Longtime Standardbred owner and breeder Gratien Deschenes, whose biggest racing coup was picking out and developing the great trotting mare Grades Singing, has passed away in a Québec hospital after contracting the C difficile infection. He was 89.
Deschenes, a one-time driver and trainer, bought Grades Singing out of a U.S. sale for $13,000. She started her career at Blue Bonnets in Montréal and made $1 million for him before he sold her for another $1 million to Swedish interests, who then made $1 million of their own with her.
Grades Singing won the Breeders Crown final for trotting mares three times (in 1986, 1987, and again in 1989). The latter race was held at Blue Bonnets, and Deschenes was there for an emotional reunion with his former star. She was inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1996.
Known for his expertise in breeding and selecting trotters, Deschenes also raced the likes of Bob Hilton, Hocquard, Royal Ascot N. and Elmsford for his Ferme Grade, then converted his 235-acre farm in St. Basile le Grand into one of Quebec`s leading training centres. His 45-year involvement with the sport ended when the centre closed in 1996 for lack of business.
“I thought (the training centre) would be my retirement. Instead, it’s eating up what took 45 years to build,” he said in an interview at the time.
He is survived by wife, Jeanne Girard, and children, Maude, Yves, Miville, Martine and Sophia, and sisters, Marcelle and Brigitte.
Visitation will be Saturday at the Demers Funeral Home in Ste. Julie, QC, starting at 10 a.m., with a funeral service scheduled for 2 p.m. the same day at Ste. Julie Church.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Gratien Deschenes.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)
My condolences to the family
My condolences to the family for their lose. R.I.P. Mr. D.
I had the pleasure of
I had the pleasure of training and driving for Mr Deschenes for quite a few years and had great success with the horses mentioned.
He loved the fact that Hocquard was a double gaited horse and raced in the international trot and was invited to the the international pace.
Barons Boy won the Battle of Brandywine and was 3 year old of the year in Canada.
He was a hard working man and loved his horses.
My condolences to his family
Mike Guitard