Flanagan Memory Passes

Multiple O'Brien Award-winning trotter Flanagan Memory has passed away at the age of 15.

Bred by the late Michel Flanagan of Repentigny, Que. and owned by Flanagan's daughter Liette along with trainer Rene Dion, the Kadabra-Classy Stacy stallion was a two-time O'Brien Award winner, first as a three-year-old in 2013 and again during his aged campaign in 2016 at age six. 

An Ontario Sires Stakes sophomore champion, Flanagan Memory also won the Goodtimes Stakes before developing into a top Grand Circuit open stakes competitor, punctuated with a Breeders Crown title. His other Grand Circuit stakes wins included the John Cashman Memorial and Allerage Farms Open Trot, equalling his lifetime mark of 1:51.2. Another memorable moment in his career was representing Canada in the Yonkers International Trot with a top three finish.

Flanagan Memory retired in 2017 with a career record reading 20-7-11 from 72 starts and purse earnings totalling $1,674,499.  

After standing his first four seasons at stud in Ontario, Flanagan Memory relocated to Pfeiffer Farms of Richmond, Michigan in 2022. From 26 eligible starters, he sired two six-figure earners with Preferred competitor Bucktober ($188,880 - 1:55.1s) and stakes winner Goober Smack ($109,593 - 1:54.2s) being his top performers.

Susie Kerwood, Dion's partner and Flanagan Memory's caretaker, told Trot Insider that Flanagan Memory passed away in Michigan on Oct. 1 due to complications from a ruptured bowel.

"He was actually going to come home in a couple weeks," added Kerwood. "We were just going to take him home and retire him at our farm.

"I've been around a lot of horses, obviously my whole life, and it's not just because he was good. ...He had a personality, and he was so darn smart. Definitely the greatest horse I've ever been around, and he was just special in many, many ways." 

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Flanagan Memory.

(Standardbred Canada)