Locals Remember the 'Remarkable' Peter Fuller

Peter Fuller, the owner of North Hampton's Runnymede Farm and the owner of the only horse ever disqualified after winning the Kentucky Derby, Monday at the age of 89.

Fuller, a Massachusetts native and owner of a Lowell car dealership, owned the 1968 winner of the Kentucky Derby, "Dancer's Image." The horse was later disqualified, though, because a post-race drug test revealed the presence of phenylbutazone, a banned substance, according to the Lowell Sun.

Karen Raynes, of , told Hampton-North Hampton Patch that Fuller was a "most interesting man" who always "had a twinkle in his eyes." Raynes said Fuller often came into Marelli's to buy gumdrops, a treat he enjoyed immensely.

"He loved them but not the purple ones, so he always asked that we take them out," said Raynes. "I was able to bring him some gumdrops about a month
ago when he was struggling to stand at the Clipper Home in Portsmouth. Even in pain he had that twinkle in his eyes."

Raynes said writer Dan Brown has the exclusive rights to write Fuller's life story, which she said "will be most interesting, just as the man was."

North Hampton Selectman Phil Wilson, who owns a piece of property in town once owned by Fuller, said Fuller was a "remarkable man" who told some of the "most fascinating stories" he's ever heard.

Wilson said he's heard tales about Fuller's boxing match with Muhammad Ali, as well as plenty of stories about horses, wrestling and many of the man's other hobbies.

"He was a very, very feisty man throughout his life," said Wilson.

North Hampton Planning Board Chairman Shep Kroner said he was "saddened to hear" of Fuller's death, whom he said "touched" him because of everything "he's done for this community and other communities around here."

"He was an important member of the community for a long time, and I think he’ll be missed," said Kroner.

Resident Kim Pihl said she had "many things in common" with Fuller and hit it off well with the fellow racing fantatic and Havard graduate not long after she moved to North Hampton in 1996.

Pihl, a former runner, used to run past Fuller's property on her route, and she was surprised one day to find a note in her mailbox from Fuller stating that he named a horse "Kimkanrun" in honor of her.

Pihl said Fuller would often keep her "up to date with all the happenings" related to her namesake, and often got to visit the race-winning horse and feed her apples and carrots. The simple gesture was one of many Pihl said she treasures about her time with Fuller, and she said she hopes the kind man she knows can "rest in peace."

"Sometimes if I was home he would come in, we would sit in the kitchen and he would tell me so many stories," said Pihl. "Makes me smile to think about it.

"I still have all of [the pictures and press clippings from Kimkanrun's races]. He even made me a copy of The Jockey Club certificate. I think I will frame them all."