* Bill Sharen photo courtesy Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
For the record, let me
state that Bill Sharen may be the greatest horse ever developed at Fredericton Raceway.
The
chestnut stallion was foaled at Samuel J. Boyle’s Fredericton farm,
over one hundred years ago 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.
During
the course of his record-setting five-year-old season in 1920, Bill
Sharen had attracted the attention of Murphy after winning the
Free-For-All at Fredericton.
The
sale was announced by telegram and published in the New York Times on
November 16, 1920. It was said “the horse is a rich chestnut in color,
stands fifteen hands high and has weighed 1,500 pounds” and “...the
holder of records on nearly every track on which he raced” in the
Maritimes and Maine.
On
August 17, 1922 at Belmont Driving Park in Philadelphia, Bill Sharen
became the first Canadian-bred horse to trot better than 2:05 when he
won consecutive heats in the $2,500 Bulls Head Stake 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 and had earnings of $7,647.75.
As
his 1922 season progressed, he became known for his ability to win
triple heats, a feat he accomplished three times during the last two
weeks of August.
Bill
Sharen 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
his career 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 Sharen was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2000.
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, broke 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 Atlantic Canada and throughout North
America.
Since there is no one
source to comprise this very specific criteria of horses developed in
Fredericton, I relied mostly 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
1:51.2s McPat Trainer: Everette Hanson
1:52.1s Spudland Sierra (Mare) Trainer:
Brent Briggs
1:52.1m Woodmere Topcat Trainer:
Lloyd Denton
1:52.3h KCs Starlite (Mare) Trainer: Charlie Miles
1:52.4s Sealcrest Dragon Trainer:
Mike Downey
1:52.4s Fern Hill Bella (Mare) Trainer: Roy Dickinson
1:53s Manrayson Jo Trainer: Brian Embleton & Garnet Taylor
1:53.1f Northern Raucous Trainer:
Mike Downey
1:53.1f Terra Cotta Lad Trainer: Charlie Miles
1:53.1m Money Maven (Trotter) Trainer: Everette Hanson
1:53.4f Little Manny Trainer: Charlie Miles & Stephen Trites
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
1:54.3f Cajun Fiddle (Mare) Trainer: Mike Campbell
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
Bubbling under: Ryan Flyin 1:55.4f; Vic's Sample 1:55.4f; Woodmere Sandman 1:56h; Rose Valley 1:56h; House Edge Hanover 1:56.1h; Pipe Major
1:56.1f; Daytona Fearn 1:56.1f; Jags Desperado 1:56.1s; 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 at Woodbine in 1:52.1 for Chris Christoforou 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 10 Fredericton horses by winning times on a half-mile track
1:52.3 KCs Starlite (Mare)
1:53.1 All Star Dragon
1:54 Igoddago
1:54 Saulsbrook Light
1:54.1 Money Maven (Trotter)
1:54.3 McPat
1:54.3 Woodmere Topcat
1:54.3 Northern Raucous
1:54.3 Little Manny
1:54.4 Tornado Tim (Trotter)
1:54.4 Terra Cotta Lad
KCs Starlite win at Northfield Park in 1:52.3 gave her the distinction of being the fastest New Brunswick-bred mare over a half-mile track.
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.
The fastest trotter on a half-mile track is Money Maven (1:54.1).
Top 6 Fredericton horses by individual WINNING times in 1:53 or better
12 Flying Cowboy
8 Amble Over Hanover
6 Jaguar Knight
3 Spudland Sierra (Mare)
3 All Star Dragon
3 McPat
Flying
Cowboy had a winning time better than 1:51 on four occasions in his
career. He has won in 1:50.3 and 1:50.4 two times each.
Top 6 Fredericton horses by individual race times in 1:53 or better REGARDLESS OF FINISH
50
Amble Over Hanover
41 Flying Cowboy
35 All Star Dragon
31 McPat
23 Woodmere Topcat
17
Spudland Sierra (Mare)
Fredericton horses with $100,000+ lifetime earnings
$833,227 Money Maven (Trotter) Trainer:
Everette Hanson
$384,010 Tornado Tim (Trotter) Trainer:
Everette Hanson
$324,965 Northern Raucous Trainer:
Mike Downey
$253,852 All Star Dragon Trainer:
Stacy Gay
$226,605 Fern Hill Bella (Mare) Trainer: Roy Dickinson
$220,538 Amble Over Hanover Trainer:
Everette Hanson
$212,298 Igoddago Trainer:
Mike Campbell
$202,201 Flying Cowboy Trainer: Charlie Miles
$199,530 Milliondollardad Trainer: Phil Reid
$189,388 Oscar Dielahoya Trainer:
Sandra Foley
$188,716 Ryan Flyin Trainer:
Ned Lindon
$173,473 Princetown Cody (Trotter) Trainer:
Kelly Watts
$168,319 Terra Cotta Lad Trainer: Charlie Miles
$153,719 Woodmere Topcat Trainer:
Lloyd Denton
$142,196 McPat Trainer: Everette Hanson
$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
$117,744 Little Manny Trainer: Charlie Miles & Stephen Trites
$110,264 Tidy Point Trainer:
Mike Campbell
$110,225 Knightime Roger Trainer:
Mike Campbell
$108,328 Baron’s Boy Trainer:
Paul Jennings
Northern Raucous 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.
Top 10 Fredericton horses by money earnings in an individual season
$170,810 Money Maven 2017
$156,630 Money Maven 2016
$114,853 Northern Raucous 2004
$110,330 Money Maven 2019
$107,785 Tornado Tim 2016
$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
Fern Hill Bella (Mare)
Flying Cowboy
Igoddago
Jaguar Knight
Little Manny
McPat
Milliondollardad
Money Maven (Trotter)
Northern Raucous
Oscar Dielahoya
Princetown Cody (Trotter)
Spudland Sierra (Mare)
Terra Cotta Lad
Tornado Tim (Trotter)
Woodmere Topcat
Top 20 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
($62,810-1:59.3h) Trainer: Mike Campbell
47 Prancer Pete
($30,565-2:05.3h) Trainer: Charles Rammage
47 Money Maven ($833,227-1:53.1m) Trainer: Everette Hanson
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
43 Mabou River Lady (Mare) ($21,329-2:04) Trainer: Sheldon Watts
43 Tornado Tim ($384,010-1:54.1f) Trainer: Everette Hanson
41 Starson ($20,297-2:04.1h) Trainer: Mike Campbell
Mike Campbell dominates
with 7 places on this list - including three of the top five positions- for a
total of 368 wins. All but Vulga Wil
raced until they were at least 10-years-old.
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: Stefan 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.
* * * * *
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 ($253,852)
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
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
 |
MONEY MAVEN
|
MONEY MAVEN (Revenue S-The Raven)
p.7,1:54.1h-10,1:53.1m ($833,227)
Lifetime record: 290-47-48-28
$2,200 weanling purchase at 2010 New Jersey Classic
Owner: Everette Hanson
Trainer: Everette Hanson
Career Highlights
Numerous wins in the Preferred and Invitational trot classes in Ontario and New York
Richest horse (regardless of gait) ever developed in Fredericton
 |
| 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
Last raced November 2011
 |
| 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.9,1:54.1f ($384,010)
Lifetime Record: 256-43-32-35
$7,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg
Owner: Everette Hanson
Trainer: Everette Hanson
Career Highlights
Numerous wins in the Preferred trot classes in Ontario and New York
First trotter in history to surpass $250,000 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
* * * * *
I would like to acknowledge the
contributions of Patrick Eastwood to this blog.
* * * *
*
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