Silent Swing Retired

Trot Insider has learned that pacer Silent Swing, one of the toughest and most consistent competitors over the last decade, has been retired.

Owned by Campbellville's David Shea and trainer Mark Ford, Silent Swing raced nearly 300 times over his 11-year career. He won 77 races, finished second or third on 73 occasions, and banked more than $2.2 million for his connections. The decision was made on Tuesday morning.

"He was a warrior, a tough, tough horse," said Shea. "It's disappointing to think you'll never own another horse like him. It was just so much fun."

Silent Swing may stir most memories for his exploits as an older racehorse, but he was by no means a late bloomer. Developed by Jack Darling, the son of Northern Luck - She Cantsay No was a stakes winner at both two and three. In fact, Silent Swing's biggest payday came as a two-year-old in winning the $244,131 Canadian Breeders Championship in 2004. Silent Swing's biggest sophomore score came in the Clearwater Cup at Hiawatha Horse Park, winning his elim and the $165,000 final.

At the age of four, Silent Swing moved into the stable of trainer Jean Louis Arsenault. It would be with Arsenault that Silent Swing raced for six seasons (2006 - 2011) and continue to add to his win total. A five-race win streak in 2007 included wins in the elimination and final of the Gold Cup & Saucer at Charlottetown Driving Park.

"The best thing that horse ever did for us was winning the Gold Cup & Saucer," noted Shea. "That was absolutely the most memorable. My partner at the time was Reg Petitpas and we both thought the Gold Cup & Saucer was a very special race to win. We celebrated accordingly."

Silent Swing kept that streak rolling from the Maritimes into Ontario, capturing a Preferred and Open Pace at Mohawk before heading stateside to win the Winbak Pace at Delaware County Fair over Eagle Luck, Mister Big and Maltese Artist.

"One that stands out most for me would be the Winbak, that was an awesome race," Shea told Trot Insider. "Just watching him every Saturday night from the patio at Mohawk was pretty special."

Silent Swing and Phil Hudon open up daylight on the field in the 2007 Winbak Pace (SC/Mike Hamilton Photo)

Shea also fondly recalls a race at Mohawk from 2007 in which Silent Swing made a break at the start, spotted the field at least 18 lengths, and then circled the field to win by a quarter-length.

In 2008, Silent Swing won the first of his back-to-back Des Smith Classics at Rideau Carleton and came within a half-length of Mister Big in the $600,000 William Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands.

At the age of nine in 2011, Ford bought into Silent Swing and took over the training duties. Silent Swing showed no signs of age, winning 10 races while taking his lifetime mark of 1:48.4. That campaign was followed by a 13-win season as a 10-year-old -- a campaign in which he won Aged Pacer of the year honours at Saratoga. He was a multiple-Open class winner at Yonkers, surpassing the $2 million mark in earnings at the New York half-miler in November 2012. And in 2013, Silent Swing even tackled the top class at The Meadowlands as an 11-year-old, winning in 1:50.4.

During his standout career, Silent Swing also set track records at Charlottetown (1:51.1h) and Grand River Raceway (1:51.4h). Shea joked that Silent Swing might be the best elimination horse ever, having wins in numerous stakes elims throughout his racelines.

"He's in the top four or five horses I've ever had," said Ford. "He was a phenomenal horse, making more than $600,000 after the of nine...and only in overnights. What I wouldn't have done to have him as a young horse!"

Ford noted that Silent Swing is now turned out with another iron tough open competitor, Gallo Blue Chip, and feels that his manners would make him an excellent riding horse with on-track career now concluded.