Trot Insider has learned that Byes Knight passed away peacefully last Thursday (September 26) in his paddock at Kilmartin Farms in Glencoe at the age of 29.
Known as the little trotter with the huge heart, Byes Knight's racing career spanned over a decade. He made 428 starts and won 70 of them for career earnings of almost $400,000.
He was unraced at two, but as a three-year-old under the care of trainer Paul Sloan, Byes Knight won two Ontario Sires Stakes races and earned nearly $50,000 racing against the likes of NV Worthy, Natural Image and AJs Speed.
At four, he was claimed by the late Randy Kerr and taken to Windsor, where he took a lifetime mark of 1:58.2 and dominated the preferred trotting ranks for three consecutive years.
Byes Knight changed hands five times after he left the Kerr Stable. Every trainer loved his attitude and every owner more than recouped their investment.
At the age of 14 and entering his final year of racing, Byes Knight was claimed back by Karry Howard, his original groom and co-owner. During that year he raced an amazing 49 times with 18 wins, 12 seconds and 10 thirds. He took 47 cheques and earned in excess of $40,000 in the year before slots came to Ontario.
Both Flamboro and Western Fair held special retirement races for Byes Knight, and, fittingly, he won the Iron Horse of the Year Award at London. He retired 100 per cent sound on New Year's Eve.
"We were called ‘optimists’ when we claimed him that February," remembers Howard. "’Knighter’ and I started in the racing business at the same time and I had followed his career for 10 years. We claimed him back because we wanted to retire him with us on the farm."
Byes Knight spent the first decade of his retirement with the Howards at Karrydale Farm. When the farm was sold he was offered a terrific new home in Glencoe.
He was laid to rest atop a hill in his paddock at Kilmartin Farms draped in the cooler from his final race.
"I want to thank Jack and Betty Ann MacKinnon for the excellent care they gave my boy during his final years," said Howard.
"Rest in peace, Knighter, and thanks for the memories."
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Byes Knight.
Bob, it just seems like
Bob, it just seems like yesterday when you stood beside me in the paddock and said, "Randy is not going to like him!" I suggested you "just leave him here" but to no avail. Something that perhaps you didn't know: A year later, after having established himself as the top trotter at Windsor, Randy brought Byes Knight back to Greenwood to race in the Horsemen's Trot. The little guy had nothing but ones on his program. (He did like racing on the engine.) My husband and I were there, of course, and after the race we offered Randy $80,000 to buy Knight back. It took Randy no time at all to politely decline with the words, "How can I ever replace him?" So off they went back to Windsor and the rest, as they say, was history.
In reply to Bob, it just seems like by karrydalefarm
Yes Karry I do remember that
Yes Karry I do remember that race it was unbearably cold that day Knight raced well and finished third . Randy decided not to race him in the final.We had a good chuckle when I got the track tip sheet ,his comment read "BYES KNIGHT HAS WIN A LOT OF RACES BUT NOT MUCH STOCK" . He just come off a 8 race win streak in the preferred at Windsor ,and yes he never told me about your offer because he knows how sour I would have been .The only time Randy ever sat behind him was to go behind the gate with him so Knight and I had a very special relationship and Karry as you it does feel like yesterday.........
I had the privilege of
I had the privilege of calling many of his 18 wins as a 14-year-old at Flamboro. He was THE story there that year and was a pleasure to watch week in and week out!
Glad to hear the old boy got to enjoy his twilight years at a great home! RIP
29 WOW !!!!I am so glad to
29 WOW !!!!I am so glad to see my little buddy have such a long and happy life.I took care of him for Randy & Cindy Kerr and partner Norm Gosselin .Norm & I went to Greenwood to claim him from Mr Sloan for 50,000 which for the partnership was going all in !!Randy gave me instructions ,if hes a decent size go ahead and claim him ,well when got to the paddock and saw him up close my heart almost stopped he was probably the smallest racehorse i have ever saw . When I got him back to Windsor Randy looked at him in his stall then looked at me shook his head and walked away . His first two starts were disastrous ,it was pretty quit in the barn but after that Randy got a handle on him and the rest was history Knight was the most successful preferred Trotter on the grounds for the next 3 years .Not just that he was also such a kind horse ,the two of us were inseparable . Thank you little buddy for all the memories (all great) and thanks to everybody who made his his life so happy.RIP Knight I will never forget you .....
Byes Knight was the first
Byes Knight was the first horse partly owned by Memory Lane Stables He got me hooked on this crazy game and because Im hooked , along with Dalton, Dwight and Paul may be the reason I cant retire. He was an amazing horse right up to the retirement day at Flamboro Secretariat size HEART. That being said I wouldnt change the past 29 years because I would never have met the incredible people in this industry that I can call friends.Thanks Knighter you made it all happen. Special thanks to Karry and Kilmartin Farms There really is more to this business than purses
In a world filled with tales
In a world filled with tales of bad news, it is refreshing to read a story like this .Congratulations to the generous and thoughtful people who gave this old horse a "heavenly" home on earth .Not hard to see why he made it to 29 !