Denis P. Linford, long time breeder, trainer and driver in Western Canada, passed away on Oct. 6, 2022 at the age of 86.
Born in 1936 in Raymore, Sask., Denis was raised in an era where the horse was still very necessary for farming. His grandfather had travelled a Standardbred stallion to service driving mares, and his father farmed with horses and owned Standardbreds. Denis learned first-hand the value of looking after horses that were needed to make a living. He brought this experience to his racing career. He made a living training and racing his own horses, "not very special" he once said, but his knowledge and skill brought the best out in his horses.
He started driving in 1970 at the numerous fair tracks in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. By the mid-1970s he had a stable racing at Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton. In 1977, he moved his entire operation to Cloverdale Raceway (now Fraser Downs) in B.C. Always assisted by his wife, Sharon, he was a regular member of the Cloverdale, Sandown trainer-driver colony until he retired in 2009. His son, Robert, also worked with him and got his start driving with Denis.
He won 723 races, more than $1.2 million (in a time when purses were very modest), with a UDRS average of .274. He developed and raced primarily homebreds. Among his favourites was Special Game, 2:01.2h by his ill-fated stallion Game Over, who he eventually sent back to stand in Saskatchewan at his brother Walter's farm. There was also Pegassus Ernie, 2:03h, $108,000, and many others.
In 1981, Denis won the B.C.-Alberta Driver's Championship, driving three winners -- two of them longshots -- before a crowd of 4,050 at Cloverdale Raceway, with a single-day handle of more than $567,000. He commented in a Vancouver Sun article that "it was a thrill" and "before I wondered if I belonged with these guys."
From 1952 until 1969, he served in the Canadian Air Force and trained as a radar instructor.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; two daughters, Janine and Tammy (son Robert, deceased 2022); two brothers, Walter and Barry; three sisters, Nola, Carole and Linda; first wife and four children; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Denis Linford.