3rd Annual Greatest Horses ever developed at Fredericton Raceway

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 so here is a look at some of the best of the modern era.

Top 25 Fredericton horses, mares and geldings by lifetime records

1:50.3f   All Star Dragon   Trainer:  Stacy Gay
1:50.3f   Flying Cowboy   Trainer:  Charlie Miles 

1:51.2m   Jaguar Knight   Trainer:  Sheldon Watts

1:51.2s   Amble Over Hanover   Trainer:  Everette Hanson

1:52.1s   Spudland Sierra (Mare)   Trainer:  Brent Briggs

1:52.1m   Woodmere Topcat   Trainer:  Lloyd Denton

1:52.4s   Sealcrest Dragon   Trainer:  Mike Downey

1:53s   Manrayson Jo   Trainer:  Brian Embleton & 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

1:54.1f   Tornado Tim (Trotter)   Trainer:  Everette Hanson

1:54.2f   Youbetiwould   Trainer:  Phil Sowers

1:54.2f   Milliondollardad   Trainer: Philip Reid

1:54.3s   Bonavista Bay   Trainer:  Sandra Foley
1:54.4s   Money Maven (Trotter)   Trainer:  Everette Hanson

1:55h   Bear Island Tyler   Trainer:  Mike Downey

1:55.2f   Summer Radiance (Mare)   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

1:56h  Rose Valley (Mare)   Trainer:  Mike Campbell

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 at the time.

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 nine more times.  He has won in 1:53.1 (twice), 1:54.1, 1:54.2, 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

35   All Star Dragon

31   Amble Over Hanover

23   Woodmere Topcat
17   Spudland Sierra (Mare)

17   Flying Cowboy 

To break it down by wins, Flying Cowboy and Jaguar Knight have each won six races better than 1:53 – both with 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. 

Fredericton horses with $100,000+ lifetime earnings

$324,965   Northern Raucous   Trainer:  Mike Downey

$252,835   All Star Dragon   Trainer:  Stacy Gay
$212,298   Igoddago   Trainer:  Mike Campbell
$209,108   Tornado Tim (Trotter)   Trainer:  Everette Hanson

$189,388   Oscar Dielahoya   Trainer:  Sandra Foley

$188,716   Ryan Flyin   Trainer:  Ned Lindon

$173,473   Princetown Cody (Trotter)   Trainer:  Kelly Watts

$161,878   Money Maven (Trotter)   Trainer:  Everette Hanson 

$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 (Mare)   Trainer:  Brent Briggs

$123,106   Pipe Major   Trainer:  Mike Campbell
$120,192   Amble Over Hanover   Trainer:  Everette Hanson
$117,169   Flying Cowboy   Trainer:  Charlie Miles
$112,875   Milliondollardad   Trainer:  Phil Reid

$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.  Tornado Tim became the first trotter to surpass $200,000 in lifetime earnings this year.  Flying Cowboy and Milliondollardad are the new entries to the list this year.

Top 5 Fredericton horses by money earnings in an individual season

$114,853   Northern Raucous   2004
$94,292   Flying Cowboy   2014

$78,810   All Star Dragon   2012

$77,330   Jaguar Knight   1994

$68,680   Spudland Sierra   2004

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

Amble Over Hanover

Bear Island Tyler
Flying Cowboy

Igoddago

Jaguar Knight
Milliondollardad

Money Maven (Trotter)

Northern Raucous

Oscar Dielahoya

Princetown Cody (Trotter)

Spudland Sierra (Mare)

Tornado Tim (Trotter)

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 (Mare) ($20,995-2:03.3f)   Trainer:  Stephen Trites

53 Pipe Major ($123,106-1:56.1f)   Trainer:  Mike Campbell

53 Beth Seelster (Mare) ($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 (Mare) ($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 (Mare) ($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 also have Starson (41) next on the list.

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

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. 

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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.

The greatest Fredericton horses of the modern era (alphabetically)

ALL STAR DRAGON

ALL STAR DRAGON (Dragon Again-West Star Lady)

p.6,1:50.3f-1:53.1h ($252,835)

Lifetime record:  173-29-28-22

$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

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

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

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

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 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

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

PRINCETOWN CODY (Trotter) (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

SPUDLAND SIERRA

SPUDLAND SIERRA (Mare) (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

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

TORNADO TIM

TORNADO TIM (Trotter) (Revenue S – Cyclone Annie)

t.6,1:54.1s ($209,108)

Lifetime Record:  147-28-18-12

$7,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg

Owner:  Everette Hanson

Trainer:  Everette Hanson

Career Highlights

At 4, 5, 6 & 7. numerous wins in the Preferred trot classes in Ontario
First trotter in history to surpass $200,000 in lifetime earnings.

WOODMERE TOPCAT

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

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

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Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame 2014 ( Text of Induction speeches)

MIKE CAMPBELL

Mike Campbell is a native of Prince Edward Island but 45 years ago, in 1969, he came to Fredericton Raceway and it has been his adopted home ever since.  He grew up in harness racing, being a member of the famous Hennessey family, and was introduced to the sport by his grandfather, Walter, and uncle, Joe, both legendary Island horsemen.   

Mike started out with a small stable on PEI in the late 1960’s and brought some horses to Fredericton and Woodstock to race.  He saw an opportunity to grow his career and opened a public stable at the newly formed Wilmot Downs, who were leasing Fredericton Raceway at the time. 

It didn’t take long before he had his first great horse.

Warbucks Pick developed into an Invitational horse for Campbell and owner Russell Embleton, becoming a force in Maritime racing in 1970.  He went on to earn over $10,000 and won 13 races - including the B C Cruickshank in - and was second to Firebolt in the Gold Cup and Saucer after winning the Inaugural the week before.  He also won a heat of the Alexander Memorial, finishing second to Senator George.

With his career taking off, Mike decided to try harness racing’s big leagues and took up residence in the State of New York where he enjoyed success with an award winning trotter named Bob Collins, a New York Sires Stakes and Free-For -All winner who went on to win 45 races and earn over $165,000 lifetime.

But home was calling Mike and wife, Joan, and home for them was Fredericton Raceway where they set up at the far end of the newly built barns where they still operate their stable 40 years later.   That stable has seen many notable performers developed during those 40 years including Igoddago, considered one of the greatest Maritime-bred performers of all time.  Igoddago is a $212,298 career money earner and four-time Fredericton Raceway Horse of-the-Year who retired in 2010 with a record of 1:54h and 62 lifetime wins; four of them better than 1:55 on Maritime soil and second only to Dunachton Gale. 

Campbell also developed other $100,000 plus winners like Pipe Major, Tidy Point and Knightime Roger.  There were also horses like North Wind Mac, Vulga Wil and Starson, who join those four $100,000 winners as horses who have won over 40 wins each.   Of course all of those horses were sub-2:00 performers and you can include Grabanabe, Certified, Igoddarocket, North Wind Molly, Charlottetown and many others and you can see how Mike Campbell is considered one of the greatest trainers in Fredericton Raceway history.

Last year he campaigned the three-year-old filly sensation, Rose Valley, a multiple stakes winner and his fastest mare ever after winning in 1:56 at Charlottetown proving Campbell’s not ready to call it a career just yet.

His first career win came with the veteran J Scotch Hal in 1968 at Ocean View Park in Shediac.  He has over 1,000 career wins and $1 million in career driving earnings and now he is honored as the newest member of the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame. 

NORTHERN RAUCOUS

Northern Raucous is considered one of the greatest and most successful horses to ever come out of Fredericton.

In 2004, he completed one of the finest three-year-old seasons ever enjoyed by a local horse.  After winning two Ontario Sires Stakes grassroots stakes at Sudbury and Georgian Downs, the son of Northern Luck easily captured the $100,000 Ontario Sires Stakes final in 1:53.2 for his owners Albert Goodine and Andrea Dolan.  It capped off a sophomore season that saw him win $114,853, the richest campaign ever by a Fredericton developed and owned horse.

Northern Raucous was an $11,000 purchase at the Canadian Classic yearling sale in 2002 and was turned over to Mike Downey to learn his early lessons.  He surfaced in June of his freshmen season and promptly reeled off four straight wins for Downey at Fredericton before being shipped to trainer Jay Cochlin in Ontario to continue in the stakes program.   After finishing second in his first two stakes appearances at Sudbury and Dresden, he then won his first stake race at Clinton in 1:58.2.  He finished the year with a third-place finish in the Grassroots semi-final at London.

That initial stakes success carried over into his record setting three-year-old season. 

Northern Raucous went on to race for a number of years continuing to rack up the wins and the money earnings.  He retired in 2011 at the age of ten with 39 lifetime wins and almost $325,000 in lifetime earnings, making him the richest horse ever developed in Fredericton by far.

Tonight we recognize the outstanding race career of Northern Raucous and welcome him to the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame.

KNIGHTLY GLIB

We all remember Knightly Glib.  He was a big strong gray horse that Bobby Stevenson developed into an Invitational pacer in the late 1980’s.  Michael Mackin had purchased the New Brunswick-bred yearling son of Knightly Blue Chip and, with help from Ned Lindon, he began his training at the local oval.  He did not make the races as a two-year-old but made his sophomore debut in the spring of 1986 with new trainer Stevenson.

Knightly Glib enjoyed a solid three-year-old season, winning five races, and competing against some better colts at that time including locals Tidy Point and Balmaghie Breeze.

As a four-year-old Knightly Glib began to show that he had the making of a top performer.  Early in the season he won the Single G early closer final in 2:01.1 and then the Canada Day River Jubilee Pace.  He went on to have a solid and consistent year, winning six races including a 2:00.3 record journey at Champlain Raceway and closed it off by winning the Gerald Giberson Memorial over Beth Seelster.  For his efforts he was named Horse of-the-Year at Fredericton as well as the Most Improved. 

But it was the next year when he really shined, racing and winning against some of the best horses in the Maritimes.  

He won the first two legs of the Labatt Blue Crown series; the opening leg in 1:59.3, which was a new Maritime-bred record for aged geldings which had been previously held by Heels Lad.  From there he went on to Charlottetown, finishing third to New Brunswick rivals, Weston Miracle and Awjo in the Premiers Pace.  He then finished fifth in the Gold Cup and Saucer to Beeler Hanover.

He continued to race the invitational circuit, finishing third to Crimson in the Provincial Cup and then winning the Lieutenant Governors Invitational but his greatest achievement came in the FREX Invitational when he defeated top Free-For-Allers, On Broadway and Courtney Bay in a lifetime best of 1:59, further reducing his own Maritime record for aged geldings.

He closed out his Maritime campaign in Saint John winning the Labatt Blue Pacing Series final over Maple Grove Shadow.  The Labatt Blue Crown was the premiere racing series during that era and Knightly Glib finished first or second in all five legs of the fall classic.  Completing one of the greatest seasons ever by a Fredericton-based horse, Knightly Glib had won 13 races against some of the Maritime’s best. For his efforts he was a repeat winner as Fredericton Raceway’s Horse of the Year.

Knightly Glib finished his career with Mickey Mackin’s son-in-law, Rick Beattie, retiring in 1992 at the age of nine.  He had 27 lifetime wins and over $46,000 in career earnings.

Thirty years after his racing career began; we finally induct Knightly Glib to the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame.

MIKE DOWNEY

It is safe to say that Mike Downey has enjoyed one of the greatest careers of any Fredericton horseman of any era.  Certainly the statistics backs that up.

Downey is Fredericton’s leading dash winning driver and leading money winning driver of all time with 2,341 wins and over $3.3 million in career earnings. 

Mike’s first win came behind an old mare his father, Cerdic, had bred and raced by the name of Gwens Pal.  That came at Fredericton Raceway in September of 1969.  The time of the mile was 2:16.4 and it was 20 seconds slower than his fastest ever winning drive, 1:56.2, which was with the Invitational pacer, Speedy AJ, at Truro in 2001.

It took Mike 15 years to record 500 career wins but only five years to record his next 500 enjoying his most productive Maritime years in the mid to late 1980’s.  From 1983 to 1987, which was during the heighth of Maritime harness racing’s most thriving time of the modern era, he averaged 125 wins per season, his best in 1985, where he campaigned in Fredericton and at the newly opened Champlain Raceway in Dieppe.  That year he had 170 wins and over $116,000 earned.  Mike’s 1,000^th win came with Avon Blazer that same year.

With his driving success, Mike Downey is still probably better known for the horses he has trained and developed.  There has been so many over his 45 plus years that I’m sure he has forgotten some of them but these are a few that we all remember.

A chance meeting with local entrepreneur, David Kileel, in 1976 resulted in Downey receiving a yearling roan colt by the name of Glengyle Kestrel.  We came to know the horse by his new name, Daily Special, and this colt became one of the most accomplished horses to ever come out of Fredericton and Downey’s career took off with him.  Daily Special was the Atlantic Sires Stakes two-year-old champion the next year and a multi-stake winner at three but is better known for breaking Walter Dale’s 42-year-old track record by one-tenth of a second in the summer of 1979.

That relationship with Kileel produced many outstanding horses over the years including the invitational pacer, Special Reward, two-year-old Atlantic Sires Stake champion, Chop Suey, stake winners Ketchup and  Some Nice and Beth Seelster, the first mare to ever pace better than 2:00 in the Maritimes.

Mike also developed and raced one of the most successful three-year-old fillies of our generation.  Tar Dee Finesse, who was later named All Finesse, was the Atlantic Sires Stakes champion in 1983 winning 13 of 23 races.  At the time she was the fastest sophomore filly ever and set track records at Fredericton, Sackville Downs and Charlottetown.

Of course, Mike Downey’s stakes success was not limited to the Maritimes carrying over to the Ontario program after moving there in the late 1980’s.  It started almost immediately with the multiple stakes winning trotter, Balance Of Trade, owned by John MacLean, Ronald Mitton and John Breau of Moncton, the same combination who had previous success in the Maritimes with the 1985 Atlantic Sires Stakes three-year-old trot champion, Jerry Jeff, who Downey also campaigned.

The two-year-old filly, Dancing My Way, was a four-time Ontario Sires Stakes winner in 1992, earning over $129,000 and there were also other stake performers like Ride Again and Shawnie Seelster during his time there.

Mike has been home for the past 15 years and the perennial dash winner at Fredericton was stabled here until moving to Saint John last year.  Even after coming home he was still training and racing great horses.  He developed Northern Raucous, who we just inducted into the Wall of Fame, Sealcrest Dragon and Bear Island Tyler, all of whom went on to take sub-1:55 records.  Bear Island Tyler gave Mike his 2,000 win in 2005.

He’s enjoyed great success with the New Zealand-bred horses.  Knight Stalker N won the FREX Invitational in 2002; Cams Man NZ won the Papermaker Pace the same year.  We mentioned Tigerbird earlier with Ashley Sloat, probably Mike’s best Invitational horse.

It has been an incredible career, maybe never paralleled in Fredericton.  Mike is known as one of the hardest working horsemen in the business and one of the nicest.  At one time he was one of the best known sporting personalities in Fredericton and his career paralleled the success Fredericton Raceway enjoyed during the robust 1980s.

Ladies and gentleman, one of the greatest ever; Mike Downey.

ASHLEY SLOAT

There is no denying Ashley Sloat has been one of the most successful owners in the history of Fredericton Raceway highlighted by the many free-for-all pacers he is bought over the years including Gold Cup and Saucer winner, Tigerbird, and Shannon Commander, who held the track record in Fredericton for 19 years until 2012.

Thirty-five years ago Ashley and his wife Joan - who owned all of the horses with him through the years - started off by acquiring Charberlyn Streak from Charlie Forbes.  Notice I said acquire and not purchase because a story persists that she may have changed hands in a card game!  The locally-bred mare developed lameness issues almost immediately and the Sloats were off to an auspicious start in the horse ownership game.
   

Ashley was undaunted however and, looking for a “good horse” with the encouragement of other horse friends like Albert Goodine, Doug Baker and Bill Thornton, he journey with trainer Mike Campbell to a mixed sale at Liberty Bell in the spring of 1979 and promptly purchased three race horses:  Fools Pleasure, Lumont and J Js Happy.  Lumont was supposed to the star of the bunch having earned over $30,000 and taking a fast record the previous year.  But it was Fools Pleasure who gave Ashley his first victory in the top class at Fredericton a couple of months later in what was the first Dr. J.A. Williamson Memorial.  Ashley said at the time, “The whole experience of going to the sale and coming back with horses that are capable of racing against some of the best horses on the grounds is one that truly excites me.”  Lumont didn’t quite live up to expectations though he was named Fredericton Raceway’s horse of the year in 1982.

That was just the beginning for Ashley as he continued to seek out horses that, not only could compete with the best horses in Fredericton, but to race the best the Maritimes had on offer and, to do that, he decided to invest in even better quality horses.  So that’s what he did when he purchased Tigerbird for $28,000.  He would become the horse that would take Ashley and Joan on a ride of a lifetime in the late 1980’s along with trained-driver Mike Downey.  In 1989 Tigerbird won the $12,000 Provincial Cup in Truro over Maritime sensation, Kilkerran Fury and he only got better from there.
  

After winning the Robert McCain Memorial the next year, Tigerbird gave Ashley, Joan and Mike their first Gold Cup and Saucer.  He did it the hard way, grinding out a first-over effort that he had become known for.

It was only a couple of years later when Ashley purchased Shannon Commander and after toiling with Mike Downey at Flamboro in the early part of his career where he named the top three-year-old in 1991, he came home for the Walter Dale Memorial in 1993 and Garry MacDonald drove the horse to a Maritime-record setting 1:55 track-record mile, the fastest ever over a half-mile in the Maritimes at the time.  Fifteen years after purchasing their first horse, Ashley and Joan finally were able to enjoying the crowning achievement at their home track just as they set out to do all those years ago.

In spite of reaching the pinnacle of harness racing Ashely didn’t stop investing in the harness racing business and continued to buy quality race horses like Look Maynard, who gave him his second Walter Dale winner in 2000.  He is the only Fredericton owner to ever win the Canada’s longest running Invitational race two times.  He had other Invitational horse like Horan Hanover, winner of the Governors Plate, and Armbro Foxy, who broke the track record in Bangor.  Olympic Mark won the Wal Hannessey Memorial and there were other horses like Up Front Richie, Point and Click, Star Track, Bargain Harrods, Putthehammerdown, Virtual reality, Avon Blazer, Woodmere Andy, Florida Thorpe, Assert and many others.  You might also recall Quick Comeback who raced for Sloat but is better known as an outstanding sire in New Brunswick and his breeding credits include Clinton Debriefed, one of the best New Brunswick-bred horses ever.

Speaking of breeding Ashley and Joan even dabbled a little in that area as well at their home in Deerwood Acres and produced R L Geordie, R L Kash, Deerwood Dawn and the stakes winning mare, Wiper Clean.  Incidentally the R L Stands for “rock ledge” on which their home and land sat on in that area of the Hanwell.

Ashley also drove a little bit as well and Exford Ayr gave him his first lifetime win in 1982.  He served on the board of the FREX for 12 years and was active in the Fredericton Horsemen’s Association.  The local businessman invested a lot of time and money in the industry and tonight we recognize those efforts by his induction into the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame.