Marguerite Finney Dance, former editor of The Maryland Horse magazine and its successor publication, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, died on June 24 following a lengthy illness in Timonium, Md. She was 74.

Mrs. Dance was employed by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association from the late 1960s until 2002 and helped the association grow from a small, one-room office to a thriving organization involved in many facets of the Thoroughbred industry.

Her efforts were primarily focused on the MHBA’s publications. She served as editor Snowdon Carter’s assistant and skilled fact-checker as The Maryland Horse expanded into a nationally respected magazine. Later in her career she handled copyediting duties for Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. Her keen attention to detail and extensive background within the industry made her ideally suited for these roles.

She was widely respected for her knowledge, and her co-workers relied upon her as an authority in questions regarding the English language, as well as pedigrees both human and equine.

Her standards regarding accuracy and thoroughness became the model that her colleagues have attempted to follow.

Mrs. Dance was a daughter of the late Humphrey S. Finney, who served as field secretary of the MHBA and founding editor of The Maryland Horse before taking on a lead role in the development of the Fasig-Tipton auctioneering firm. Her brother, the late John M.S. Finney, was also a past president of Fasig-Tipton.

Her survivors include her sister, Patricia Hansen, Charlotte, N.C., and three daughters, Macey Kimsey, Harrisonburg, Va., Laura Alexander, Bel Air, Md., and Sarah Barr, Towson, Md.

Memorial contributions may be made to the library at the Maryland Horse Industry Foundation, P.O. Box 427, Timonium, MD 21094.