Milestone For Stable That God Loves

The final chapter in harness racing’s season-long good news story was written into the record book at season’s end on a lofty note.

Buoyed by the tremendous support of 50 generous owners and the magnificent efforts of their equine warriors on the track, The Stable That God Loves chalked up impressive numbers campaigning and winning at 32 North American racetracks over the 2016 season. Its 81 stable members, including a dozen talented stakes winners and six millionaires, reeled off a record 164 trips down victory lane (39 more than 2015), with 141 seconds, 111 thirds, $5,027,977 in purses and a handsome 0.317 UTRS.

In 2015 The Stable’s 75 horses notched a 125-104-95 record with $5,000,028 in purses and a 0.285 UTRS.

Led by world champion three-year-old pacing phenom Betting Line, and stablemates from the Maritimes, Ontario and the U.S., Stable members kept bombarding the winner's circles with win after win, hiking the Stable’s purse account with each hard fought victory.

Since humble beginnings in 2015, The Stable That God Loves has grown in stature and popularity and been a potent force for good, raising much needed funds to support the important work of the homeless Standardbred Chaplaincy of Canada while attracting major mainstream media attention and putting a good face on harness racing and its participants.

One percent of the Stable’s purse earning is donated to the Chaplaincy, that is dedicated to providing for the human needs of the horse racing workforce in southwestern Ontario.

The largest contributors to The Stable were Uxbridge horseman and philanthropist Norm Clements, and Brampton owner Michael Guerriero. Clements pledged 22 horses, with those Standardbreds posting a 38-36-22 record and $430,469 in purse earnings. Guerriero’s six co-owned campaigners tallied $593,217 from 14 wins, 14 seconds and 11 thirds.

Stable star Betting Line led dash winners with 14 victories, and topped the Stable’s 'Dollar Derby' with $1,698,069 for Christine Calhoun, Ross Warriner, Mac Nichol and Casie Coleman.

(with files from the Standardbred Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada)