Doug Kemmerer passed away at home in Middleburg on July 16, 2022. He was 85 years old and had enjoyed an invigorating sporting lifestyle that most people only dared to dream about. The last few years, however, took their toll while Doug fought hard to recover from injuries sustained when a car rammed his 4-in-hand. Throughout the ensuing years, his wife Queenie was at his side when Doug endured many hospital and rehab stays. It was a test of true grit, their enduring love, and their partnership in life.

Doug's passions included fast cars and fast horses. He had been a confirmed bachelor for several decades when he chose Queenie Hurdman as his life partner for her beauty, shared passions, and the fact that she was extremely competent handling the ribbons (reins) of a team of horses hitched to a wheeled conveyance. They were married for 32 years. "I was the love of his life," Queenie said. "We did everything together. Fox hunting. Driving. Sailing."

Doug was an avid whip (driver), well-regarded in the upper echelons of the 4-in-hand world along with Frolic Weymouth [1936-2016] and Jack Seabrook [1917-2009]. Those two are big names in the driving world, and the Kemmerers became well-acquainted with them and others involved in coaching.

"Doug loved horses. He was one with them," Queenie recalled. "He had the steadiest hand on the ribbons and made fine adjustments to how he communicated with his team. It didn't matter whether we were on a training drive or a big coaching meet, Doug treated his horses with kindness and respect."

Robert Longstaff of the Road Club UK shared the detailed tribute he wrote about Doug, which appeared recently in Carriage Journal (USA) and on the website of the Four-In-Hand Club. The detailed homage mentions Doug's activities and achievements: racing Porsches, ocean sailing, and racing in California, where he hunted with Los Altos. He competed several times on his Quarter Horses in the challenging 100-mile Tevis Cup Endurance Ride in California. Just the photos alone of the steeper spots are enough to give anyone vertigo, but Doug tackled the Tevis with his trademark gusto.

An accomplished skier, he also did some racing and was an active member of the Sun Valley and Aspen Ski Patrol.

The stars aligned for Doug and Queenie, who first met in Houston (TX) and again when she transferred to Drexel, Burnham, Lambert in New York City, where Doug worked. Queenie grew up in a driving family, influenced by her uncle, Canadian Walter Hurdman, a well-known specialist in coaching and Hackney ponies. Doug's earliest interest in driving received encouragement and inspiration from Weymouth and Seabrook.

Doug was an experienced horseman and whip. He competed in Combined Driving with a pair of his Quarter Horses in various East Coast events, including those held at the historic equestrian landmark Gladstone in northern New Jersey. He cut quite a dashing figure with Queenie and her regal splendor next to him on the box seat of their restored vehicles. Doug's enthusiastic transition from the more manageable pair to the challenging four-in-hand took place in a New York minute. That was about 30 years ago when Doug and Queenie were frequently seen rolling along country lanes around Gladstone and Oldwick, NJ, with a team of four Thoroughbreds. Their pride and joy was the regimental coach of the Royal Artillery, made by Holland & Holland in England in 1882. The rest, as they say, is history.

Doug's Dalmatian Axel earned the distinction of being the only dog allowed onto the White House grounds when coaches visited there during the Reagan presidency. Doug was a member of the Coaching Club and a founding member of the Four-In-Hand Club.

Doug, accompanied by his faithful Axel, distinguished himself in coaching annals by planning out the routes for various meets and runs. In 2011, Middleburg's National Sporting Library and Museum celebrated the new art museum's grand opening. Among many events was the three-day Coaching Weekend that attracted more than 25 four-in-hand coaches. Doug designed the drives and wrote the script for the Presentation at the Upperville Show Grounds. It was quite an extravaganza.

Perhaps the greatest proof of his expertise was planning two drives in honor of the Coaching Club, founded in 1875, which made a historical drive in the early 1900s from New York City to Philadelphia. In the late 1980s, Doug plotted an ambitious coaching run from the Knickerbocker Club in New York City to Saratoga Springs, NY. That's 184.5 miles, an impressive journey by coach in any age, but especially so in modern times. Two years later, Doug handled the meticulous details required for the Coaching Club's even bigger road trip from the Knickerbocker Club to Saratoga, with a second leg comprising another 121.7 miles to Shelburne, VT where the Coaching Club held their annual meeting. This was not extraordinary back when people depended on four-legged horsepower, but modern times make the logistics of every drive very challenging. Doug handled every contingency with genius, but only five teams were equipped to handle the rigors of the second longer drive, which required four days for each leg of their journey. Of course, Doug and Queenie were there every step of the way.

Doug competed several times at Devon Horse Show in driving classes. On one memorable occasion, he stepped in at the last minute to ride on the phaeton's groom's seat for Frolic Weymouth. Doug had no clue why the crowd was laughing until he received his trophy—they had won the pair Scurry and the usually elegant Weymouth was dressed as a tramp. Doug was blessed with a good sense of humor. He was, after all, a good sport.

The Kemmerers rode to hounds with Essex (NJ) until 2000 when they moved to Virginia and joined Middleburg Hunt. Doug and Queenie stayed very active with their sporting interests and made many friends from Middleburg to around the world. Doug will be missed near and far.

There will be a Celebration of Doug Kemmerer's life on Friday, November 11, at Trinity Episcopal in Upperville from 1 to 4 p.m.

Cards may be sent to: PO Box 918, Middleburg, VA 20118