Robert ‘Bo’ Beauregard, a native of Hudson, Mass., passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 17 at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. He was 53.

He was the husband of Mary Beth Beauregard of Monticello, and the father of John and Steven Beauregard. The family had formerly lived in Plainville, Mass.

Beauregard was born in Hudson on April 13, 1962, a son of Shirley and the late Richard G. Beauregard, who had served the Town of Hudson as selectman and in other capacities for nearly three decades. He was a 1980 graduate of Hudson High School.

Shortly after high school, Bo went to work for the immortal Billy Haughton Stable at Pompano Park. After returning home he then began a highly successful career as owner and trainer of harness horses in Maine in the early 1980s. He later moved his racing operation to Foxboro Raceway in Massachusetts. The Beauregard Stable was perennially among the top barns at Scarborough Downs and Plainridge Racecourse throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Over the past four decades horses trained by Beauregard raced at tracks throughout New England, as well as in New York, New Jersey and Ohio. His lifetime numbers in the sport reflect his success as a trainer. Beauregard’s horses notched 4,976 starts, posted 933 wins, 764 seconds and 671 thirds. Total purse money earned was $2.45 million.

The first notable horse Beauregard trained was Native Dancer, a top-class mare who campaigned successfully at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. (A colt out of Native Dancer, Dancers Legacy, raced in the vaunted Meadowlands Pace.) Another horse, One Awesome Master, was a stakes trotter he raced in Ohio and New York; the colt equalled the track record at Delaware Ohio Fairgrounds in 2008. Other notable horses trained by Beauregard included Lu Lu Spur, an open mare who raced competitively at Plainridge Racecourse for four consecutive years; and Hogies Cam, who won 21 races in 2008 at Monticello Raceway, one shy of the track record. Hogies Cam also set a record that year with 10 consecutive victories.

Beauregard was a supporter of his sons’ academic, athletic and creative endeavours. He was known for his outsized sense of humour and love of stories and jokes. A friend to all who knew him, he could always be counted on when someone was in need of a favour or helping hand. He famously played Santa at racetrack parties.

He was a member of the United States Trotting Association and Monticello Harness Horsemen Association, where he held a seat as a director. He was a past member of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and New England Harness Horsemen’s Association.

In addition to his mother, wife and sons, Beauregard is survived by a brother, Richard D. Beauregard of Norwich, Conn.; two sisters, Linda Beauregard Colaluca of Maynard, Mass. and Holly Mathews of Hudson, Mass. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Beauregard was much beloved by his wife’s family, including the matriarch, Anne Winters, of Foxboro, Mass; and Michael Winters and his wife, Erin, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; John Winters and his wife, Karen, of Raynham, Mass.; Susan Mastrodomenico and her husband, Wayne, of Middleboro, Mass.; Annmarie Mancini and John Mattero of Florida and Massachusetts; and Gail and Gerald White of Attleboro, Mass.; as well as several more nieces and nephews.

Beauregard would have been happy to know his kidneys were donated to help others through LiveOnNY.

Calling hours will be held Monday from 5 – 8 pm, at Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson, Mass. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday at St. Michael’s Parish, 21 Manning St., Hudson, Mass. Burial will follow at Forestvale Cemetery in Hudson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a fund established to help Mr. Beauregard’s children. Please click here to donate.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Robert ‘Bo’ Beauregard.

(Plainridge Racecourse)