Armbro Feather Passes

Winbak Farm has sadly announced the passing of the champion racemare Armbro Feather p, 2, 2:03.3h; 3, 1:53.4; 1:51.3 ($1,454,927).

Born in 1984, Armbro Feather helped her dam, Brets Velvet, gain Broodmare of the Year honours in Canada. Before her, Brets Velvet had produced six foals of racing age – only four had raced, and the best, Velvet Dream, had made over $100,000.

Her sire, Most Happy Fella, had already passed away by the time Armbro Feather was born. He had produced top pacing mares Silk Stockings and Tarport Hap in his first crop, but Armbro Feather, who was born in his last crop (12 years later), would earn more than both of them combined (she also won 56 of her 90 starts).

A challenge to break, Armbro Feather refused to turn the right away of the track to go to the gate (a trait she never lost until the day she retired). She preferred no fuss and to be left alone. A horse with a mind of her own, Armbro Feather finished in the money during 91 per cent of her starts.

At age three, she was the Ontario Jockey Club winner for her division. She won the Jugette (in straight heats), the Shady Daisy Stakes and the Reynolds Memorial. She was also the New York Sire Stakes champion.

At age four, she won the USHWA Dan Patch Award for older pacing mares. She won the Breeders Crown prep, two legs and the final of the Clare Series, and the Hanover Stakes, and Roses Are Red Stakes. She was second in the Breeders Crown and Milton Stakes. She set her lifetime mark of 1:51.3 at the Meadowlands Racetrack when she won the fillies and mares open.

As an aged racehorse, Armbro Feather won the Breeders Crown, the final of the Clare Stakes, a leg and the final of the Milton Stakes and the Roses Are Red final.

When she retired from racing, Armbro Feather joined the Armstrong Brother broodmare ranks. While a broodmare at Armstrong Brothers, Armbro Feather produced 11 foals, none of which came close to their mother’s earnings. Her best foal for the Armstrong Brothers was Us And Them, p, 1:51.4 ($265,036).

In 2003, Armbro Feather sold at the Harrisburg Sale as part of the Armstrong Brothers pacing mares dispersal. She was bought by Winbak Farm for $22,000.

She would have three foals at Winbak Farm, one that Armstrong Brothers bred and two that Winbak Farm bred, including her richest-earning foal, Get Jazzed, p, 1:53.2f ($323,631). Her other foal bred by Winbak Farm, named Clearly Foxy, is now a broodmare at the farm.

Armbro Feather was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Armbro Feather’s last years have been spent enjoying a well-deserved retirement with Winbak’s band of retired mares.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Armbro Feather.

(Winbak Farm)