her time between Florida and Vermont, where some of her brothers live. They spent the last few years building her a summer cabin in Vermont, near Lake Champlain.

Hartigan is survived by her daughter and son, Caitlin Hartigan of Ocala, Ryan Hartigan of Seattle, Wash., Brother Cary of France, Phillip and Adam of Vermont, David of Boston, and brother-in-law Brian Hartigan of Ocala.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on December 4 at New Life Family Church, 1700 NW 60th Ave., Ocala. In lieu of flowers, the family has offered to donate memorial gifts to the Pangea Equine retirement farm at 4447 NW 76th Ct. in Ocala.