One of the Maritimes' top older pacers, 2013 Governor's Plate winner Wild Dragon, has passed away after suffering a heart attack.

The six-year-old son of Dragon Again - Wild Helen was wintering in Ontario for owners Darren & Jennifer Trainor of Vernon River, P.E.I. and just started preparing for a return to racing. Darren told Trot Insider that Wild Dragon was out for a slow jogging mile when the tragic incident occurred.

"He was our first good horse and a pet to us," said Trainor. "I actually turned down an offer from the Burke Stable for him; we'd never had a horse that good before."

Trainor privately purchased Wild Dragon in April 2013. When he hit the Maritimes, he went on a three-race win streak including a placed-first finish in Summerside's Governor's Plate final.

Trainor thanked Randy Van Meer for "giving Wild Dragon the best care you could give a horse" while stabled in Ontario.

Wild Dragon won 21 lifetime starts and banked more than $240,000 while taking a speed badge of 1:51.3 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Wild Dragon.