One of the most beloved pacing horses in Canadian harness racing history, On The Road Again was foaled on this day 35 years ago -- March 14, 1981.
A son of Happy Motoring from the Bye Bye Byrd dam Bye Bye Mollie, On The Road Again was primarily owned by Albertans Gordon & Illa Rumpel. Rumpel, a retired automobile dealer from Calgary, drove almost naively into heady success when he bought On The Road Again for $10,000, a purchase that saw the Rumpels become owners of the horse that would become (at the time of his retirement) the richest pacer in harness racing history.
On The Road Again, or 'OTRA' as he was known to a legion of fans, enjoyed an illustrious career, winning over $2.8 million and was voted Canada's 'Horse of the Year' for 1984 and 1985. The United States Trotting Association and the Canadian Trotting Association also voted him 'Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt' of 1984 and 'Aged Pacing Horse' of 1985.
Rumpel bought On The Road Again on a wing and a prayer. He went to a mixed sale at The Meadowlands prepared to buy a mare that was later withdrawn. Rumpel then bought two aged pacers and a weanling -- On The Road Again. He then turned him over to Harry Poulton to train and manage.
“I always loved chestnuts, and 'Road' didn’t have any white feet. Trainers don’t like white feet. I was naïve. And I thought I would get him cheap because of the kind of sale he was in,” said Rumpel.
At two, he won four of five starts, including the final and two legs of a series at Calgary's Stampede Park. During his sophomore year in 1984, On The Road Again won 18 of 26 races and $1.7 million in purse money. With Buddy Gilmour driving in most events, his wins included the Meadowlands Pace, Cane Pace final and elimination, Confederation Cup, Western Canada Pacing Derby, New Jersey Classic final and elimination, final and three legs of the Shelly Goudreau Memorial Series, Provincial Cup at Windsor Raceway, Lucky Strikes Pace and eliminations of the Prix d'Ete and Windy City Pace. He was also second in the American-National Stakes, Windy City Pace final, Meadowlands Pace elimination and Oliver Wendell Holmes Pace elimination and third in the Holmes Pace final.
In the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, he left from a second tier trailing post position and had to weave his way through traffic to get up for a neck victory in a season's best 1:53.3.
On The Road Again won 22 of 30 stars and over $1 million as a four-year-old in 1985. His wins included Canada's most prestigious event for aged pacers, the Canadian Pacing Derby, final and two legs of the World Cup Championship, two legs of the U.S. Pacing Championship, Mohawk Gold Cup, Stewart Fraser Memorial, Blue Bonnets Challenge Pace, leg of the Graduate Series, final and two legs of the George Morton Levy Series, Chesapeake Pace and final and leg of the Yonkers Fall Championship. He added a second in the R. Bruce Cornell Memorial and a third in the Breeders Crown. A model of consistency, On The Road Again finished back of third only once while winning 22 of 30 races.
In the World Cup Pacing Championship, he raced at three different distances over three weeks and was the only horse ever to win all three. Gilmour described On The Road Again as "the best horse I ever drove. He's the gamest, toughest, and most durable horse I've ever sat behind and I've driven my share of good horses."
On The Road Again concluded his racing career at the end of 1985 with 44 wins in 61 career starts at 16 racetracks. Retired to stud at Blue Chip Farms in New York, On The Road Again sired 1,341 foals, including the winners of $71.9 million. His offspring include 228 with marks of 1:55 or faster and 207 winners of $100,000 or more, including the millionaires Delinquent Account and Hosit The Colors, as well as highly-regarded stakes performers Silent Spring, Sara Loren Rd, C K S, Road Machine, Thatll Be Me and Shipps Schnoops. On The Road Again's daughters have produced 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue as well as stallions the likes of Four Starzzz Shark and Artiscape.
On The Road Again passed away in 2006. A selection of photos from his impeccable racing career follows.
Connections of On The Road Again in the winner's circle following the 1985 Canadian Pacing Derby. Presenting at right was Canadian Olympic boxer Shawn O'Sullivan
On The Road Again gets the traditional Calgary White Hat ceremony from Mayor Ralph Klein at a special exhibition performance at Stampede Park
On The Road Again and Buddy Gilmour (12) winning the 1985 Meadowlands Pace
A signed handout of On The Road Again and Buddy Gilmour, shown winning the 1985 Stewart Fraser Memorial at Northlands Park
A track record equaling performance for On The Road Again in 1985 George Morton Levy Pacing Series Final at Roosevelt Raceway
(with files from The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)
Was there in Edmonton for
Was there in Edmonton for that race, and the Breeders Crown which he lost. He always looked so good on the track!!!