The world of horse racing is reeling from the sudden and unexplained passing of Toby Sheets, a highly-regarded trainer who had worked alongside Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen. Sheets’ life tragically ended on Sunday on the Greek island of Mathraki. His cousin, Greg Sheets, confirmed the news, simply stating, “He did pass away in Greece. As of right now, that’s all we know. The family is trying to figure out what happened.”
Sheets’ mysterious passing adds to an unsettling series of incidents on the Greek Islands, with seven tourists reported missing or found deceased this month alone. While most of the missing or deceased were hikers, the connection between these cases remains unclear. A heat wave, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees, may have played a role in some of these deaths. Yet, the specific circumstances surrounding Sheets’ death have not been shared.
The island where Sheets met his untimely end is home to only 100 inhabitants and is situated west of the popular tourist island of Corfu. This small island, spanning a mere 1.2 square miles, stands in stark contrast to other bustling tourist destinations.
Sheets’ contributions to the horse racing community were significant. Asmussen recognized his vital role in the sport, attributing their Belmont Stakes win with Creator, and his expert handling of Haynesfield and others, to Sheets. Asmussen expressed his loss, sharing, “He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.”
Reports note that Sheets was first reported missing last Thursday. His last known sighting was on Tuesday, at a café with two other tourists. These tourists, both women, have since left the island, adding another layer to the mystery.
Mathraki’s Deputy Mayor, Spyros Argyros, discussed the discovery of Sheets’ body. He explained, “He was found in the surf on the beach at a spot which had already been searched, so it seems he was washed out of the sea in the past 24 hours.”
As the horse racing community grieves Toby Sheets’ loss, the mystery surrounding his death continues to unfold. The recent spate of tourist disappearances and deaths on the Greek Islands has left many questioning what is truly happening. The loss of Sheets is undoubtedly a significant blow to the horse racing world and will be deeply felt by all who knew and admired him.
