Burning Point and Invitro, two standardbred pacing mares with combined earnings of over $5 million, along with a filly that won the Queen’s Plate and the Woodbine Oaks in 2002, headlined this year’s class of inductees into Canada’s Horse Racing Hall of Fame
tonight in a ceremony at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
Standardbred electors were unable to separate the greatness of Burning Point and Invitro, as both mares gained admission in the Female category. Burning Point, winner of O’Brien and Dan Patch awards, earned $3.1 million during her six-year career for the Cuzzins Stable of Delray Beach, Fla. She was bred by Fred Drouillard of Windsor, Ont.
"Nobody knows who I am and that's a good thing because this is all about the horse,” said Burning Point’s owner Shelby Novick. “My talent is limited to writing a cheque.”
“I would like to thank Mr. Fred Drouillard, the breeder and first conditioner,” he added. “He did all the work. He did a fabulous job. Some people would say he was crazy for selling her to me but that's what he does. We have a good relationship. I haven't seen him in four or five years until tonight and I just want to thank Fred for everything he did."
Novick, who also thanked Burning Point's trainers Kevin Wallis and Steve Elliott added, “Burning Point is alive and well. She is living in Pennsylvania. She has three on the ground and one in the belly."
Invitro, bred by Gord Irwin of Cobourg, Ont. and Murray Ross of Norwood, Ont., retired in 2008 with earnings of over $2.3 million from 35 lifetime wins. She posted a lifetime best 1:50 clocking at Woodbine Racetrack.
"This is a great thrill for me,” said owner/trainer/breeder Gord Irwin. “As Paul MacDonell and I always said, she's the one that made it happen. We were just along for the ride.
“When Invitro came along it was awful nice for the family to come along,” he added. “She brought the family into racing and that's why they're here tonight. Having them with me is the most important thing. The one special thing about Invitro I'm very proud of - she's a true Canadian. She was raised on the farm. I trained her, Paul drove her. She only raced out away from home once. She's a true Canadian. I have a very, very special thank you for Paul MacDonell. I've been with him for many years and I trust him with my horses. There is no award bigger than this one.”
Wesgate Crown dominated the Male Horse voting for the Simmonds brothers, Paul and John, of Toronto, Ont. Wesgate Crown enjoyed success both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. He won the Dan Patch and O’Brien Award as champion two-year-old trotting colt in 1993. The flashy trotter went on to capture numerous major trotting races both in North America and Europe, including two Breeders Crowns, while amassing $2.5 million in earnings. His foals have earned over $15 million.
“We feel very honoured to be inducted, the greatest honour he's had to date,” said owner Paul Simmonds. “The person most responsible for his induction is Raz MacKenzie. Wesgate Crown was the first horse he and my brother bred.
“In February of his two-year-old year, Raz said this is a special horse,” he added. “We'll win the Haughton. And we did. He went on to win the Valley Victory and the Breeders Crown. We retired him after his three-year-old year, then brought him back at four. He came back and won races in Europe and set a world record at six. It was an amazing experience. I thank Raz for an incredible journey. I haven't had horses with any other trainer and I wouldn't use anyone else.”
In the Veterans category Silver Reign, who ruled the pacing scene in the late 1980s before her successful broodmare career, was owned by Eugene Forbes.
"I was sitting beside my dad when he received the phone call that Silver Reign was going to be inducted, and he was very proud, honoured and humbled," said Forbes' daughter, Laurie Oliver. "I'd like to thank trainer Bud Fritz, assistant trainer Allan Zettler and groom Steve Elliott. Silver Reign was truly remarkable and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you."
Steve Condren has put together three decades of remarkable performances while winning more than 6,600 races for earnings of over $109 million to capture the Driver/Trainer category. He’s an O’Brien Award winner and also winner of the North America Cup with Goalie Jeff.
“You always feel after every great moment that nothing can top it,” said Condren. “For me, that moment came many years ago with my first win at Orangeville Raceway. When I won the O’Brien Award, I thought nothing could top that until this year. This is the top honour and I feel right now that nothing can ever top this. I owe a whole world of gratitude to my family. I'm in awe to be in this elite company and humbled to be accepting this honour.”
In the Builder category Robert Burgess, a renowned breeder and owner for more than four decades, is best known for introducing the great trotting sire Balanced Image at his Cantario Farms. His other outstanding horses include millionaires Frugal Gourmet, Amity Chef, Real Desire, Amigo Hall and Glidemaster.
“I'm very proud and extend congrats to all nominees, especially to Steve [Condren],” said Burgess. “And I would like to thank Charlie Juravinski for finishing second to me this year”, joked Burgess.
“I'm blessed with a large family, many of whom have indulged with me in standardbreds especially Blair, Karin and my late wife Vera. When Blair opened his stable in 1985, we went to Florida with nine yearlings. Amity Chef was the only one of the nine that made it. Bill Rapson was with us then, he's still with us now. I've dabbled in all sides of the business and I'm gratified to act as the council in the formation of the OSS in 1972. I believe that in Ontario we're becoming far too parochial. I believe free trade and competition works best in racing. Despite my concerns, I look forward to the future of harness racing. Despite the highs and lows, I've enjoyed it immensely.”
For the first time since 2003, the Hall of Fame inducted horses and people into the Legends category. Standardbred pacer The Eel, known as 'The Grey Ghost' was one of harness racing's greats in the early 1900s, setting countless records both on the ice and on the half-mile tracks. W.J. Hyatt of Petrolia, Ont., was inducted in the Builders category. A groundbreaking entrepreneur, Hyatt was the man behind the founding of the Supertest Stakes for Canadian-owned and bred two and three-year-olds. His best horse was Bob Lee. Thoroughbred inductees include Mrs. Lily A. Livingston, breeder of two King’s Plate winners, and one of Canada’s leading breeders for more than 20 years at her Pontiac Stock Farm in Cobourg, Ont., and jockey Thomas H. Burns of Cedar Springs, Ont., who twice was North America’s leading jockey in the late 1890s.
The five members of the thoroughbred class include Dancethruthedawn along with her Sam-Son Farms connections – the late Tammy Samuel Balaz in the Builders category and Mark Frostad, who trained three of Sam-Sons’ Plate winners. Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, owned and bred by Frank Stronach and partner William Holtsinger, earned the vote in the Male category while Square Angel, owned by the late Gen. Preston Gilbride, was elected in the Veterans category.
A regally bred filly by Mr. Prospector-Dance Smartly, Dancethruthedawn will be inducted along with her Sam-Son Farm compatriots Mark Frostad, who conditioned three Queen's Plate winners for Sam-Son, and the late Tammy Samuel-Balaz in the Builders category.
Dancethruthedawn, who won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate as a three-year-old, continued her winning form at the age of four when she captured the Grade 1 Go for Wand at Saratoga.
"Dancethruthedawn is still alive and well and she'll be rewarded tomorrow with the award and a carrot,” said Mark Samuel on behalf of Sam-Son Farm. “At the farm she gives us that excitement, the dream of the future. She was a great racing mare. She was a beautiful horse. Dancethruthedawn was bred and born when my dad was still alive. She was named by my mother and raced by my sister.”
Samuel-Balaz, who passed away in 2008 at age 47, was inducted in the builder’s category. She took over the reins as Sam-Son Farm’s president and general manager in 2000 following the death of her father, Sam-Son founder Ernie Samuel, and maintained Sam-Son's legacy as one of the top breeding and racing operations in North America.
"Truly her life was intertwined with horses. That's probably why she ended up with a big Clydesdale like me,” said Balaz’s husband, Rick. “As soon as the kids could walk, their mom would take them to the races. She loved the fun as well as the challenge she faced in the early days. In our family a day of racing always ended with a visit to the backstretch. She treated each horse like a pet.”
“What an honour this is to have mom inducted into the hall of fame,” said Balaz’s son, Mark. “Mom truly devoted her life to Canadian racing. One thing I learned from mom is that it's all about the horses. Her love of the animals left a mark on all of us.”
Frostad, who has won three Sovereign Awards as outstanding trainer and conditioned a trio of Canadian champions including Chief Bearhart, Quiet Resolve, and Soaring Free, is to be inducted in the jockey/trainer category.
He is a four-time winner of the Queen's Plate having sent out Victor Cooley, Scatter the Gold, Dancethruthedawn and Eye of the Leopard to capture the Gallop for the Guineas.
“Thanks to the Hall of Fame for this honour,” said Frostad. “My first introduction came through my father, George, in 1959. I loved working with horses; the mares, foals, stallions and breaking horses for the racing stable. I loved going to Greenwood, Woodbine and Saratoga. The atmosphere was unbelievable. I knew then I'd spend a lot of my time with horses.
“I have to acknowledge the contributions of my team along the way, as well as the farms," he added. "It has meant a lot to me to contribute to the success of Sam-Son. Being inducted is an incredible feeling and honour.”
Touch Gold, who raced at Woodbine as a two-year-old for trainer Dan Vella, was moved to the care of David Hoffmans at Santa Anita and put together a memorable three-year-old campaign that included winning Keeneland’s Grade 2 Lexington, and a troubled fourth-place effort in the Preakness, before winning one of the most dramatic finishes in Belmont Stakes history when he upset Silver Charm’s Triple Crown bid in 1997.
He followed up that effort with a victory in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. Touch Gold went on to a great career at stud, siring numerous graded stakes winners.
"In 1995 Frank and I bought this very good-looking colt in Keeneland and we named him Touch Gold,” said Rita Stronach. “Not only did we touch gold, but we made gold. It was an exceptional experience racing him. He had a good family and turned out to be a good stallion. We are very proud and happy to receive this honour for him. We love our horses."
Square Angel, who captured the Oaks, Fury and Nettie Handicap en route to earning honours as Canada’s champion three-year-old filly in 1973, was inducted in the veteran’s category. The Canadian-bred made her presence known in the breeding shed, with winning offspring including Canadian champion Kamar, who in turn produced multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Gorgeous and Queen’s Plate champion Key to the Moon.
“I'm awed to be in the company of so many champions here tonight,” said Michael Rolph. “Back in the day, when I was starting out, I had the privilege of having a luncheon with E.P. Taylor and his son. He said a horse has heart and guts, but it needs four aspects. A breeder that understands the world, an owner, a trainer that understands care and a rider that respects the horse. Thank you for this singular honour.”
To view the photo gallery of 2011 inductees, click the following link: