James 'Jim' Hill Passes

Trot Insider has been informed that well known Standardbred breeder/owner/horseman James ‘Jim’ Hill has passed away at the age of 78.

Jim was born on September 21, 1940 in Frontier, Saskatchewan to parents Van and Marie Hill.

Jim lived most of his life just outside of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba with his wife, Carol. Their farm was called Haven Acres. Over the years, Haven Acres was home to many broodmares, weanlings, yearlings and racehorses. Cheri Flame, Jo Ste Lo, Charm Adios, Lady The Great and all of their offspring are just a few that come to mind.

For many years, Jim’s brother, Leonard Hill, stabled his racehorses at the farm to race at Assiniboia Downs, the Manitoba Great Western circuit or to rest them up before heading to St. Louis for the winter. Later in life, Jim served as a judge on the Manitoba Great Western fair circuit.

Through the years, Jim made many close friends in the harness racing community.

When Carol and Jim retired they sold the farm and moved to an acreage near Boissevain and continued to share their love for animals.

If wealth is measured in happiness, Jim was a very wealthy man! He surrounded himself with animals and would always look forward to the spring after a Manitoba winter. Jim was a great storyteller, loved to write and would put pen to paper often. He wrote ‘Staying on Stride’ Part 1 and 2, ‘Myrtle and Jenny,’ ‘Baby,’ and ‘The Five Seasons,’ to name a few.

Jim was born with a disease called Treacher Collins Syndrome, which was depicted in the movie ‘Wonder.’ The syndrome was never a handicap to Jim. He would even do public speaking at schools where children had the rare disease. At assemblies he would explain to the student body what the disease was and help kids who had the disease learn to live with it.

In recent years, Alzheimer’s had taken the man that the harness racing industry knew; but Jim was well aware that the people who remained around him loved him – there was never a doubt (there was love in his eye).

Jim is survived by his daughter Cheri (Allan), grandsons Jason (Christie), Jamie (Teri), Kevin (Steph) and their families. Nephews Brent Hill, Chris Hill, and nieces Shelley Walline and Deniene Hout and families and brother John Hill.

Jim was predeceased by his wife Carol in 2007 and his brother Leonard in 2017.

The world lost a great man and a great friend, but he now rests in peace.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jim Hill.