Horseman George Filion, 74, passed away from a suspected coronary attack when he finishing his morning training duties on Wednesday, May 19 at Pompano Park
in Florida.
"I'd been training a two-year-old filly alongside him and he really helped me by going with the trotting mare Conflicting Tales that he has in to go on Friday night," said fellow trainer Geoff Howles. "I came out with another horse just a couple minutes later and he was on the ground. (Trainer) Brian Bellamy told me that it was obvious that George was in very serious trouble and that the best efforts of the first responders couldn't revive him.
"This morning I still had the 2:28 on my watch from that training mile with George and I remember shouting over a big thanks to him as we were pulling up. Today on the Pompano backstretch we're coping with just how sudden this was," Howles added.
Pending the expected approval of the judges and track management, fellow trainer Mel Turcotte is generously stepping in to ensure that George Filion's entrants get raced on the final weekend of the Pompano meet on Friday and Saturday evenings to honor his memory.
Filion was born in Acton Vale, Quebec on April 19, 1936. On the Pompano backstretch he would often recount anecdotes from his experiences as being the oldest child of a family of 16 brothers and sisters. His memories of working with the horses and competing on the former Quebec fair circuit dated to when he was 10 years old.
At the time of his passing, Filion had a four-horse string in South Florida including trotting mare Conflicting Tales, pacing mare Pannsylvania Dutch, and pacing geldings Brians Joy and Cobbler Hanover. His permanent home in the United States was at Greenville, North Carolina and while campaigning in Florida he resided at Loxahatchee.
Probably the highest profile horse to pass through his care and ownership was trotter Hobokenbahamamamas who went on to sire Great George Two.
"George was an unfailingly patient and professional horseman that was really well liked around here," said Pompano Park Director of Racing Operations John Yinger. "It is a very sudden and sad loss for all of us."
Final arrangements for George Albert Filion are pending at this time.
Trot Insider will update this story when further information is obtained.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of George Filion.
(Pompano)