Trot Insider has learned that Canadian Hall of Famer Run The Table, a world champion racehorse and one of Ontario's most influential sires, passed away on Saturday night at the age of 28.
Campaigned by Del Insko and Jim Campbell, Run The Table was a world champion who completed his racing career with 20 wins, 13 seconds, and five thirds from 58 starts and purses earnings totalling $1,171,053. Among his most memorable accomplishments were becoming the earliest 1:55 two-year-old winner in the history of the sport in a New Jersey Sire Stakes event at Meadowlands Racetrack, and as a three-year-old defeating the then-unbeaten Jate Lobell in the NJSS Championship in a 1:51 world record mile. He also set the all-age world record for two heats when he posted identical 1:51.1 clockings in the Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The son of Landslide out of Hustlers Best was purchased at the end of his four-year-old year by the McNivens of Killean Acres of Ingersoll, Ont. and quickly proved to be a formidable stallion that would have a major impact on Canadian harness racing in the following years.
His first crop hit the track in 1992 and his starters made $629,853 in Ontario Sires Stakes events. A year later he topped the Ontario Sires Stakes earnings charts with starters earning over $1.3 million. He led all Canadian sires from 1992 through 1996 in two and three-year-old earnings.
Run The Table has sired more than 1,450 foals and winners of more than $95 million, including 22 winners of $500,000 or more and 300 winners of $100,000 of more. The average earnings for a Run The Table starter is $80,573.
Some of the standout performers sired by Run The Table include: Jays Table ($840,370), Rabbi Of Racing ($838,848), Run To The Bank ($838,991), O'Brien Award winner Elegant Killean ($780,154), Ryancoke ($740,917), Heatherjeankillean ($740,759), and Cathedra ($733,789), who has also gone on to be a top broodmare as the dam of O'Brien Award winners Cathedra Dot Com ($1,632,543) and Cabrini Hanover ($1,473,729).
Run The Table retired from stud duties in 2004 and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.
He remained at Killean Acres where he was lovingly cared for by brothers Don and Jack McNiven until his death.
"I lost the best buddy I ever had," a tearful Jack McNiven told Trot Insider on Sunday evening. "That horse and I were so close. Nobody ever had a horse quite like him. I've had a lot of horses go through my life, but he was special. He was special. He knew what I said to him. He and I lived together and whenever I left the farm I’d look into the paddock when I drove by and went right to his stall when I got home. He was my everything."
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Run The Table.
(With files from Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame; Photo courtesy Iron Horse Photo)
Dear Don and Jack; Just a
Dear Don and Jack;
Just a note from Dave Aziz here in Scarborough that I am deeply saddened by this news. (Sorry for the late response as I was out west for the last week.) I am proud of the fact that Killean, Don and Jack were and are a a part of my life's racing experiences. I do hope that both of you and your families stay well!! Dave.
So Sorry for your loss. The
So Sorry for your loss. The racing community just lost a great race horse
and the breeding community a great sire.
Barry & I are so sad at the
Barry & I are so sad at the passing of such a great horse. Our thoughts are with you Jack & Don. No horse could have asked for a better retirement or more love than you gave him. He had a great life. I'm sorry.... we always miss them so much.
Don and Jack, So sorry to
Don and Jack,
So sorry to hear the sad news about RTT. His offspring were the cat's meow when I started calling races back in Elmira, and I still marvel at how many great ones he produced. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Ken Middleton
RIP to a wonderful horse.
RIP to a wonderful horse. Condolences to his connections.
Sorry to hear that. I'll
Sorry to hear that. I'll never forget him coming into the Hall of Fame dinner. He was my wife's favorite horse.
Our heartfelt sympathy Jack
Our heartfelt sympathy Jack and Don. What a wonderful horse he was and we are saddened by his passing. His off-spring will carry on for years to come and hope the young ones will give you many years of pleasure. Stay strong, we love you. Dave and Mary
Run The Table was a great
Run The Table was a great champion and an awesome horse overall. On a personal level, he was the first "super horse" I ever had to race against when I was lucky enough, at the age of only 19, to have a second string 2-year-old who came up against Run The Table a few times before I knew enough to take my colt down a notch. I remember that crop like it was yesterday -- Run The Table, Stickball, Bomb Rickles, Nuclear Nightmare, Ali Kahn etc., -- I was as new as they were, and I wrote about that unique experience in a piece I did for The Canadian Sportsman when I told the story of my colt Ciara Mello. I regret now that I failed to mention Run The Table in that column, but I know I will never forget him. Please accept my sincerest sympathy. David Mattia
So sorry Jack. All horses
So sorry Jack. All horses should be so lucky to have you watching over them. RIP RTT.
Sorry to hear of your loss. I
Sorry to hear of your loss. I never got to meet RTT, but I did have the pleasure of working with a son of his named Sailor's Artist. Although he wasn't the best racehorse, he has the sweetest temperment and was one of the best horses to be around. RIP Big guy.
Very sorry to hear this news.
Very sorry to hear this news. Condolences to Jack and Don on the loss of a great one both on and off the track!
So sorry for your loss, Jack
So sorry for your loss, Jack & Don. We know how it feels to have put down a horse that was one of the family. Run The Table was a fantastic horse and we will all miss him. From The Durbridge Family.
Jack and Don, my condolences
Jack and Don, my condolences for your loss. He was a great horse who put Ontario on the map as far as sires go. I just bought a colt from one of his offspring, Daylon Frontier and I can only hope that he will be a fraction of the horse that his grand daddy was.
What a loss for all involved.
What a loss for all involved. RTT was respected and well loved by so many people. What an icon he was.Our warmest thoughts and condolences to Jack and Don, and all those who worked with this great horse over the years.
Sorry to hear of your loss
Sorry to hear of your loss Jack and Don. I didn't get to meet Run The Table but I have been told he was a great horse and no doubt loved deeply by you and your family/staff.
I'm so sorry Jack it seems
I'm so sorry Jack it seems like yesterday we were touring all the racetracks with Arnie as our celebrity horse. He was such a great horse. I would like to thank you for allowing me to have such a special time with him. He will always be in my heart and he will be sadly missed. There will never be another one with such a great personality.
Leslie Waddell
Jack and Don my heart is
Jack and Don my heart is heavy with sorrow, you could not help but to love this big guy. I had the pleasure of working with him for a short time of his life but he quickly climbed into my heart. you will be missed so much RT R.I.P, Buddy. My deepest condolences.
-Laurie Macklem
My heartfelt condolences to
My heartfelt condolences to Jack and Don McNiven and all of the connections to Run The Table. I'm sure he had an exceptional life with his caregivers and will be missed.
Not sure if anything human or
Not sure if anything human or animal was Loved anymore than he was by Jack and Don McNiven. They were truly grateful for all he did for them and i'm sure he felt the same about them. R.I.P. , Run The Table.