“Marv has given so much to the harness racing industry over the years and has always been willing to do anything to help anyone. But his compassion extends far beyond racing.”

Marv Chantler has enjoyed his share of success during nearly five decades in harness racing, but equally rewarding is the satisfaction he receives from helping others.

Chantler is the past president and current vice president of the Board of Directors of Matthews House Hospice in Alliston, Ontario, and assists the charity organization with fundraising and strategic planning. Matthews House Hospice is dedicated to helping its clients live life fully everyday by offering free volunteer-based services in home, in the residential hospice and throughout the community.

Matthews House Hospice, which assisted approximately 600 people last year, has an annual operating budget of roughly $850,000, but receives minimal government financial aid. The community hospice provides a variety of services including bereavement counseling, caring seminars, care-giver support, and wellness programs. The residential hospice, which has four beds, provides 24/7 end of life nursing care.

“We work hard all our life and there comes a time when it’s time to give back,” the soon-to-be 68-year-old Chantler said. “My basic job is fundraising or politicking or lobbying the provincial government for support, and doing long-term planning for building a permanent 10-bed hospice on property that has been donated to us in downtown Alliston.

“Probably what makes me feel best is helping people who need help at a time in their lives when the stress level is high. We have about 200 volunteers who work for us, giving about 18,000 hours a year of free service to our community and to our health system.”

For his efforts, Chantler has been named the 2015 recipient of the January Davies Humanitarian Award presented by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. The award was created in 2008 by U.S. Harness Writers Association member Callie Davies-Gooch in memory of her daughter to recognize contributions beyond harness racing.

“Marv has given so much to the harness racing industry over the years and has always been willing to do anything to help anyone,” Davies-Gooch said. “But his compassion extends far beyond racing. He is a great example of humanitarianism and when his name came before our board we felt he was the perfect choice for this award.”

Chantler followed his father, Dewitt ‘Dee’ Chantler, into harness racing. The Chantlers were neighbors with the Hon. W. Earl Rowe, who was Ontario’s lieutenant governor at the time but also a well-known and respected horseman, which provided their impetus to get into racing.

After a brief stint as a trainer and driver, Marv turned to the administrative side of the sport and served as the race secretary at Barrie Raceway, which was built by the Rowe family. After several years, Chantler returned to selling heavy construction equipment and owning harness racing horses.

In 1981, Chantler started Mardon Stables in Loretto, Ont. Since then, he has enjoyed relationships with many notable trainers, including Ben Wallace, Paul Doherty and Ray Schnittker, Bruce MacDonald, and Bob McIntosh. Among Chantler’s best horses have been 1997 O’Brien Award winning filly pacer Armbro Rosebud, world champion Card Trick Hanover, and Armbro Acquire.

He also is among the owners of 2015 Ontario Sires Stakes champion Tony Soprano, who is a finalist for the O’Brien Award for two-year-old male trotters.

In addition to owning horses, Chantler was among the founders of Georgian Downs and is a minor stakeholder in the New Meadowlands Racetrack. He also has served on several boards for the Ontario Racing Commission.

Chantler served three years as president of the board of Matthews House Hospice and was named vice president when his term expired. He devotes approximately 140 hours of his time per month to Matthews House Hospice.

“I think everybody is sick and tired of me being on the website or Facebook asking for people to send money,” said a laughing Chantler. “We bust our butts (to get funding). We have a very, very caring community, thank goodness, and both individuals and corporations are quite good to us. Otherwise I think MHH wouldn’t be able to get it done.”

(United States Harness Writers Association)