By Tracy Gantz, Bloodhorse.com
CAMARILLO, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2020) — Jeanne Lapeyre Canty, a longtime California breeder and owner and former officer of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and California Thoroughbred Foundation, died Sept. 13 in Camarillo, Calif. She was 83.
Canty grew up in Moorpark, Calif., and enjoyed riding horses with her friend Mary Jo Leonard McPherson. She later married trainer John Canty, who died in 1992. John Canty trained such stakes winners as Crazy Kid, Time to Leave, Unconscious, and Royal Owl.
In partnership, Jeanne Canty bred and raced stakes winners Caline, Merry Madeleine, and Kelly’s Caper and stakes-placed Terry’s Caper, and La Mimosa. John Canty trained Caline, a daughter of Ack Ack—Chamrousse, by Hillary. Caline earned $271,110 and won the 1979 Santa Susana Stakes (G1, now the Santa Anita Oaks), 1978 Anoakia Stakes (G3), and three other stakes.
Jeanne Canty also worked many years as a bloodstock agent and was a CTBA member since 1967. She joined the CTBA board in 1988, serving until 2012. During her tenure she was the secretary for several terms, chaired the legislative committee, and served on the nominating and sales committees.
She was devoted to the CTF, serving as its president for more than a decade, and she continued to be active on the board up until her death. The non-profit Foundation sponsors research and educational projects and awards scholarship to California veterinary students. It also maintains the Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library, with more than 10,000 volumes, which is housed at the CTBA office.
Canty is survived by her sisters, Celine, Madeleine, Marianne, and Carol; six nieces; and two nephews.