Longtime harness racing industry participant Dr. Mike Wilson passed away peacefully with his family by his side in Blackhead, New South Wales, Australia on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at the age of 90.
The owner of Warrawee Farm in Rockwood, Ont., Dr. Wilson could be described in many ways, namely a gentleman, scholar, entrepeneur, friend and mentor who had great foresight in North America's Standardbred breeding industry.
Dr. Wilson had a distinguished academic career but, in addition, he had success in a diversity of other fields.
Born in Cambridgeshire, UK, the son of a butcher, Mike left school early. While working as a poultry post-mortem technician at Houghton Research Centre, he became determined to pursue a career as a veterinarian. That decision meant cycling miles to evening classes in Cambridge. He succeeded in obtaining a place at Bristol University Veterinary School.
In 1969 Mike joined the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, Ont. as Head of the new unit of Clinical Research within the Department of Clinical Studies. In 1979 Mike became chair of the Department of Clinical Studies and in the mid-1980’s helped create the new Department of Population Medicine.
Mike’s area of teaching and research at OVC was in swine health management and he was an internationally recognized leader in this field, often promoting concepts of husbandry and disease control that were well ahead of their general acceptance. He eventually put some of these ideas (such as multi-site production) into practice by owning or co-owning a number of pig farming enterprises, including New Fashion Pork.
Wilson always looked to provide practical solutions to real problems. Anything he turned his attention to was pursued with a thirst for gaining knowledge, understanding problems and conceiving solutions. Whether it was his beekeeping hobby or choosing a novel location for a prize-winning winery in New Zealand, he applied his unique approach.
Mike turned his attention to Standardbred horse breeding after leaving academia. He started with an analysis of the stud book, his knowledge of which became encyclopedic. Then using that data, and a holistic scientific approach to selective breeding and foal raising, Mike with his partner Dr. Julie Yager, built Warrawee Farms. It became one of the most successful farms in North America. A number of Warrawee-bred horses have been world champions, and in 2012 Warrawee Farm was named the Armstrong Breeder of the Year by Standardbred Canada at the O'Brien Awards.
With a boutique of 13 to 18 broodmares and owner of stallion shares that included the likes of Camluck, Kadabra, Chapter Seven, Walner, Captaintreacherous, Here Comes Herbie, Mach Three, Astreos, Sweet Lou, Muscle Mass, Dexter Nukes, Royalty For Life and Sportswriter, Wilson bred, raised and sold the following top horses as yearlings:
- Warrawee Ubeaut p,2,1:48.3 ($2,002,455)
- Mister Herbie 1:50.4s ($1,900,001)
- Warrawee Needy p,1:46.4 ($1,255,384)
- Warrawee Michelle 3,1:51.2 ($1,119,670)
- Warrawee Roo 1:51.2 ($894,280)
- Big Bay Point p,1:49s ($752,839)
- Warrawee Koine p,1:50s ($743,398)
- Warrawee Vital p,1:46.4s ($739,661)
His favourite broodmare was Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Great Memories, the dam of 15 foals including the aforementioned Warrawee Ubeaut, Warrawee Needy, Warrawee Vital and Big Bay Point.
In 2022 Mike and Julie retired to Australia, Julie’s native land and where they had spent many Canadian winters. Mike is survived by his wife Julie, children Matthew and Sophie, and their families.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Mike Wilson.
(with files from AASV)