Monique MacLean of Caledon, Ont., just became involved in harness horse ownership thanks to the Win A Share in a Racehorse promotion sponsored by the Ontario Sires Stakes in conjunction with the London Selected Yearling Sale. Monique has won the Grand Prize which is one share in Landmark 12 Stable, valued at $2,000.

Monique’s initial introduction to standardbreds and racing was over four decades ago.

“The first time I went to a horse race was when I started dating my husband, Brent, 44 years ago,” explained Monique. “His dad, Ken, was racing horses. Brent helped with the training and I followed along. I’m a little bit afraid of horses, but I really like them and enjoy watching them race. I’m more into the beauty of them and my husband’s big on the statistics.”

“Every time Brent’s dad raced, we would go to the races – Owen Sound, Orangeville, London, Goderich. His farm was just outside of Port Elgin. I actually jogged one horse, Conray Ira, but he was a big, giant baby.”

Despite their close ties to the racing industry, the pair never ended up owning a standardbred. “My husband always talked about buying one, but we never did.”
Monique and Brent are members of Standardbred Canada’s I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club and make twice monthly trips to the races – either Mohawk or Grand River.

They took part in the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s World Driving Championship Bus Tour to the US in 2011 to cheer on Canada’s Jody Jamieson to victory. While on the tour, they met a couple who were involved as fractional owners which piqued their interest.

Fast forward to September 2018 and Monique and Brent found themselves taking part in the Horse Ownership Workshop at Woodbine Mohawk Park on September 15.

“It was Brent’s idea to go to the seminar,” explained Monique, “The first thing he does in the morning is go on standardbredcanada.ca to check the race results.”

Monique and Brent are both retired and Monique helps with her granddaughter, Ariana, who will be thrilled to find out about her Grandma’s prize. “She’ll be over the moon; she loves horses.”

Monique is looking forward to cheering for her horses and if all goes well, that could happen as early as next spring as Landmark 12 currently has four yearlings in their syndicate.

MacLean’s ballot was drawn from all of the entries in the contest and her share in LandMark 12 Stable includes partial ownership in three Ontario-sired yearlings including Bellini Seelster, a Mach Three pacing filly, Moana, a Muscle Mass trotting filly, and Rhett Seelster, a Sportswriter pacing colt.

Rhett Seelster (second from left)

LandMark 12 Stable also includes Cute Accountant, who was purchased in Kentucky at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

“We are really looking forward to following along; it’s much more fun when you know the horses in the race.”

Congratulations Monique and best of luck with LandMark 12!