Susan Laden, a prominent horse owner of champions in the 1980s, passed away on Friday, March 7 after a short illness at Englewood Health Care in New Jersey, not far from where she resided. She was 80.

During the 1980s, Ms. Laden, a petite blond, was a striking presence in winner’s circles, especially at The Meadowlands. She owned many notable horses throughout the years, primarily racing as North Woodland Stables, including: Central Park West p,2,1:53.3f ($534,863), a world champion, Breeders Crown winner and the U.S. Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year; JEFs Spice 3,1:55.2 ($951,469), a Breeders Crown winner at ages two and three; Supergill 3,1:53.3 ($664,194), winner of the 1987 Peter Haughton Memorial Trot and early season favourite for the Hambletonian; Keyser Lobell 2,1:58 ($610,965), winner of the 1988 Peter Haughton Memorial Trot; Start The Fire p,1:52.1 ($542,276), a multiple stakes winner and one of her favourites; CPW p,4,1:49.1 ($657,414), a multiple stakes winner and a son of Central Park West; Threefold p,3,1:51.1 ($643,004), a major stakes winner; Big Brat p,2,1:53.1 ($402,177), also a major stakes winner and a favourite; Nuklear Weapon p,3,T1:53.3 ($271,435), a stakes winner and one of her first yearling purchases; Nuke Of Earl p,4,1:52.1 ($404,532); Third Straight p,3,1:50.1f ($321,662); and Omen Hanover p,1:50.4f ($1,086,809), a stakes winner, now a successful broodmare and also a favourite.

Ms. Laden’s horses were primarily trained by Bob Bencal, Bruce Nickells, Ray Remmen, Mark Loewe, Doug Miller and Kevin McDermott. In 1987, just two years after she bought her first Standardbred racehorse, she owned two starters in the rich Woodrow Wilson Pace for two-year-old colts, Kingston and Threefold, who each won their elimination races.

“I really liked horse racing, but I didn’t like going and watching other people’s horses,” Ms. Laden told racing writer Mike Farrell of The Record in New Jersey. “I’ve got a business of my own and I’m independent. I thought I would give it a shot.”

Ms. Laden’s business was a successful flea market that she established in Union City, New Jersey. Ms. Laden’s approach to harness racing was hands on as she studied pedigrees in sales catalogues and then went to the yearling sales to personally inspect the horses she liked on paper.

In addition to her great enthusiasm for horses and harness racing, Ms. Laden bred and showed pedigreed dogs and was passionate about her own Grand Champion Golden Retrievers. She also continued to own a small interest in racing Standardbreds.

Ms. Laden is survived by sons Eric Haber (Stacey) and Paul (Elena), and grandchildren Ashley, Matthew, Max, Sasha, Ellie, Evan and Olivia.

A funeral service was conducted on March 9 with a private burial on March 10.  The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the National Kidney Foundation.

Please joing Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Susan Laden.