Sports administrator.
Born at Ecclefichan, Scotland in 1910, he came to Winnipeg with his parents in 1913. Educated at Mulvey School and Kelvin High School, he joined the staff of the Dominion Bank. During the Second World War, he served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment and was awarded the Military Medal. During the war, he married Nancy Bisset, with whom he had one daughter.
His great interest was in breeding and raising thoroughbred horses. He was introduced to the sport of horse racing when he climbed a fence at River Park in 1922, Whittier Park in 1924, and Polo Park in 1925. Closely associated with Robert James Speers, when Assiniboia Downs opened in 1958, he became its first General Manager, serving until a severe heart attack forced his retirement in 1970. He served as a director and Vice-President of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society and was one of the founders and a Vice-President of the National Association of Race Tracks. He was Secretary (1940-1943) and General Manager (1948-1953) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In recognition of his contributions, he was named Man of the Year Award by the Jockeys' Benevolent Association (1959) and was given a Good Guy Award by the Winnipeg Sportswriters and Broadcasters (1970).
He died at Winnipeg on 16 November 1982.
“Scotty Kennedy dies at 72,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 November 1982, page 69.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 18 November 1982, page 59.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 22 January 2022
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