Longtime owner, trainer, driver and member of Standardbred Canada, Don Anness of Emo, Ont. passed away on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 80 years of age.
Don began his lifelong horse racing career in 1960 training with an established horseman and it didn’t take him long to buy his own racehorse in 1963. He continued training horses at the small half-mile track just moments from his home in Emo until his final day and for this he was thankful. He could never imagine doing anything else and with his supportive wife, Sheila, by his side it was possible.
He often said if he could keep the horses sound training on the Emo track, they’d stay sound anywhere. There are not many people in the racehorse business in Emo, which left Don to raise and train his horses as a jack of all trades. He bred them, delivered foals, trained with the help of his family and a few close friends, and packed the horses and his family to travel hundreds of miles every weekend to race the Manitoba circuit all while having a full time career with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Don owned more than 100 horses over the course of his life, his favourite homebred being Red Bugler, who took a mark of 1:51.2 as a two-year-old.
Don was named Horseman of the Year numerous times over the years by the Manitoba Harness Racing Association and he was the epitome of this award as his compassion for the horses and his fellow horsemen were always at the forefront.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Don Anness.