It is with great sadness that the family of Gary George ‘Steamer’ Smith announces that Gary passed away on Thursday, October 6 while on a business trip to Chicago. Visitation will be Friday, October 14 and a funeral will take place on Saturday, October 15.

Devoted husband and best friend of Sandra (nee Weadick). Loving father of his six children; Kelly Bowers (Paul), Dan Smith (Becky), Gordon Smith (Nancy), Allan Smith (Kathy), Lindsay Smith (Jonathan Greig), and Brydan Smith and always ‘Pops’ to Tommy Olston. Caring grandpa of Dana Bowers (Jeff MacNeil), Kathlyn Bowers, Zachary Smith, Samantha Smith, Stella Smith, Mikayla Thomas, Georgia Smith and Mytchel Smith, and great-grandpa of Nora MacNeil and Sylas MacNeil. Dear brother of Bob Smith (Glenda) and Sharon Carubba (Gus) and their families. He will be sadly missed by all his family, numerous friends and colleagues.

Gary's passion for many years has been his Standardbred horses. He loved the animals and the people and liked nothing better than to be there in person at a farm to check in or the track to watch the races in person. Gary has owned and part-owned many different horses over the decades which raced in Ontario, eastern Canada and in the USA.

One of his first horses was the well-known Queen Of Jewels, who did very well for them. This past January, Gary suffered shock and sorrow when his two-year-old filly, nicknamed ‘Rosie,’ was the youngest horse killed in the tragic barn fire at Classy Lane Stables.

The photo below shows one of their earlier wins with Queen Connie in 2005 at Mohawk Racetrack. In the near future, a longer tribute will be written about Gary Smith with more details.

Visitation will be held at SMITH'S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW), Burlington, 905-632-3333, on Friday, October 14 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the chapel on Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. Burial to take place at Burlington Memorial Gardens on Guelph Line. If desired, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be sincerely appreciated by the family

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Gary Smith.