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Mike Spencer of Simpsonville, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

Mike was born on May 23, 1954 to Catherine and Anderson Spencer of Shelby County, KY. He was one of ten children.

Mike’s passion in life was training and showing saddlebred horses. At the age of 14, he started working for Charles and Helen Crabtree as a groom, working summers until he graduated high school. After graduation, he worked full-time for the Crabtrees taking care of several world champion horses, the most famous was WGC Supreme Airs. He went on to work for Redd Crabtree taking care of the many times World Champion Supreme Heir along with training and developing several other young horses under Charles and Redd.

In 1988, Mike and Nancy Spencer opened Gold Leaf Farm in Simpsonville, KY, where they owned 32 acres of land home to 20 saddlebred horses. Mike was a top trainer of saddlebred horses and was known for developing many young horses into champions. The most noted was Spider Red, who he trained and won the 2004 Kentucky State Fair World Champion’s 5-gaited Mare Stakes. Other notable horses trained by Mike include Dancing With The Stars, A New Kid in Town, Business First, RWC The Big Storm, Supreme Kiss, Gobble Gobble, CH Trapp Mountain, and Yippeekiyokiyey. In 2009, Mike was awarded the C.J. Cronan Sportsmanship Award from American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA).

When Mike wasn’t at the barn training horses, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching University of Kentucky basketball, and spending time with his family and friends. Mike’s legacy will continue on through his children, grandchildren, and all the lives he touched throughout the saddlebred horse community. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anderson and Catherine Irvin Spencer and his sisters, Valerie and Sabrina Spencer.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nancy Spencer, his three sons, Carroll Anderson “Mikey” Spencer, Jr. (Keisha), Jason Spencer (Joanna), Matthew Spencer, his 4 beautiful grandchildren, Kennedy Spencer, Karsyn Spencer, Jalen Spencer and Sophia Spencer, his sisters, Katherine Tinsley, Beverly Tinsley, Genoria Spencer, Melissa Spencer, Veronica Spencer; his brothers, Ricky Spencer and Roy Spencer; and many friends he has made over the years.

-- via Shannon Funeral Home