SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) – Dark Star is being remembered by his friends at Canterbury Park in Shakopee.

Jeff Maday is the Media Relations director there, and said the track was, in many ways, Dark’s second home.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Susie Jones Reports

“We all know that he loved baseball, but he also really loved racing. He was here from the get go,” said Maday. “He was inducted into the Canterbury Hall of Fame in 1995.”

Maday said the track has been a part of Dark’s life since he was a kid, watching harness racing in Ohio with his grandfather.

Dark Star, was born George Chapple. He died unexpectedly Friday at his Minnetonka home.

Maday said he was one of the greatest voices on radio because of his way of story-telling.

“Even if you didn’t believe it, even if you were there and the story was different, somehow he made you believe it was true,” he said.

Maday said there is some irony in the fact that we might be one week away from a possible Triple Crown winner. The first time that’s happened since 1978.

The 144th running of the Belmont Stakes takes place next Saturday in New York.

Maday said they are planning a memorial at the track. Details have yet to be finalized.