L. Clay Camp, a highly regarded Thoroughbred race horse breeder and horseman, died on May 4 at his home in Charlottesville, Va. He was 78.

Mr. Camp was a lifelong horseman who was born in Marion, S.C. He attended Woodberry Forest School (Va.), Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) and the University of Virginia.

Mr. Camp learned the trade like many now prominent Virginia-horsemen by working with draft horses and show hunters. He spent most of his life as a leading consigner of Thoroughbreds.