Illusionist To Retire

Millionaire aged pacing mare Illusionist will make the final start of her illustrious career on Thursday evening at Flamboro Downs.

The seven-year-old Camluck mare will start from Post 5 in the $13,000 eleventh race for trainer Phil Coleman and owner Dave Lumsden of Ancaster, Ontario. Scott Coulter is listed to drive.

Illusionist has her name etched into numerous track record books across Ontario and held one in the United States too. In the Silk Stockings elimination at Monticello Raceway in July 2007, she set the standard at the half-mile oval in 1:54.3, but that mark was lowered the next week in the final by Darlins Delight.

In Ontario, Illusionist holds the aged pacing mare track record at Clinton, Flamboro and Woodstock. She is also the owner of the three-year-old pacing filly mark at Hanover and Hiawatha Horse Park.

She scored the biggest pay day of her career in June 2008 when she scorched around the Georgian Downs five-eighths oval in 1:51 to take the $112,000 Master Series. A former OSS Champion, Illusionist has competed in major stake races such as the Milton Stake, Roses Are Red, Betty Ross, and Breeders Crown. She has also captured numerous Mares Open contests on the WEG circuit.

Illusionist closed out the 2008 season with three wins from 24 starts and earnings of $170,148. With a lifetime mark of 1:50, she has won 43 of her 139 lifetime starts and has a career bankroll of $1,003,557.

To view Thursday’s entries at Flamboro, click here.