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Prominent businessman and racehorse owner loses battle with cancer

Jon Kelly, prominent Californian business man and racehorse owner, died on Saturday at the age of 84 following a lengthy battle with cancer. 

Kelly made his name in radio and television founding the Kelly Broadcasting Company and later founded Summit Broadcasting Radio Company. He had also been a successful banker having founded River City Bank and was involved in property. Kelly had been a member of the board of directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club since 2008 and was also a member of The Jockey Club in America, as well as being involved with many boards and charitable organisations.

Kelly has owned horses since the 1960s and had horses in training recently with Gai Waterhouse, Bob Baffert, Christophe Clement, Richard Mandella and Jessica Harrington. Kelly had also become a familiar face at the sale in Australia and with Reg Inglis and Paul Frampton bought a son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) out of Tai Tai Tess (Magic Albert) for $2 million at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

Kelly’s best horse was Grade 1 winner Borrego (El Prado) who now stands at stud in South America while his wife’s filly Cayenne Pepper (Australia) was runner up in the Irish Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) earlier this month. 

"A very special person left our lives in the passing of Jon Kelly. He embraced life to the fullest, he loved the game & he gave it his best shot. Hugely successful in all ventures, it was a pleasure & joy knowing him. Our love goes to his widow Sarah & his family," tweeted Gai Waterhouse on Sunday.

Kelly is survived by his wife Sarah, six children and many grandchildren.