Jeff Siegel, popular racehorse handicapper, dies at 74

Jeff Siegel, decorated figure in Southern California horse racing scene, has died

Jeff Siegel, a major player on the Southern California horse racing scene for more than 50 years, died Saturday after an extended battle with cancer.

Jeff Siegel, popular racehorse handicapper, dies at 74

Jeff Siegel, a popular racehorse handicapper for years in Southern California News Group papers, has died at age 74 following a battle with cancer. His death Saturday morning was first reported by Eric Sondheimer, the Los Angeles Times sportswriter who was Siegel’s friend and a partner in horse ownership. “Respected by all,” Sondheimer said of Siegel in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Siegel parlayed his skill at assessing horses into winning ma…

Legendary Handicapper Jeff Siegel Passes Away

Courtesy Santa Anita The news late Saturday of the passing of Jeff Siegel, the legendary handicapper and longtime member of the Santa Anita Park family, hit with an unexpected weight. Not that his passing at age 74 was unexpected, as he had been fighting aggressive cancer since earlier this year. But the finality of the news brought with it the realization that Jeff was gone and the hole that he left behind is unlikely to be replaced. “Jeff Sieg…

Handicapper & owner Jeff Siegel, 74, dies after fighting cancer

Jeff Siegel, who turned his handicapping prowess into an Eclipse Award-winning media career and success as a racehorse owner, died Saturday morning after suffering from cancer. He was 74. His death was confirmed in an X post from his friend Eric Sondheimer, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times with whom Siegel recently partnered in horse ownership. “I’m very sorry to report that Jeff Siegel, one of the world’s greatest horse-racing handicap…