THE STORY OF WORLD CHAMPION JIGTIME BUDDY AND THE "MAGICAL" CROSS (ANGELS WAVE – BON FLASH)

On December 6, 1986, at glorious Champlain Raceway in Dieppe, Jigtime Buddy and Barry Fagan sailed into the harness racing record books.  Over a distance of a mile and one-sixteenth, Jigtime Buddy set a new world standard for a five-eighths mile track of 2:07.4, lowering the former record of 2:15 set by Rich Rob at Sportsman Park in Chicago in 1956.

That record has stood the test of time.  (For a list of all current North American records, please click http://standardbredcanada.ca/content/stats/north-american-race-records.html.)

For the record, Jigtime Buddy sat last while Heel’s Lad set early early fractions of :29.2 and a half in :58.4 before ranging up on the outside at the three-quarters in 1:30.4 and ahead at the mile in 1:59.4.  Worthy Gift finished three and one-half lengths back in second ahead of Stoneriggs El Patron, Heels Lad and Beth Seelster.

Jigtime Buddy last raced in May 1990 and ended his career with a record of 1:57f, $85,031 in lifetime earnings and 28 career wins. 

The son of Angels Wave – Bon Flash is a full-brother to Maritime champion Angels Shadow, Jigtime Knievil and Jigtime Rambo and all were bred by Blaine and Donna Hannay of Upper Rexton.

ANGELS SHADOW

The Hannay’s are typical hobby breeders in New Brunswick whose operation over the past 35 years or so, somewhat reflects what has happened to the industry.  Running a small breeding establishment had become more difficult recently and a decision to leave an industry in dire straits was about to be made.

And then hope came along in the form of a successful horse, Honey Do Jigtime, the top Maritime three-year-old filly in 2011.  The next year Honey Do Jigtime became the fastest New Brunswick-bred mare of all time when she paced Woodbine in 1:51.4, lowering the old record by two-fifths of a second that my own mare, Spudland Sierra, had set in 2004.  

Honey Do Jigtime went over the $200,000 in lifetime earning.

Prior to writing this blog, I contacted Donna Hannay about Jigtime Buddy.  In an email to me she articulated her thoughts so well about her love affair with harness racing - and perhaps spoke for many hobby horsemen - that I knew I couldn’t have expressed her thoughts any better with my own words.

The following was written by Donna Hannay. 

In 1976, in the backstretch at the Moncton racetrack, Murray Wade asked Blaine if he would be interested in having a 4-year- old mare. He had raced her for a year or so.  She took a mark of 2.09.3 and made little money ($846) and he didn't want to spend any more time or money on her.  He did, however, want her to have a good home.  The only stipulation was that he wanted us to raise a colt for him in the future sired by a stallion of his choice.  Little did we know, that when we loaded Bon Flash onto our trailer and brought her home, that this gift of horse would be much more than that.  She was a big bay mare with a mind of her own.  But she became the foundation mare of our little breeding operation that has weathered the industry successes and storms ever since.  She was sired by Flash About, who did not rate as a sire of much importance in anyone's book, and she was out of a Mac Primrose mare, which again, meant little in the breeding industry.  But “Bonnie”, as she was affectionately nicknamed by us, was a gift beyond measure. Not only did she give us numerous memorable offspring, she gave us a lifetime of "lifelong friends made and kept", a passion for a sport that has given us so much enjoyment as a couple, and memories beyond measure.

With stars in our eyes, and dreams in our heart of a "stakes" champion, we bred her the first three times to Crafty Shadow.  The stars faltered and the dreams were put on hold as none of these three made it to the races or earned any money.  Next time around, Murray decided that he wanted to breed her to his own stallion, a diminutive, black horse by the name of Angel's Wave.  The resulting foal was named Angel's Shadow, and our journey with Bonnie had truly begun.  Angel's Shadow was bred and foaled here at our farm and spent the first three months of his life with us before going to Charlotte's Ranch.  The cross between Bonnie and Angel's Wave became a "magical" thing.  She was bred four more times to him, with three stud colts and a filly being the result. The filly never raced.  The other stud colts were Jigtime Buddy, Jigtime Rambo and Jigtime Knievil.  Buddy set a World Record.  Rambo and Knievil both took good sub two minute marks and made good money for the time.  Interesting to note here is how the stable name came about.  The three first foals that we raised out of Bonnie did not carry the Jigtime moniker.  Then Murray named the" Shadow".  When Buddy was due, our best friends from Saint  John wanted to be here at foaling time, but the gentleman in question was due to work...so he "jigged time" to be here and the resulting foal, Jigtime Buddy, got his name from that incident and for our best friend's name, Buddy (Mac Gregor).  We liked the Jigtime part so much, that we registered it as our stable name, and since that time, we've raised 36 horses that have carried the Jigtime banner.

As is the case for any breeding farm, we've had our share of success and our share of shattered dreams. But through it all, we've always believed in the industry and have done everything in our power to be positive when things seemed bleak.  For a small breeding establishment -  and that would mean that we have had only one or two mares at one time - with the exception of one year when we had three mares, we feel that we have had our share of success.  Along the way, our broodmares pedigrees improved. We've had a Precious Fella mare, Seltzer, the dam of Seltzer Blue, a Bret Hanover mare, a Tarport Ervin mare, a Knightly Blue Chip mare, Class N Jigtime (our homebred out of Bon Flash) and the last mare that took up residence here is Gold Luck, a daughter of Camluck.  She is the dam of Honey Do Jigtime and presently she has a yearling stud colt by Articulator.  Throughout the journey, we've raised such horses as URA Jigtime p.6, 1:56.3f ($80,981), Jigtime Silencer p.4, 1:58.3h ($27,926), Jigtime Smokey p.5, 1:57.1f ($24,938), etc., to name a few.

When Honey Do Jigtime came along and the industry  in such dire straits, we decided that the time had come for us to finally make our exit from the breeding part of the game. We had spent a lifetime devoted to that particular part of the industry, we were both getting older and it was becoming increasingly difficult to be able to get away even for a few days of vacation. How the horse racing Gods must have smiled at that decision, because once Honey hit the track, that decision was history. We have yet to decide who Goldie will be bred to this year, but she WILL be bred. Retiring will have to wait a few more years, and I guess we are both good with this decision and yes, even happy about it.

Have we ever regretted saying "yes" to Murray Wade. Not once, not ever! Bonnie was the best present Blaine and I could have imagined in relation to the horse industry. She was the beginning of an endeavor that  has given us memorable moments galore, moments captured on tape for us to relive over and over again, an endeavor that  has given us a lifetime passion that we both enjoyed and an endeavor that has given us friends that will last a lifetime!

THE MAGICAL CROSS  /  ANGELS WAVE – BON FLASH

ANGELS SHADOW

p.2,2:08.1h; 3,1:59.3h; 4,1:57h; 5,1:56.4f ($222,577)

Lifetime record:  106-45-18-17

Owner:   Murray Wade

Trainer:  Marcel Barrieau

Homebred

Career Highlights

At 2,

- First lifetime start finished fifth for Gilles Barrieau on September 21, 1983

- First career win for Marcel Barrieau in 2:08.2 on October 22

- Won five in-a-row from October 22 to November 16

- Season totals:  2:08.1h 8-5-1-1-$1,685

At 3,

- Won his first seven races of the season.  During this streak he became the fastest Maritime-bred on Maritime soil, winning in 1:59.3 in an early closer at Sackville Downs

- First loss came against Winners Accolade at Saint John on June 9 in a leg of the Labatt Blue Crown Series.  It was his first start against Invitational pacers

- Second to Pearls Falcon (1:59) in Gold Cup and Saucer Trial #1 at Charlottetown

- Third to Pearls Falcon in Gold Cup and Saucer final

- Won Miss ANE Pace in 2:00.2 at Saint John

- Fifth to Winners Accolade in Provincial Cup VII at Saint John

- Season totals:  1:59.3h 25-14-2-4-$25,588

At 4,

- Second to Gemini Risk (2:00.2) in the Alexander Memorial at Saint John

- Won an Invitational at Truro in 2:00.2

- Won Governor’s Plate (1:59.1) at Summerside in track record time

- Won Gold Cup and Saucer Trial #1 (1:59) at Charlottetown

- Second to Winners Accolade (1:57.3) in Gold Cup and Saucer final

- Won Cruickshank Memorial (1:58.2) at Sackville Downs

- Won Provincial Cup VIII (1:57) at Saint John to establish a new all-age track record and became the fastest Maritime-bred of all time

- Season totals:  1:57h 32-12-7-7-$86,375

At 5,

- Fourth to Witsends Gypsy (1:54.2) in the Monctonian at Champlain Raceway in Moncton

- Won Gold Cup and Saucer Trail #2 (1:59.3) at Charlottetown

- Second to Rev Your Engine in Gold Cup and Saucer final in a thrilling stretch duel

- Won provincial Cup IX (1:58.1) at Saint John in track record for aged horses

- Won in 1:56.4f at Champlain Raceway on September 13, 1986 – lifetime record and breaking his own record for fastest Maritime-bred of all time

- Atlantic Post Calls Horse of-the-Year

- Seasons totals:  1:56.4f 35-11-6-5-$90,025

At 6,

- Missed most of season because of injury starting late in season at Blue Bonnets in Montreal

- Seasons totals:  2:00.1f 17-3-3-1-$17,904

At 7,

 - Retired on February 27, 1988 going ceremonial last mile at Champlain Raceway

Stood stud at Hollylaine Island Farm and sired 12 foals, 7 winners, 2 in 2:02 including Island Maxwell p.3,2:00.4h and Second Shadow p.3,2:01h.  Angels Shadow died in December 1993

JIGTIME BUDDY

p.6,1:57f ($85,031)

Lifetime record:  129-28-29-15

Owner:  Barry Fagan

Trainer:  Barry Fagan

JIGTIME KNIEVIL

p.5,1:57.2f ($31,044)

Lifetime record:  152-41-25-20

Owner:  Seawinds AMG Ltd.

Trainer:  Wayne Mahar

JIGTIME RAMBO

p.4,1:59h ($51,528)

Lifetime record:  225-46-33-41

Owner:  Marlene Mooney

HONEY DO JIGTIME (CoasttoCoast Yankee-Gold Luck)

p.4,1:51.4s ($255,257)

Lifetime Record:  138-23-22-16

$3,000 purchase at NSPE Yearling Sale in 2009

Owner:  Morah Kerr & Phonsie MacEachern

Trainer:  Clare MacDonald

Career Highlights

At 2,

- Winner Atlantic Sires Stakes at Charlottetown and Saint John

- Winner Williamson Memorial at Fredericton, PEI Colt Stakes at Charlottetown

At 3,

- Winner Atlantic Sires Stakes at Truro, Summerside, Northside Downs, Inverness and Charlottetown

- Winner Maritime Breeders elimination and final and Atlantic Breeders Crown final at Charlottetown, Ruby Chappell Stakes at Summerside, MacKenzie and Stanfield stakes at Truro, Bill Quigg Memorial at Fredericton

- Atlantic Canada three-year-old filly of –the-Year

At 4,

- Winner in 1:51.4s at Woodbine to become the fastest New Brunswick-bred mare of all time

I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Patrick Eastwood to this blog.

For more blogs on New Brunswick harness racing go to thefrederictonscene.blogspot.ca

For more historical data, pictures and stories please LIKE Fredericton Raceway on Facebook. 

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Top Fredericton Horses

For the record, let me state that Bill Sharon may be the greatest horse ever developed at Fredericton Raceway.

The chestnut stallion was foaled at Samuel J. Boyle’s Fredericton farm on September 1, 1915.  He was undefeated in Fredericton as a four and five-year-old and then sold to Tommy Murphy of Poughkeepsie, NY for $25,000, a record price for a Canadian standardbred horse.

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

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

Honorable Mentions – outstanding horses who didn’t make any of the above lists (alphabetically)

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 blogs on New Brunswick harness racing go to thefrederictonscene.blogspot.ca

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