The final chapter in harness racing’s season-long, good news story -- The Stable That God Loves -- was written into the record book at season’s end on a spectacular high note.
Named one of the Newsmakers of the Year by Trot Magazine and one of the 15 best stories in harness racing in 2015 by Harness Racing Update, the Stable That God Loves rolled up huge numbers. The 75-horse stable (including 15 stakes winners) notched an impressive 125 wins, 104 seconds, 95 thirds and $4.9 million in purse earnings campaigning at 32 racetracks in North America.
The Stable That God Loves involved horsemen donating one per cent of their horses’ 2015 purse earnings to the important work of the homeless Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada, that is dedicated to providing for the human needs of the horse racing workforce in southwestern Ontario.
Late in the racing season when it appeared The Stable would fall short of attaining its goal of $50,000 for the Standardbred Chaplaincy, Caledon East, Ont. horseman Garth Bechtel graciously made up the difference.
From the outset in February 2015, the popular fundraising program grew in stature and popularity and was an on-going good news story throughout the entire racing season that accomplished its objectives and goals and put a good face on harness racing. It was enthusiastically embraced by horsemen, and quickly attracted mainstream media attention, drawing important national television coverage and generous exposure in major daily newspapers, national magazines and key racing websites. It was talked about on social media, and race announcers added the spark that quickly propelled the program forward.
The program also attracted the attention of industry leaders in the U.S.
The very first win for The Stable was recorded on March 6th at Woodbine Racetrack by Machnbyrd Princess owned by Canamerica Capital Corp and Hyatt Holdings Inc., and now owned by Garth Bechtel.
Its Payday Friday, from Norm Clements’ Uxbridge barn, notched victory No. 125, the final win of the 2015 season for The Stable, at Florida’s Pompano Park on December 29.
Some of the heavy hitters in The Stable in 2015 included Madefromlucky ($900,700), the lone Thoroughbred in the program, co-owned by Erin, Ontario’s Mac Nichol and Cheyenne Stables; John Fielding’s Shake It Cerry ($446,931); John Craig’s Luck Be Withyou ($427,320); Doug Millard’s Elegant Serenity ($425,652); Nvestment Bluechip ($367,153) co-owned by Michael Guerriero and partners, and Dustin Jones’ and Greg Judson’s Dont Rush ($296,683).
Chris Christoforou, a perennial top reinsman on the Mohawk-Woodbine circuit who was sidelined for part of the season with a broken collarbone sustained in a driving accident at Mohawk Racetrack in July, donated a portion of his driving fees in the Ontario Sires Stakes to The Stable.
Not to be outdone by her male counterparts, Clinton, Ontario horsewoman Natalie Elliott rode her Thor Seelster to multiple wins under saddle for The Stable.
Stables large and small named their pacers and trotters to God’s Stable. Some horsemen pledged their entire outfits, a gesture that spoke volumes for the tremendous support of the program.
Uxbridge, Ont., horseman Norm Clements, was the largest contributor to The Stable with 12, and Michael Guerriero of Puslinch, Ont. pledged nine of his co-owned colourbearers.
Midway through the 2015 racing season, Chaplaincy president Scott Forbes said the organization would not have been able to go forward with its programs without the financial support of The Stable That God Loves. Unlike the Thoroughbred Chaplaincy that is partially funded by the horsemen’s association (HBPA), the Standardbred Chaplaincy survives on private donations and proceeds from its annual golf tournament.
Stall applications are already pouring in for God’s Stable in 2016. Dustin Jones, Martin Lachance, Dr. Roly Armitage and Norm Clements colourbearers, who campaigned in God’s Stable in 2015, have named their new and existing hopefuls for the upcoming racing season. Martin Lachance, whose two-year-old trotting colt Tango Star was a Stable member in 2015, applied for stalls for three upcoming two-year-olds for the 2016 campaign. Asked why he hastened to enroll his new pupils in the Stable That God Loves for the 2016 campaign, the Guelph, Ontario horseman was quick to point out that he knows what it is like to go through tough times, and it is gratifying to see what the Chaplaincy does to support the less fortunate who need help when tough times arise.
Steve Calhoun, co-owner of the fleet Reverend Hanover with Anthony Beaton and the West Wins Stable, has indicated that the classy pacer will be back from his Florida vacation in April to again join God's Stable. The Casie Coleman-trained Reverend Hanover, who banked $289,263 in his abbreviated 2015 campaign, registered important win No. 100 for The Stable in the $250,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old pacers.
Stall applications for the upcoming 2016 season should be directed to Ken Middleton ([email protected]), or Norm Clements ([email protected]). For additional information, contact Bill Galvin ([email protected]).
(with files from the Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada)