For the record, let me
state that Bill Sharon may be the greatest horse ever developed at Fredericton
Raceway.
 |
| Bill Sharon photo courtesy Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame |
On August 17, 1922 he
became the first Canadian-bred horse to trot better than 2:05 at Narberth,
Pennsylvania when he won consecutive heats in 2:05 ¼ -2:04 ¼ - 2:06 ¼ against
world class trotters. He also became the
first Maritime-bred to trot or pace a mile better than 2:05 on
any North American track.
Bill Sharon raced for
seven seasons and established two Canadian records and more than a dozen track
records. His legendary career ended back
in the Maritimes and when he returned to Fredericton in September 1928. It was written that he was “in the midst of
the greatest comebacks the Down East has ever known.”
But it all ended
suddenly at Island Park in Woodstock later that year when he dropped dead after
the second heat of his final start. He
was buried in the centerfield of the track which is now underwater after being
flooded by the construction of the Mactaquac dam in 1967.
Bill Sharon was
inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2000.
No other horse
developed in Fredericton has those credentials but does that make him the best
of all time?
When I first came up
with the concept of writing a blog about the most successful horses Fredericton
Raceway ever produced, I wondered if I would be able to determine who the
greatest Fredericton horse of all time was.
I soon realized that this would be an impossible task. Can you really compare horses from one era to
another?
I decided that I would focus
on the modern era and I categorized horses based on lifetime records, race
times, money earnings and career wins to see if it made the task of determining
the best any less difficult.
It is important to note
that all of the horses were stabled and trained at Fredericton Raceway at the beginning of their careers. Some were bred in the Fredericton area and
others were purchased at yearling sales in the Maritimes and throughout North
America.
Since there is no one
source to comprise this very specific criteria of horses developed in
Fredericton, I mostly relied on my own recollections and the great memories of
horse people in Fredericton.
The following is a
tribute to the talent of the trainers in Fredericton and a look at some
of the best of the modern era.
Top 25 Fredericton horses by lifetime records
1:50.3f All Star Dragon Trainer: Stacy Gay
1:51.2m Jaguar Knight Trainer: Sheldon Watts
1:52.1s Spudland Sierra
(M) Trainer: Brent Briggs
1:52.1s Amble Over
Hanover Trainer: Everette Hanson
1:52.1m Woodmere Topcat Trainer: Lloyd Denton
1:52.4s Sealcrest Dragon
Trainer: Mike Downey
1:53s Manrayson Jo
Trainer: Garnet Taylor
1:53.1f Northern
Raucous Trainer: Mike Downey
1:54h Igoddago
Trainer: Mike Campbell
1:54h Saulsbrook Light
Trainer: Sheldon Watts
1:54.1f Oscar Dielahoya Trainer: Sandra Foley
1:54.2f Youbetiwould
Trainer: Phil Sowers
1:54.2f
Milliondollardad Trainer: Philip Reid
1:54.3s Bonavista Bay
Trainer: Sandra Foley
1:55h Bear Island Tyler
Trainer: Mike Downey
1:55.1f Tornado Tim (T)
Trainer: Everette Hanson
1:55.2f Summer Radiance
(M) Trainer: Doug McCarty
1:55.3s Armbro Supernova
Trainer: Sandra Foley
1:55.4f Vic’s Sample Trainer: Stephen Trites
1:55.4f Ryan Flyin Trainer: Ned Lindon
1:56h Woodmere Sandman
Trainer: Stephen Trites
1:56.1f Pipe Major Trainer: Mike Campbell
1:56.1f Daytona Fearn
Trainer: David Silliphant
1:56.1s Jags Desperado Trainer: Ricky Beattie
Bubbling under: Slick and Easy 1:56.2f; Princetown Cody (T)
1:56.2m; Mr. Rude 1:56.3h; Rookies Raisin 1:56.3h; Bayside Traveler 1:56.3f;
Barons Boy 1:56.4q; Big Bucks Bomber 1:56.4f
It should be noted that
Jaguar Knight and Spudland Sierra established new standards when they took
their lifetime records. Jaguar Knight
paced the Meadowlands in 1:51.2 for Mike Stevenson in May 1994 and became the
fastest Maritime-bred horse of all time and the second fastest Canadian-bred. He held the Maritime-bred distinction for
almost eight years until February 2002 when Dakota Express paced the
Meadowlands in 1:51.1. Spudland Sierra’s
win in 1:52.1 for Jody Jamieson in July 2004 was the fastest ever by a New
Brunswick-bred mare and second only to Dexter’s Wine (1:52) by a Maritime-bred
mare.
Top 5 Fredericton horses by winning times on a half-mile track
1:53.1 All Star Dragon
1:54 Igoddago
1:54 Saulsbrook Light
1:54.3 Woodmere Topcat
1:54.3 Northern Raucous
All Star Dragon is not
only the fastest horse ever developed in Fredericton but also the fastest ever
over a half-mile track. If I had
included individual races by each horse, All Star Dragon would have been on each
list seven more times. He has won in 1:53.1, 1:54.1, 1:54.3 and 1:55
two times each, all at Yonkers or Freehold.
Igoddago would have been on this list three more times. He has won in 1:54, 1:54.2, 1:54.4 and 1:55,
all in the Maritimes. He has also won in
1:55.2, 1:55.3, 1:55.4 and 1:56 in the Maritimes. He won one race at Flamboro in 1:55.4. Saulsbrook Light has won in 1:54 and 1:54.1.
Top 5 Fredericton horses by individual race times in 1:53 or better
regardless of finish
34 All Star Dragon
23 Woodmere Topcat
17 Spudland Sierra (M)
16 Amble Over Hanover
15 Jaguar Knight
 | |
| ALL STAR DRAGON |
To break it down by wins, Jaguar Knight won six races better than 1:53 – four better than 1:52. All Star Dragon has won three races better than 1:52. Spudland Sierra and Amble Over Hanover with three each and Woodmere Topcat with two are the only other horses to have multiple wins in 1:53 or better.
Top 15 Fredericton horses by money earnings lifetime
$324,965 Northern
Raucous Trainer: Mike Downey
$212,298 Igoddago
Trainer: Mike Campbell
$193,692 All Star
Dragon Trainer: Stacy Gay
$189,388 Oscar
Dielahoya Trainer: Sandra Foley
$188,716 Ryan Flyin
Trainer: Ned Lindon
$173,473 Princetown
Cody (T) Trainer: Kelly Watts
$153,719 Woodmere
Topcat Trainer: Lloyd Denton
$129,727 Big Bucks
Bomber Trainer: Sandra Foley
$128,457 Jaguar Knight
Trainer: Sheldon Watts
$124,877 Spudland
Sierra (M) Trainer: Brent Briggs
$123,106 Pipe Major
Trainer: Mike Campbell
$117,255 Tornado Tim
(T) Trainer: Everette Hanson
$110,264 Tidy Point
Trainer: Mike Campbell
$110,225 Knightime
Roger Trainer: Mike Campbell
$108,328 Baron’s Boy
Trainer: Paul Jennings
Northern Raucous also has
the distinction of winning the richest race when he captured the $100,000
Ontario Sires Stakes final in 1:53.2 at Georgian in October 2004. Princetown Cody is the richest trotter on this
list but five-year-old Tornado Tim is still racing and is a consistent money
earner on the Ontario circuit.
Top 5 Fredericton horses by money earnings in an individual season
$114,853 Northern
Raucous 2004
$78,810 All Star Dragon
2012
$77,330 Jaguar Knight 1994
$68,680 Spudland Sierra
2004
$64,465 Princetown Cody
2001
10 Fredericton horses with lifetime earnings greater than $100,000
and lifetime records better than 1:55 for pacers and 1:57 for trotters (alphabetically)
All Star Dragon
Bear Island Tyler
Igoddago
Jaguar Knight
Northern Raucous
Oscar Dielahoya
Princetown Cody (T)
Spudland Sierra (M)
Tornado Tim (T)
Woodmere Topcat
Top 15 Fredericton horses by lifetime wins in the modern era
73 Tidy Point ($110,264-1:58.3f)
Trainer: Mike Campbell
70 Elixir Grade ($48,357-1:59.1f)
Trainer: Paul Jennings
62 Igoddago ($212,298-1:54h) Trainer: Mike Campbell
55 Mormac Coral (M)
($20,995-2:03.3f) Trainer: Stephen
Trites
53 Pipe Major ($123,106-1:56.1f)
Trainer: Mike Campbell
53 Beth Seelster (M) ($70,604-1:59f)
Trainer: Mike Downey
53 Angels Class
($33,511-1:59f) Trainer: Steve Trites
53 Jon Fifer
($31,429-2:03.1h) Trainer: John McMulkin
50 Daily Special ($93,129-2:00.4f)
Trainer: Mike Downey
48 Knightime Roger ($110,225-1:58.2f)
Trainer: Mike Campbell
47 North Wind Mac
($62,810-1:59.3) Trainer: Mike Campbell
47 Prancer Pete ($30,565-2:05.3h) Trainer: Charles Rammage
47 Prancer Pete ($30,565-2:05.3h) Trainer: Charles Rammage
46 Night Hunter
($81,520-1:59.2f) Trainer: Mike Downey
46 Birdton Bert
($44,635-1:59.1h) Trainer: Tom Belmore
45 Vulga Wil (M) ($52,775-1:59.4f)
Trainer: Mike Campbell
45 Paris Motion
($30,961-1:59.3h) Trainer: John Stewart
43 Special Reward ($56,107-2:02.2h)
Trainer: Mike Downey
43 Lively Gold (M) ($19,810-2:04.3h)
Trainer: John Stewart
Mike Campbell dominates
with six places on this list - including three of the top five positions- for a
total of 327 wins. All but Vulga Wil
raced until they were at least 10-years-old.
If we had gone to Top 16, Campbell would have Starson (42) next on the
list.
 | |
| TIDY POINT |
All Finesse – 2:01.2f -
30 wins - $42,816 Trainer: Mike Downey
Balmaghie Breeze – 1:57.4f
- 28 wins - $55,349 Trainer: Sheldon
Watts
Casis Salute – 1:58.4f
- 26 wins - $44,777 Trainer: Phil Sowers
Knightly Glib – 1:59h –
27 wins - $46,404 Trainer: Robert
Stevenson
Misty Hill Mary –
1:59.4h - 39 wins - $94,736 Trainer:
Mike Campbell
Rulesnregulations –
1:58.2h – 39 wins - $51,902 Trainer:
Stephan Decourcey
 | |
| ALL FINESSE |
A World Record holder who didn’t make any of the above lists
Classic Gene was a son
of Southampton V-Adele Daeres who was purchased by Carol Thornton and Joan
Sowers for $5,200 in 1979 at a yearling sale in Ontario. The horse was broke and trained by Joan’s
husband Philip Sowers and began his racing career as a two-year-old in
Fredericton. He won two races in Saint
John early in his sophomore year, January 1981, and was then sold to U.S.
interests.
Later that year he
established a world record for one and one-quarter miles on a five-eighths mile
track at Liberty Bell Park in Philadelphia when he paced in 2:31.2, lowering
Belle Action’s old record of 2:32, established in 1958. Sowers was quoted as saying, “I knew he could
really go a distance but it’s really something to set a world record.”
The world record is
currently held by Boulder Creek – 2:19.4.
Classic Gene raced
until the age of eleven and ended his career with 19 wins, $80,256 in earnings
and a lifetime record of 1:58.2m.
* * * * *
Below I have alphabetically
assembled 12 horses that are – arguably –
the best of the modern era. I have
included relevant statistics relating to lifetime records, summaries, money
earnings, longevity and career highlights for your consideration.
Here are a few personal observations, though, before
that.
For speed I have never
seen a faster horse than Woodmere Topcat.
His win in 1:54.3 at E.P.R. during the fall of 1998 was one of the best
performances I have ever seen over a half-mile track.
All Star Dragon has
paced 34 miles better than 1:54, all over a half-mile or five-eighths mile
track, which is amazing.
Jaguar Knight won four
races in 1:51 and change over a five-week period in the spring of 1994 that has
to rate as one of the most dominating performances by a Maritime-bred ever. This horse, in part, started the trend of
Maritime-breds who went to the lucrative New Jersey or Ontario markets and took
fast records, which is now the norm.
I was always a big fan
of Tidy Point who was vastly underrated for many years while racing against
some of the best aged horses in the Maritimes.
He didn’t retire with a fast record but was a consistent winner to the
age of eleven. He won more than ten
races in a season four times and epitomized toughness and class, while earning
over $110,000 the old-fashioned way.
However, it may be
Igoddago who sets the standard for horses developed in Fredericton. The four-time Horse-of-the-Year at
Fredericton Raceway retired in 2010 at the age of 12 after a phenomenal career
in which he became one of the best Maritime-bred horses of all time. He is second only to Dunachton Gale for number
of wins in 1:55 or better (4) and 1:56 or better (10). He also recorded sub-2:00 victories in ten
straight years in the Maritimes, including his final year. Though he did venture to Ontario and Quebec
on occasion, the bulk of his racing took place here. He counts many Invitational races among his
62 lifetime wins and he retired with lifetime earnings of $212,298.
Is Mike Campbell’s
Igoddago the best horse ever developed in Fredericton?
 | |
| MIKE CAMPBELL with IGODDAGO |
Top 12 Fredericton horses in the modern era (alphabetically)
ALL STAR DRAGON (Dragon Again-West Star Lady)
p.6,1:50.3f-1:53.1h ($193,692)
Lifetime record: 118-26-18-15
$4,500 yearling purchase at 2006 New Jersey Classic
Owner: Stacy Gay
Trainer: Stacy Gay
Career Highlights
At 3, won five of seven starts
At 4, winner Walter Dale Memorial (1:57) in Fredericton; HRNB
invitational (1:57.2) at Saint John; third in Robert McCain Memorial at
Woodstock; awarded Most Improved horse at Fredericton Raceway
At 5, claimed for $15,000 and has earned over $160,000 since then
At 6, won in 1:50.3f and 1:50.4f, the fastest winning miles ever by a
Fredericton trained horse
Last raced August 2012
BIG BUCKS BOMBER (Ralph
Hanover-Lurene Lobell)
p.5,1:56.4f-1:57h ($129,727)
Lifetime record: 135-31-33-19
$4,200 purchase at 1988 Toronto Fall Mixed Sale as an untrained
two-year-old
Owner: Sandra Foley, Fredericton
Trainer: Sandra Foley
Career Highlights
At 3, placed in early closing races at Montreal
At 4, winner Walter Dale Memorial (1:59) at Fredericton; first
Fredericton-owned horse to win
At 5, raced Invitational circuit placing second in Gold Cup and Saucer
at Charlottetown
At 6, winner Provincial Cup trial (1:57) at Saint John equaling track record;
winner Provincial Cup final (1:58.3)
At 9, winner Earle Avery Memorial at Woodstock and early closer final
at Fredericton
Retired September 1995
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2010
DAILY SPECIAL (Dominion Byrd – Wendy Chief)
p.3,2:02.3f;6,2:00.4f ($93,129)
Lifetime record: 203-50-35-33
$2,700 yearling purchase at 1976 Fredericton Horse Sale
Owner: David Kileel, Fredericton
Trainer: Mike Downey
Career Highlights
At 2, Atlantic Sires Stakes champion; 12-8-4-0-$6,682-2:10.4h; won a
qualifier in 2:25.4 on June 25, 1977-first charted mile
At 3, earned over $13,000 on the Atlantic Sires Stakes circuit
At 4, established new track record at Fredericton breaking Walter
Dale’s 42-year record; second to Scotch Gauman in Walter Dale; awarded Horse
of-the-Year at Fredericton Raceway
Retired to stud in 1987 and sired four winners, 3 in 2:10
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2004
IGODDAGO (Drop Off-Sakra Posey)
p.3,1:56.2h;7,1:54h ($212,298)
Lifetime record: 236-62-56-38
Homebred
Owner: Michael Campbell, Brian
Lean, Ronald Roy
Trainer: Michael Campbell
Career Highlights
At 2, awarded top two-year-old colt at Fredericton Raceway
At 3, winner $25,850 early closer at Montreal (1:56.4); Duck Acorn at
Charlottetown (1:56.2); awarded top three-year-old colt at Fredericton Raceway
At 4, awarded top four-year-old at Fredericton Raceway
At 5, winner Johnny Conroy at Truro (1:55); awarded Horse of-the-Year
at Fredericton Raceway
At 6, winner Governor’s Plate at Summerside (1:55.3); ABC final at
Charlottetown (1:56)
At 7, winner at Charlottetown (1:54) – Maritime record; awarded Horse
of-the-Year at Fredericton Raceway
At 8, winner at Charlottetown (1:54.4)
At 9, awarded Horse of-the-Year at Fredericton Raceway
At 11, awarded Horse of-the-Year at Fredericton Raceway
Won 4 races in 1:55 or better, 9 races in 1:56 or better – second best Maritime-bred
of all time
Retired August 2010
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2009
JAGUAR KNIGHT (Knightly Blue Chip-Dana Hanover)
p.3,1:58h;4,1:51.2m ($128,457)
Lifetime record: 64-20-6-7
$24,000 yearling purchase at 1991 Atlantic Classic
Owner: Wayne Hill
Trainer: Sheldon Watts
Career Highlights
At 2, winner ASS at Summerside, Saint John, Charlottetown and Truro
(1:59.2)
At 3, winner PEI Colt and Duck Acorn (1:58) at Charlottetown;
Barrieau-McIsaac at Saint John
At 4, won four consecutive and seven of nine races at the Meadowlands;
1:51.2 record was fastest ever by any Maritime-bred at the time (1994), a mark
that stood for almost eight year; four wins better than 1:52
Retired November 1994
At 9, returned to races and won at Charlottetown (2:00.4)
Retired to stud in 1999 and sired eight winners, 3 in 2:00
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2004
NORTHERN RAUCOUS (Northern Luck-Armbro Raucous)
p.3,1:53.2f;7,1:53.1f ($324,965)
Lifetime record: 268-39-35-33
$11,000 yearling purchase at 2002 Canadian Classic
Owner: Albert Goodine &
Andrea Dolan
Trainer: Mike Downey
Career Highlights
At 2, won first four lifetime starts; winner OSS grassroots at Clinton;
second OSS grassroots at Sudbury & Dresden
At 3, winner $100,000 OSS grassroots final at Georgian (1:53.2); winner
OSS grassroots at Sudbury & Georgian
Richest horse ever developed in Fredericton
Last raced November 2011
OSCAR DIELAHOYA (Die Laughing-Enterprising)
p.7,1:54.1f-1:55.3h ($189,388)
Lifetime record: 194-34-24-14
$4,200 weanling purchase at 1996 Meadowlands sale under the name of
Celebrity Profile
Owner: Sandra Foley
Trainer: Sandra Foley
Career Highlights
At 3, winner at Woodbine (1:56.4)
Last raced June 2006
PRINCETOWN CODY (T) (Bannister-Gold Pendant)
t.8,1:56.2m-2:00.1h ($173,473)
Lifetime record: 226-21-40-39
Owner: Kelly Watts & Keith
Ford
Trainer: Kelly Watts
Career Highlights
At 2, winner ASS trot at Saint John
At 3, second ASS at Saint John, Truro, Charlottetown; third ASS at
Fredericton and Dairy Queen elimination at Saint John
Last raced August 2003
RYAN FLYIN (Redskin-Silk Towner)
p.7,1:55.4f ($188,716)
Lifetime record: 259-41-38-36
$5,500 yearling purchase at Octoberfest Yearling Sale in New Jersey
Owner: Albert Goodine, Brian
Miles, William Smythe & Allison Whitehead
Trainer: Ned Lindon
Career Highlight
At 3, raced Invitational circuit
At 4, first placed third in Alexander Memorial at Saint John
At 5, winner Invitational at Montreal
Last raced September 2000
SPUDLAND SIERRA (M) (Knightly Blue Chip-First To Fly)
p.6,1:52.1s ($124,877)
Lifetime record: 78-18-15-10
Homebred
Owner: Brent & Weldon Briggs
Trainer: Brent Briggs
Career Highlights
At 3, won first three lifetime starts at Flamboro
At 4 & 5, awarded Mare of-the-Year at Fredericton Raceway
At 6, won three consecutive races at Woodbine; 1:52.1 record was
fastest ever by a New Brunswick bred mare and second fastest by any
Maritime-bred mare at the time (2004); three wins better than 1:53
Retired June 2005
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2007
TIDY POINT (Set Point-Tidy Lobell)
p.4,1:58.3f ($110,264)
Lifetime record: 352-73-77-55
$3,000 yearling purchase at Octoberfest Yearling Sale in New Jersey
Owner: Roy Goodine
Trainer: Mike Campbell
Career Highlights
At 3, won 13 of 26 races
At 4, winner Robie Kaizer Memorial at Truro; winner Abbeland-Pepsi
early closer at Moncton; second in Gold Cup & Saucer consolation at
Charlottetown; third in Walter Dale Memorial at Fredericton;
At 5, second in Governor’s Plate at Summerside
At 6, winner Pepsi Invitational at Sydney (1:59.1) new track record;
winner Dieppe Classic at Moncton
At 7, winner leg of Alpine Autumn Gold Series at Saint John; second in
Gold Cup & Saucer consolation at Charlottetown; second in Alexander
Memorial at Saint John; second in Ferguson Memorial at Sydney
At 8, Aged Pacing Horse of the Year at Saint John
Winningest horse ever developed in Fredericton
Last raced February 1995
WOODMERE TOPCAT (Drop Off-Fern Seelster)
p.4,1:54.3h;6,1:52.1m ($153,719)
Lifetime record: 142-29-14-23
Owner: Lloyd and Amy Denton
Trainer: Lloyd Denton
Career highlights
At 2, winner ASS & PEI Colt at Charlottetown; second in Dairy Queen
final to Chatham Hoochee
At 3, winner ASS at Summerside & Truro; Bill Quigg at Fredericton
(1:58.1)
At 4, winner Walter Dale at Fredericton; set track records at Saint
John (1:54.3) and Summerside (1:55.3); won four races in five starts at
Meadowlands; awarded Atlantic Canada Horse-of-the-Year
At 8, winner ABC Invitational at Charlottetown
Raced entire career free-legged
Last raced June 2004
Fredericton Raceway Hall of Fame 2008
I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Patrick Eastwood to
this blog.
For more historical data, pictures and stories please LIKE
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