Donald Ray Knight, 75, of Canadian, formerly of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Canadian.

No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.

Donald Ray Knight was born November 22, 1947, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Robert and Bea Knight. He attended schools in Tulsa, and for a time attended Oklahoma State University. Donnie’s love for horses and racehorses started at an early age. At the age of 9 or 10 he started exercising horses at the track across from his family home. As a professional jockey, he was blessed to ride some excellent horses.  In 1974, he rode Easy Date to victory in the 1974 All American Futurity. Donnie rode 18 to 20 race wins on Easy Date. He also rode Dickey’s Fireman and won the All-American Derby for 3-year-olds. Donnie married Judy Youngblood on June 14, 1982, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They first met as teens, but he only saw the horses. Donnie rode for the Urschel 3-Bar D ranch and lived on the ranch at the time of his death. During retirement, he found a love for golf. While living in the Canadian area, Donnie and Judy attended the Canadian Church of Christ.

Those preceding Donnie in death were his son, Toby Youngblood; parents, Robert and Bea Knight; parents-in-law, Houston and Ruth Cardwell; brother-in-law, Larry Cardwell; and sister-in-law, Beverly Latting.

Those left to celebrate Donnie’s memory are his wife, Judy Knight of Canadian; brother, Bobby Knight of Claremore, Oklahoma; son, Jeffrey Knight of Onawa, Iowa; granddaughters, Kaitlin Murphy and husband Casey of Princeton, Samantha Knight of Onawa, Iowa; grandsons, Kameron Knight of Dallas, Garrett Gross of Wylie, Trevor Gross of Garland; and great-grandchildren, Brody, Kaylynn, Cooper and Emersyn.