The Nugent family has announced that Standardbred racehorse and champion road horse S Js Stormtrooper passed away on Feb. 28, 2024 at the age of 21.

This remarkable S Js Photo-Wesgate Freedom gelding, bred by Cedarknoll Racing Stable of Puslinch, Ont., had a solid racing career from age three to seven, earning $94,659 and setting a mark of 1:56.4 at Georgian Downs at age six. His ownership was transferred to road horse exhibitors Lloyd Nugent and his daughter Carolyn in late 2010.

Using the show name 'Storm Trooper,' the classy trotter successfully transitioned to the show ring by winning the Green Roadster Classic, for road horses in their first or second year in the show ring, in 2011 and 2012. Throughout his show career, there were numerous qualifying class wins in both the bike and wagon divisions, whether steered by the late Lloyd Nugent, or his daughter Carolyn. 'Trooper' was also a dominant force in The Royal’s Ladies Road Horse class for both Carolyn Nugent and Kerri Lynn O’Hara in the bike, winning that always competitive class a total of six times.  

'Trooper' won multiple national titles as both a bike horse and a wagon horse, including the 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017 Canadian Bike Championships, before becoming the 2018 Canadian Road Horse to Wagon Champion and concluding his career in November 2023 at the age of 20 by earning a second Canadian Road Horse to Wagon Championship.

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As with so many exhibitors involved in the road horse division, family is vitally important. The Nugent family is the perfect example of that. Until his passing in 2019, Lloyd oversaw training, with Carolyn doing much of the driving. Carolyn added training to her repertoire as she followed with the passion her father passed down to her.

When asked what qualities first attracted the Nugents to 'Storm Trooper,' Carolyn said, “What we saw in 'Trooper' was his beauty all around, a fine head, nice long neck, he trots light-footed like he isn't touching the ground, there is the high knee action even when he walks and lots of spirit. His race trainer, Robert McKenzie Jr., had him well-mannered, so it didn't take us long to bring him along to be a show horse. The thing with 'Trooper' is he had a switch like no other horse we owned, calm at home, in the stall, trailering and getting ready for a class but when you check him up, he switches into full show mode. As my dad would always say, he had motion and presence and that's what we look for in a road horse.”

One of the Nugent family’s favourite memories of showing 'Storm Trooper,' was when he won the Green Roadster Classic in 2011, and later that same week followed it up by being named Reserved Champion Road Horse to Bike against many more experienced horses. 

To have been blessed with a great 12-year show career, concluding at the 2023 Royal Winter Fair and going out a champion was the best and most appropriate gift he could have possibly given his connections.  

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of S Js Stormtrooper.