Francis "Rick" F. Morse

Francis Frederick ‘Rick’ Morse, 76, passed away suddenly on January 4th 2024 at his home in Schuylerville, NY.

Rick was born December 26, 1947 at Yonkers General Hospital during the Blizzard of ‘47. The first born of Francis Frederick Edgar Morse and Dorothea Marie Hespe, Rick grew up in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Rick was a 1966 graduate of the Hackley School in Tarrytown and received a B.A. from De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana in 1970. He received his J.D. degree from Syracuse College of Law in 1973 where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. He was admitted to the New York Bar the following year and worked for the New York State Insurance Commission from 1973 to 1998 where he was Assistant Chief in the Life & Health Bureau and finally Chief Insurance Attorney at Life & Health. His work included life annuity and health product regulations and litigation of unfair claim settlement practices among many other insurance aspects.

Rick’s true passion was the raising, training and racing of his many standardbred horses at Saratoga Racetrack. His interest began barely before attaining his driver’s license, whereupon he was a frequent visitor, some say permanent fixture, at Yonkers Raceway during his high school and college days. His numerous horses, present and past, include American Rascal, Major Camby, Olde Broadside, Amazing Amanda, B B Royale, Hathaway Anne, Hathaway Cody, Boardwalk, Bettor On Top, Lite The Fire, D A’s Bad Boy, Elite Town, Ironstone Alert, Camboree, Fulmar Hanover, Barrister Lowell, Angus Hanover, Mighty Boniface and Ticket to Freedom among others.

Rick is survived by one sister, Marianne Morse of Knoxville, TN and two brothers, Robert of Knoxville and Christopher of Ipswich, MA. Rick also leaves his long-time friend and horse trainer, Linda Flynn of Saratoga Springs, and Gene and Deborah Willis of Malta, NY. The family is ever grateful for their steadfast friendship to Rick these many decades along with their provision of fun stories and insights to Rick’s equestrian passion and professionalism.

A race at Saratoga Racetrack will be dedicated in Rick’s honor in the Spring. A gathering to remember Rick’s life with friends, colleagues and family will also take place in late Spring. Compassionate Funeral Care of Saratoga has been assisting the family with Rick’s arrangements.

Donations in Rick’s memory would be most appreciated to the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame, (352 Jefferson Street, Saratoga Springs), Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program of Oxford, NY (www.phsap.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).

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