Trot Insider has learned that iron-tough open class pacing millionaire Sand Olls Dexter has passed away at the age of 23.
A son of Dexter Nukes and Princess Cammie, Sand Olls Dexter was bred by Alex McColl of Rodney, Ont. The colt was a $11,500 Forest City Yearling Sale purchase by trainer Daryl Roberts, John Kwiatkoski and Petrina Lawrence.
In 14 freshman starts, Sand Olls Dexter banked a respectable $73,504 while racing against a couple of local colts that were Grand Circuit calibre — Intrepid Seelster and Twin B Champ.
His next six seasons on the track all boasted six-figure bankrolls, averaging more than $155,000 over his career from ages three through eight. In terms of a purse, his most lucrative victory came in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final as a three-year-old at Windsor Raceway. But his most memorable victories came in consecutive editions of the Gold Cup & Saucer in 2003 and 2004. He's just one of three horses to win back-to-back editions of one of Canadian harness racing's most coveted races.
Sand Olls Dexter raced at 16 tracks over his career, making 237 starts while sporting a career summary of 64 wins, 39 seconds and 29 thirds. He banked $1,070,875, took his lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at the age of eight while racing against warhorses the likes of Admirals Express, Whosurboy, Rair Earth, Artesian, Our Lucky Killean, Tigerama, Escape The Wind, Life Source, Casimir Camotion, Royal Mattjesty, Royalflush Hanover and Four Starzzz Shark. Of his 64 wins, more than 40 of them came in stakes races, Open or Preferred events.
After his racing days were over, and at times during his racing career, Sand Olls Dexter performed limited stallion duty. His most notable offspring from his 17 starters was 27-time winner Hellsapoppin p,5,1:55h ($156,162).
Under the care of original owner Petrina Lawrence, Sand Olls Dexter lived out his days at her Rodney, Ont. area farm until having to be euthanized on Thursday, June 10.
"I was very privileged to have him in life for 23 years," said Lawrence, grieving the loss of her longtime racehorse who was laid to rest on her farm. "He was a constant warrior on the track and a gentle giant in the barn."
Lawrence conveyed a story of the stallion's nature, noting that a rabbit made its way into the barn and became friends with Sand Olls Dexter. In fact, Lawrence would feed both apple slices while the rabbit was situated around the stallion's front feet, and the kind horse willingly shared snack time with his farmyard friend.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Sand Olls Dexter.
Sad to hear. He & Mark were
Sad to hear. He & Mark were so good in the Gold Cup Saucers. What a trip in the 2003 edition out basically the whole mile.
In reply to Sad to hear. He & Mark were by jpass
I was there that night, he
I was there that night, he was out most of the mile. That trip would have spelled the end for most horses as far as having a shot at winning, most horses would start backing up at the 3/4 pole, but not Sand Olls Dexter, he just kept on coming. What a horse, I just loved watching him race. Rest in eternal peace Champ.