Lloyd Smith Passes

Longtime Ontario harness racing executive and participant Lloyd Smith passed away on Thursday, September 5.

Lloyd defied the odds and battled terminal cancer and Parkinson's with his tenacious optimism and love of life to outlive his prognosis by four years. Everyone who knew Lloyd knew he loved life and like to "sleep fast" and enjoy every day. Lloyd accomplished so much. People described him as "a force to be reckoned with" and "larger than life."

Lloyd (Rouge, Smitty) was born in Belwood, the youngest in Roland and Sadie's large family (sisters Marian, Pearl, Willa and Helen, brothers Robert and Gordon). Lloyd attended school in Fergus, where he was active in sports. It was there that he met and married Joy Sharer. Lloyd was recruited to the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse team that won the Minto Cup in 1952 while employed to work on the Avro Arrow. Lloyd and Joy lived in Brampton with their three children, Peter, Pam, and Susan (Bruce) where Lloyd became a property developer and proprietor of the Thunderbird Hotel.

After selling the hotel, Lloyd and his son enjoyed success in the horse racing industry with Lloyd and Peter Smith Stables. Lloyd was very involved in the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) as a Director for 20 years, President from 1985 to 1990, Vice President and Member of the Executive. He was active on the Ontario Sire Stakes Committee, Pension Committee, Ontario Jockey Club Benevolent Fund, and the Ontario Racing Commission Rules Committee. The family was very proud to share in the standing ovation when Lloyd was honoured with the OHHA Les Erlick Award in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding commitment and dedication to the harness horse racing industry.

Lloyd was community-minded and a key organizer with Mohawk Charity Committee, Milton Hospital and Fire Department, Toronto General Hospital Equipment Fund, and in support of the victims of the tragic Barn 3 Fire at Mohawk Racetrack.

Lloyd was very family-oriented, and family to him included his wide circle of friends. He was extraordinarily generous, there to help everyone without being asked, and always without the need for any recognition. He enjoyed social events and went by the "more the merrier" approach to life. Lloyd loved his children and his many grandchildren (Michael, Jennifer Joy, Gabe, Tasia, Matthew, Nicki, Colin, Sydney, Eden, Alix and Ryan, Aden, Nate, and Micah).

Lloyd was devastated by Joy's sudden death in 1979, but he was fortunate to have a second 'lease on life' when he fell in love with his second wife Helen Barr (nee Donley) a year later. Helen brought two more children, Alanna and Christopher (Batia), into Lloyd 's life. Helen and Lloyd loved to travel and party with friends and spend cold months in Florida. Helen has been his love and his rock and provided the loving care that supported Lloyd to stay in his home right up to the end. He would still consider his death as untimely as he planned to live another 20 years, while acknowledging he would have died years ago without Helen's loving care.

Prior to their move from Toronto to Cambridge, Lloyd was the proprietor of Boomer's Bar and Grill in Scarborough where he further honed his pool playing skills that helped fund his early dates in high school.

Lloyd's dynamic personality meant that he was loved by all who knew him and he will be sorely missed. Lloyd was one of the funniest people that his friends and family knew and the most affectionate.

Celebration of Lloyd's life will be held on Sunday, September 8 at Coutts Funeral Home, 96 St. Andrew's Street, Galt (Cambridge). Visitation at 1 p.m. Service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princess Margaret Hospital or the Parkinson's Society.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Lloyd Smith.