Martha F. Gerry

Martha B. Farish Gerry (October 20, 1918 – September 17, 2007) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner named an Exemplar of Racing by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The daughter of Libbie Randon Rice and her husband, William Stamps Farish II president of Standard Oil, Martha Farish was born in Houston, Texas. Raised in New York, she studied at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. In 1939 she married Edward Harriman Gerry (1914–2003), son of Robert L. Gerry, Sr.

Marth Farish Gerry was best known as the owner and breeder of three-time American Horse of the Year, Forego whom she raced under the Lazy F Ranch banner. She was a member of The Jockey Club, a long-time trustee of the New York Racing Association and of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. In 1974 she was the recipient of the New York Turf Writers Association award as the woman who did the most for racing and was the Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest of 1978.

In 1983, Martha F. Gerry, Allaire du Pont, and Penny Chenery became the first women to be admitted as members of The Jockey Club.

Mrs. Gerry died September 17, 2007 following heart surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital for which she had been a Life Trustee.

References

• Obituary for Martha Gerry at Thoroughbred Times
• Martha F. Gerry at the NTRA
• New York Times death notices