Longtime horseman Herb Stewart of Calgary, Alta. passed away on September 11, 2010 at the age of 93

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Herb Stewart packed a lot of firsts into his lifetime. This list for this horseman included participating in the rebirth of Alberta horse racing in 1961, the opening of Cloverdale Raceway in 1976 in B.C. (he was the trainer-driver when Happy Newport set the trotting track record that will stand forever - against Invitational pacers - at Ladner, the preceding B.C. track) and the Ontario openings of Windsor and Mohawk Raceways.

Being born at Cavendish, P.E.I., Herb may have seemed destined for a career in the island's sport of harness racing, but first there was the grave issue of World War II. Herb volunteered into the signal corps with the Seaforth Highlanders at Halifax in 1939. He slogged his way through Italy, including the Battle Of Ortona, before being wounded in 1944. He returned in 1945 with his war bride (the late Lena).

Herb joined Alberta harness racing in 1958, first conditioning a stable for Freeman Lamb and then Forest Wilson. He took Wilson's steeds to Ontario for winter racing and established the pattern he would later continue with his own stable - summer racing in Alberta, winter racing around London and Windsor. Herb campaigned Jahavim, Alberta 1978 Claimer of the Year.

"Dad was mainly known as a good horseman who made a living with cheaper stock," proudly recalls Ray, Herb's son. "A lot of problem horses were quickly labelled 'a horse for Herb'." Ray and his wife, Andrea, were both involved in Alberta harness racing until the recent downturn.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Herb Stewart.