The 2008 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Induction

On August 28th, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame welcomed eight inductees during a memorable ceremony at the Mississauga Convention Centre, with 300 horse industry enthusiasts in attendance. Jim Bannon hosted the evening’s proceedings, which featured guest speaker, movie and television actor Nicholas Campbell, of CBC-TV’s Da Vinci’s Inquest. The silent and live auctions raised $26,955, with the proceeds helping to ensure that Canadian racing’s horses and industry members are properly honoured. Both auctions offered some very exciting items, including a diamond from the Ekati Mine (donated by Charles Fipke). Sovereign Award-winning jockey, Emma-Jayne Wilson was the lucky bidder (at $2,100) on one of the much sought-after items – millionaire pacer Somebeachsomewhere’s halter; and a halter belonging to Horse of the Year, Curlin, was taken home by Bob Anderson for $4,000.

Managing Director of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Louis Cauz (r) received his coveted diamond ring from James W. Ormiston, former Executive Vice President and COO of Woodbine Entertainment Group.         Trainer Mark Frostad (l.) and  Mark Samuel, Sam-Son Farm, accept the Hall of Fame ring on behalf of Smart Strike from Robert King Jr. (centre), Manager of the Jockeys' Benevolent Association of Canada.

One of the Thoroughbred Builders to be inducted was the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s own Managing Director, Louis E. Cauz, who delivered a very emotional speech. “If my lips begin to tremble, it’s only because I’m so honoured,” said Cauz. “I never sought this honour, but when I heard I was elected I was in tears. When I was told the news, I was sobbing. I had been romanced by this sport for a long time.” Louis Cauz, whose career has spanned over 40 years in the horse racing industry, is also Woodbine Entertainment’s Archivist and Historian and author of the Sovereign Award-winning book, The Plate: A Royal Tradition.

Also elected in the Builders’ category was the late Cliff Chapman, Jr., who wore many hats during his colourful career in the harness racing industry. He was the past owner/publisher of the Canadian Sportsman, a legal bookmaker, a bid spotter for hundreds of horse sales, and race secretary at numerous Ontario tracks. Several members of his family were in attendance, and expressed their feelings on the occasion, “Wouldn’t our dad have been thrilled to share this evening with such wonderful nominees? To be here today to accept this prestigious honour would have been the proudest moment of his illustrious career. Tonight I am sure he is in this room with us.”

Honouring the late Cliff Chapman Jr., are Constable Terry Russell along with (l. to r.) Hall of Fame Director Jamie Martin, Shari Lovell, Paul and Kim Chapman.          Builder indcutee Pierre Levesque (centre) accepts his ring from Alain (l.) and Richard Veilleux, HOF Standardbred Director.

Smart Strike, at age 16, stands at Lane’s End in Versailles, Kentucky. A son of Mr. Prospector and a half-brother to Hall of Fame champion Dance Smartly, Smart Strike was trained by Mark Frostad for Sam-Son Farm. He is the sire of 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin — winner of this year’s Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is the leading money-winning thoroughbred in history with over $10 million in earnings . Smart Strike won two graded stakes race in the United States. His sons and daughters earned a world-record $14.3 million in 2007. Accepting on behalf of this international superstar was Mark Samuel, who commented, “He gave us many thrills on the racetrack, and now he continues to thrill us with his many foals, including Curlin.”

Another Builder elected from the Standardbred industry was Pierre Levesque, founder, owner and operator of Angus Farm, one of Quebec’s largest breeding operations. Angus Farm is home to Angus Hall, a sire whose progeny have earned over $33 million. Among his illustrious offspring are Peaceful Way and Majestic Son. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Levesque said, “Thanks to those that made this nomination possible. I thank Armstrong Bros. for helping me when I started out, as well as the late Jim Proudfoot for introducing me to Clint Hodgins. It’s an honour. Horses keep me alive. I still break a few colts, just for the fun of it.”

Thoroughbred trainer, Robert Tiller, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, is a multiple Sovereign Award winner, whose champions include Rare Friends, Simply Lovely and 2001 Canadian Horse of the Year, Win City. Recounting his lengthy training career, which began in 1972, he commented during his speech that, “I believe respect is the best thing a person can receive and that is what I am receiving today. I love horse racing, I love my job. This is a great honour tonight. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Woodbine trainer Robert Tiller (r.) accepts his HOF ring from fellow trainer John Charalambous.          Owners Angie and Dr. Cal Stiller receive ring from Hall of Fame Director John Stapleton (cnetre), on behalf of Peaceful Way.

Peaceful Way (a daughter of Angus Hall - Royal Bait) is the richest Canadian-bred trotter of all time, earning $3.2 million. Born, bred and raised by Angie Stiller of Stonebridge Farms, Arva, Ont., she won numerous stakes events, including The Maple Leaf Trot, Breeders Crown and the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final. Angie’s husband, Dr. Cal Stiller, said, “We want to congratulate the other nominees. It’s an extraordinary evening and we don’t do this enough in this industry. We had to let Peaceful Way display her God-given talent. When she was healthy, she had unequalled speed and could overcome seemingly insurmountable leads. “I’d also like to acknowledge the contributions of trainer Dave Tingley, caretaker Isabelle Guignard, who cared for her every need, and the drivers of Peaceful Way. We doubt we’ll see the likes of her again, and we dream that we might catch lightning in a bottle again with her first foal.”

Sam-Son Farm’s Wilderness Song (by Wild Again), a multiple graded stakes winner in the U.S. and Canada for trainer James Day, retired in 1993 with earnings of almost $1.5 million, placing her second amongst female thoroughbreds in Canada. Wilderness Song holds the distinction of becoming San-Son Farm’s first Grade One stakes winner in 1991 when she won the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, Ky., and in 1992 she garnered the Sovereign Award as Champion Older Female. Representing Sam-Son Farm, Rick Balaz commented that, “(Owner) Ernie Samuel was an incredible patriot, and to be able to compete with her outside of Canada was a fantastic thing. We are very grateful for this honour.”

Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Excecutive Director Nick Coukos (l.) makes the presentation to Rick Balaz of Sam-Son Farm for Wilderness Song.          Ted Smith, President and CEO of Standardbred Canada and president of the HOF (centre) presents Real Desire's ring to Karen and Blair Burgess.

Real Desire, owned by Karin Olsson Burgess, Robert Burgess, Perretti Farms and Brittany Farms, was trained by Blair Burgess. He established a world record for a 2-year-old pacer of 1:50.4, and capped his brilliant career with a second Breeders Crown win, which led to Horse of the Year honours on both sides of the border. In his acceptance speech, Blair Burgess said, “I want to congratulate the other inductees. When I go into Woodbine I always try to look at the plaques. There is no more appropriately named horse than Real Desire. He was a life changer for me and my family and holds a very special place in our hearts. Karin called him her fourth child. I recall hearing from my second trainer Bill Rapson how great he was as a baby. I hummed and hawed like I always do and he turned out to be something else. The World Record at two was very dramatic for me. For a $16,000 yearling, it was quite the shock. We had epic battles all year long with Bettors Delight at age three, he’s in the Hall of Fame now, too. After that it was difficult but easy to bring him back at four. Now his story lives on as a stallion, siring the likes of Tell All – a horse that won what Real Desire didn’t, the Jug and the North America Cup.”

The 2008 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies by Shirley Gill. Reprinted with permission from Canadian Thoroughbred.