Drysdales Discuss Retirement

A special era in the Ontario Standardbred breeding industry came to a close last summer when Jackie and Larry Drysdale decided to call it a career. Although the husband and wife duo have shifted gears, that doesn’t mean they are out of the picture.

Jackie and Larry Drysdale, the husband and wife team that managed Winbak Farm of Canada for many years, may have celebrated their retirement last August. However, the saying ‘once harness racing gets into your blood, you're in it for life’ has been proven to be more than just a catchphrase – it's no different with this husband/wife team.

Soon after their retirement, the Drysdale's headed on an eight-week Australian trip. They toured the top breeding farms the country had to offer during their getaway. "It was really an experience," Larry said. "Both countries are so great."

After returning from Down Under, the duo headed to Florida to visit Jackie's mother, but also managed to visit some training centres to converse with owners and trainers. "It never gets out of your blood," Larry admitted.

Larry's harness racing story began at, coincidentally, a major breeding farm. "I started with Armstrong Brothers here in Canada as a kid working with the yearlings," said the native of Acton, Ont. "Then I moved to California to work for Joe O'Brien, where I spent four years." Drysdale returned to Canada in 1974 to work with Jack Kopas. After that, Larry returned to Armstrong Brothers to assist with their breeding operations, where he was to spend the next 25 years until Winbak Farm took over the operation.

Drysdale met Winbak owner Joe Thomson at the Harrisburg sale, and shortly afterward was flown down to Maryland for an interview with Joe and his wife, JoAnn. They hired Larry, along with his wife Jackie, to run Winbak Farm of Canada in 2005. Jackie was hired as an office manager, while Larry headed the breeding operation. The duo spent 13 years fronting the operation before their retirement in 2018.

Jackie, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, got her start in Kentucky looking after Thoroughbreds. "I started working with them at Keeneland, before my trainer relocated to Florida," Jackie said. "I didn't want to go." Shortly afterwards, Jackie got a job with Clear Creek Farm, where she took Standardbred yearlings to the sales. This is when she met Joe O'Brien. "I asked Joe if he needed any help in California and he said ‘yes,’ and that's where I met Larry." The rest, as they say, is history.

Eventually, Jackie moved with Larry to Canada, where they ended up at Winbak Farm. "I worked with the yearlings in the morning before I tended to my office work," Jackie said. As far as her duties at the office, Jackie processed breeding orders, took them to the lab, extend the semen, and shipped the orders out. "I was a ‘Jackie’ of all trades," she quipped.

Shortly after their retirement, the Drysdales received an award from the Standardbred Ontario Breeders named after Chris Van Bussell, who was a driving force behind Seelster Farms and a Hall of Famer. "Chris was such a kind man with the highest of integrity. It was an honour to win an award named after him," Jackie said. Larry echoed those words. "That was very emotional, especially with my wife," Larry said. "We personally knew Chris (Van Bussell) and he was a good friend of ours. It really meant a lot."

As far as what's ahead for Larry and Jackie, it will be a little of everything. "We plan on doing more travelling and spending time with our grandchildren," Jackie said. You can safely wager, despite retirement, that harness racing will remain a part of their lives forever. "Of course, I was at Winbak Farm this morning," joked Larry.

(With files from Post Time with Mike and Mike)