Virginia Kraft Payson

Virginia Kraft Payson
Born(1930-02-19)February 19, 1930
New York City, New York, United States
DiedJanuary 9, 2023(2023-01-09) (aged 92)
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Alma materBarnard College
SpousesRobert Dean Grimm
Charles Shipman Payson
Jesse M. Henley Jr.
David Libby Cole
Children4

Virginia Kraft Payson (February 19, 1930 – January 9, 2023) was an American thoroughbred owner and breeder, big-game hunter, and journalist. She wrote for Sports Illustrated under the name of Virginia Kraft for 26 years, starting with its first issue in 1954 when she was the only female on the writing staff.[1][2] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Siena College.[3]

As a thoroughbred horse owner and breeder Kraft Payson raced Carr De Naskra, who won the 1984 Travers Stakes, and also owned multiple Group 1 winner St. Jovite. She operated the Payson Stud breeding operation in Kentucky, and had owned the Payson Park Thoroughbred Training Center in Florida until it was purchased by Peter Brant in 2019.[4]

Kraft Payson was married four times. She had four children in her first marriage to Robert Dean Grimm.[1][5] In December 1977 she married Charles Shipman Payson, who was the majority owner of the New York Mets at the time.[6] In the late 1970s he bid on a yearling at auction, which introduced Kraft Payson to the sport of thoroughbred horse racing.[4] She inherited $70 million upon Payson's death.[7]

Kraft Payson had suffered from Parkinson's disease in the late stages of her life.[4] She died at her Payson Stud farm in Lexington, Kentucky, on January 9, 2023, at the age of 92.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Russo, Nicole (11 January 2023). "Virginia Kraft Payson dies at age 92". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Pacificfest fundraiser benefits ‘After the Finish Line’" by Leslie Carter. Rancho Santa Fe Review. Aug 31, 2016. Accessed Jan 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "Virginia Kraft Payson." Accessed Jan 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c King, Byron (10 January 2023). "Industry Pioneer Payson Dies at 92". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Dean Grimm Passes Away". thoroughbreddailynews.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Charles Payson Weds Miss Kraft". The New York Times. 28 December 1977. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  7. ^ "$53.9 MILLION FOR VAN GOGH" by Paula Span and Judd Tully. Washington Post. Nov 12, 1987. Accessed Jan 4, 2020.