Railee Possible, the fastest Florida-bred trotter ever, was euthanized on Thursday, September 4 due to complications resulting from bone deterioration.

The six year-old gelded son of Anythings Possible had recently taken his lifetime marks on both a five-eighths mile track (1:52.3) and mile track (1:52.2) en route to career earnings of $386,807 and 33 lifetime wins.

Bred by Jim Gluhm, Railee Possible was owned by Frank and Inge Smith during his entire racing career.

Railee Possible's career began rather inconspicuously in 2004 when, at age two, the "skittish" trotter was winless in nine starts but still won $18,436, principally on the strength of a second place finish in the $60,295 Florida Breeders Stake at Pompano Park for driver Brian Sears.

But the under the expert guidance of trainer Veral Bowman, Railee Possible settled down and recorded eight wins in 16 starts as a three-year-old, taking a mark of 1:56.2 for Wally Hennessey in the $61,232 Florida Breeders Stake for sophomore trotting colts and geldings. He wound up with a 2005 bankroll of $57,898, despite the first signs of ankle problems and subsequent bone deterioration.

But the game trotter rolled onward, scoring five wins and lowering his mark as a four-year-old to 1:55.2 for Tom Sells and, in 2007 as a five-year-old, to 1:54.2 for Dan Clements while winning 13 times and $111,960.

In March of 2008, after winning in the top class at Pompano Park, Railee Possible was shipped up north under the direction of Mark Silva.

In early May, the six-year-old took a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1 for Brian Sears over a 'sloppy' track at the Meadowlands Racetrack, lowered that to 1:52.3 at Chester Downs for Daniel Dube and, finally, garnered his 1:52.2 record, again for Sears, at The Big M in early June.

Altogether, Railee Possible had won seven of 20 starts in 2008, good for $156,375.

After being turned out for a well deserved rest, Railee Possible's bone condition worsened to the point that veterinarians deemed the situation hopeless and the game gelding was euthanized.

"Railee Possible was just an amazing horse," said Frank Smith. "Gentle, game beyond words...absolutely amazing. Everyone should be lucky enough in this business to be blessed with one like he was. As heartbreaking as this is, we, at least, have memories to last us a lifetime."

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Railee Possible.

(Pompano Park)