Samuel Anthony Boulmetis Sr., 94, peacefully passed away at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank May 30, 2021. He was born and raised in Baltimore to the late Anthony and Frances Boulmetis. He married the love of his life, “BeBe,” in 1952 and ultimately settled in Cherry Hill where they raised their family a stone’s throw away from Garden State Park Racetrack.
Over the course of his nearly 20-year career as a thoroughbred jockey, Sam won 2,783 races; he was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1973 and the State of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974. He then became a racing official and was appointed the State Steward of New Jersey until his retirement in 2004.
Above and beyond all else, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. In his spare time Sam was an avid fisherman. Over the last few years his memory may have faded but his smile never did. Without a doubt, his was a life well-lived.
Surviving is his wife of 69 years, Lillian “BeBe” Boulmetis and his children, Susan, Janie, Sammy Jr., Jimmy and Kim; three granddaughters, Chelsea, Devin and Kylie; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Margie Black, and nephews Nick and Tony Black.
A gathering to celebrate “Big Sam” took place June 4 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Sam’s memory to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) at PDJF.org.
Please visit Samuel’s memorial page at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the June 10 – 16, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
