Trot Insider has learned that Hall of Fame trainer Stewart 'Stew' Firlotte, 72, passed away during the early-morning hours of Wednesday, August 15.
Firlotte was involved in harness racing for over 30 years. He started out by grooming horses in 1970, and six years later he opened his own public stable. The initial $1,500 investment put up by him and his partners blossomed into a $4 million corporation including part ownership in the 1982 Triple Crown pacing champion, Ralph Hanover, a winner of over $1.8 million. A native of Noranda, Que., Firlotte is best known for his mastery of one of the most challenging aspects of the sport, breaking and developing yearlings. Until his retirement he was considered one of Canada’s greatest harness trainers.
In 1989, Firlotte campaigned the sensational juvenile filly Town Pro, a world champion who won 12 of 13 starts, including the Breeders Crown. The following year the Big Towner filly won 14 of 17 and over $416,000. Her on-track performances were recognized with divisional honours for both her two and three-year-old campaigns in Canada and the U.S. She retired at the end of 1992 with 40 lifetime wins and $1.2 million in earnings and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. Historic and His Mattjesty were the other top horses for Firlotte. Historic won the Metro Pace and retired at the end of 1996 with $1.3 million. His Mattjesty was the stable star in 1996 and enjoyed a stellar season as he was the sport’s leading money winning two-year-old with over $804,000. He retired with over $1 million in earnings.
Other noteworthy stakes performers that he developed and conditioned include A M Playgirl (221,815), Brees Brief ($535,027), Digger Almahurst ($371,000) Headline Hanover ($500,000), Mattduff ($360,000), Rare Review ($773,000), Strong Clan, winner of the 1997 Canadian Pacing Derby and over $663,000 lifetime, Programmed and Articulator. In a sport that he pretty much dominated in Ontario in the early 2000s, Firlotte was slowed down with ill health in 2002. His accomplishments, whether with the U.S. pacing Triple Crown winner Ralph Hanover, or in the Ontario Sires Stakes year after year, were many and significant. When he retired following the 2003 season he had 818 career training wins and purse earnings of almost $13 million.
Firlotte’s professionalism, commitment and longevity of top-level performance are evidenced not only in his success on the racetrack, but also in his placing of stallions; selling a record-price broodmare; the success of his protégés, Blair Burgess, Steve Gilmour and James 'Friday' Dean; and his close friend Doug Brown, who drove all of his horses.
Memorial Mass: There will be a celebration of Stew's life on Wednesday, August 22 in Orlando, Florida at the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. The following Wednesday, August 29, there will be a service held in Ontario with details to follow.
If you wish to direct messages of condolences directly to Stew's wife, Joanne, you can do so by emailing [email protected]. You also have the option of leaving messages of condolence at the bottom of this notice.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Stew Firlotte.
(With files from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)
I only met the gentlman once
I only met the gentlman once has i stood at the walking ring at old Greenwood,what awonderful gentleman <
He took my grandson who was eight into the paddock to see the horses
Thank Stew Wm.
Dear stu.I know you are
Dear stu.I know you are watching the races from heaven ..we met only once .. I didn't know it but we were watching the horses going their first trip on a cold October night at woodbine when I said look at that one he looks good to - nite and you said : I wasn't looking at him so much as listening...it sounds like they are racing on cement! Always caring for an animal that gave so much in return to us, Please help us to pray for the continuance of the sport we love..god bless...
To Joanne, Terry, and
To Joanne, Terry, and Brad:
Please accept our sincere condolences. Stew was a kind, generous, considerate and very strong person. We are proud that he was our friend. Stew always had time for people and took time to tell us about horses that he trained for our group. Our visits to Orlando were so very special, even after he was not training. Stew you deserve the very best. Rest in peace.
Wendall and Mary-Jean Clarkson
Dear Joanne and family, Stew
Dear Joanne and family,
Stew was an incredible horseman and a one-of-a-kind great guy. Horse racing has not been the same without him.
Mike (who passed away in July 2000) is already in heaven, and will take good care of Stew. Together they will set their own new track records.
Thinking of you….
Laurie, Rachel and John Kukulewich
My deepest condolences to
My deepest condolences to Joanne and family. Stew was a great guy that i have known for a longtime. Rest in peace.
Our condolences to Joanne,
Our condolences to Joanne, Terry and Brad. Stew fought a brave and difficult battle against impossible odds with dignity and strength of character. The unselfish and unconditional support of Joanne and the boys sustained his faith over the years.
I remember Stew from almost the beginning at Ben White Raceway in Orlando, where he learned to develop high speed pacing colts from Charlie Clark and Art Hult. Stew was a star from the beginning! I also remember when Blair,as a teenager, drove horses for Stew over several Christmas holidays. After university, Blair trained and groomed a Bret Hanover half- brother to Amity Chef for Stew at Greenwood. That fall Stew pushed Blair into buying Amity Chef as a yearling at Harrisburg.
Later the highlight of Stew's career was winning the Jug with Ralph Hanover.
I remember working on my first stallion syndication with Stew, Ronnie, Grant's Direct Stable and Mr. Baugh. These were the great days for Stew and for our sport.
May he rest in peace.
Robert Burgess and family
Stu was a great guy. Try to
Stu was a great guy. Try to remember all the good times that you had together Joanne. Thinking of you and your family
Marv Chantler Mardon Stables
Dear Joanne, Brad and
Dear Joanne, Brad and Terry
So sorry to hear. Stew will be really missed especially at Southern Oaks, we all loved to see him come and check out the colts in training. He gave me my first job there, Thanks Stew. God Bless. Dreda ( and Leonard)
I remember Stu when he was
I remember Stu when he was just starting out with Ontario sires, think Poinsetta was one of his 1st of many good ones, he was was respected and had lifelong friends because of it.
So sorry to hear the news.
So sorry to hear the news. Stew was instrumental in myself having a career in this business. I remember one time after having a few drinks, Stew said he thought he could get a cockroach to pace. Knowing his talent, grit and determination I am sure he could. It probably would have been a world-record holder to boot. All of us are going to miss you.
Dear Joanne and family Please
Dear Joanne and family
Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. Stew was someone you could always talk to and get advice he will be greatly missed. May you and your family
treasure all the wonderful memories to help you through this time of sadness.
Thelma
A true horseman if there ever
A true horseman if there ever was one. The days of the Stew Firlotte daily doubles that paid $4.00 at Greenwood, with his always ready to go at first asking, 2 year olds, will always be etched in my memory.
May you rest in peace Mr. Firlotte. My condolences to the family.
So sad to hear of this news
So sad to hear of this news today. Stew and Joanne have not only been good friends for over 30 years but also customers of mine. So many memories of Lexington, Ralph Hanover, the Little Brown Jug and so much more. The boys were just young kids back then, and we all watched them grow up. Stew was an exceptional "colt" man having developed so many great horses during his career. A couple of years ago, after his stroke, he would sit in my shop and just loved to talk to the horsemen. My deepest condolences to Joanne, Brad, Terry and the grandchildren and RIP my friend.
The most memorable,
The most memorable, remarkable race I ever witnessed was Town Pro trained by Stew Firlotte and driven by Doug Brown at the Red Mile. A truly great horse because of a great trainer. Has never been equaled in the last 22 years! Will always remember the wonderful visits with Stew and Joanne.
One of the best of the best -
One of the best of the best - I, too, remember with fondness all of Stew's great ones. I can recall watching Ralph Hanover break his maiden from the 9-hole at Greenwood at 2/5. Seems so long ago.....or just like yesterday all the same. Rest In Peace Stew.
I remember watching many of
I remember watching many of Stew's horse run at Greenwood back in the good old days when harness racing was better then it's ever been. Doug Brown was (is) my favourite driver and he drove all of Stew's horses (with the exception of Ralph Hanover as far as I know) so that was an added bonus. Stew was a trainer (and man) of great integrity and always took the time to chat with us fans leaning on the rail at the old Greenwood track. How I loved and miss those old days. Harness racing will never recapture that. He was a trainer's trainer.The best of the best and they don't make them like Stew anymore. I loved watching Town Pro and Historic and so many others of Stew's great horses. I loved it when Headline Hanover beat She's A Great Lady in the Breeders Crown. It's unfortunate his health did not allow him to continue. I remember years ago Douggie winning a small stakes race I believe at Woodbine with a horse that Stew started out (the horse may have been Cammotion though I could be wrong). Douggie was opening up in the stretch and Frank Salive announced "this one's for you Stew". It was great to see
So long Stew. May you rest peacefully in the loving arms of Our Lord.
It is a sad day, but at the
It is a sad day, but at the same time Stew has suffered much over the past decade. I have so many priceless memories of Stew - dating to 1978, when Brownie won OSS 'A' Events at Greenwood with my mom's Countess Trudy and Stew's Pointsetta. Stew was a success in many roles - as a man, husband, father, horseman, friend, teacher and devout Christian. He once told me "It isn't what you make, Ralph - it's what you keep." Stew gave to so many others, and he keeps a piece of our love and hearts with him now. God Bless you Stew, and provide comfort to Jo, Brad and Terry. Ralph Sucee
My deepest condolences to
My deepest condolences to Joanne and family. Stew was such a great guy, full of life and passion of horses. Sad day today. I will always remember you Stew from Mohawk, Greenwood and Ben White Days.
Drive on Stew you're the best.
Sherri MacDonald-Moase
RIP to one of the good guys.
RIP to one of the good guys. A very sad day for Harness Racing
Our sincere condolences to
Our sincere condolences to Joanne, Brad and Terry. We will all miss Stew, his friendship, his wonderful personality and his love for his family and for life itself. We thank you for the wonderful memories that we will cherish forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Take care of each other. Dale and Connie Baker and family.
Our deepest condolences
Our deepest condolences Jo-anne. Hadn't seen you and Stew for quite some time but always inquired about you via Doug. Stew was a legend that will be missed.
Stew was a long-time family
Stew was a long-time family friend and we will miss him. He was one of the 1st to call me after my stroke in 2006 and provided me with a lot of advice and inspiration on how to deal with my stroke as he was speaking from experience. I know he will be missed by my family and the Standardbred racing community. He was very much an ambassador for our industry. I still recall my son Lee (now Trainer/driver)sitting on Stews lap watching tv in their home in Orlando many years ago. To Jo and the kids please accept our condolences.
Thanks Stew I will miss you and goodbye old friend.
Chuck(Charles), Peggy, Veleta Ibey and our kids.
Condolences to Joanne, Brad
Condolences to Joanne, Brad and Terry from Brian and Gay Webster. Stew trained horses for us for close to 20 years. There were numerous highlights with Programmed, Brees Brief, Town Pro and many others. Stew was an accomplished professional, a worthy Hall of Famer amd a devoted family man. Rest in peace old friend.
Just terrible news to hear.
Just terrible news to hear. Stew was a "superior" Grand Circuit style trainer. Seemed each and every year he had a few top-notch "stake race" performers. I found him to be all class, all the time. Always remember visiting him at Ben White Raceway in Orlando back when he was still training, always a treat to sit and chat with him. To Joanne and the kids, my deepest condolences to you.