Steve Desomer passes at 89

Steve Desomer, a mainstay of California harness racing as a driver/trainer for six decades, passed away this week of a heart attack.

The native of Belgium and longtime Wilton resident would have been 90 in July.

Among Desomer’s top performers were his two favorites – Daisy’s Bomb from early in his career and Great Irish from the 1970s – along with the “King of the Cal-Breds” Desmond and American Trotting Classic hero Dante Jay, just to name a few.

Steve retired from the racetrack in 2018 and enjoyed his time goldmining, making good use of his pilot’s license and working on his tractors.

He is survived by his wife Vickie, with whom he was together for 51 years; daughter Anita, sons Tien, Bryan and Freeman and one deceased son Tino; four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

By Mark Ratzky