It has been announced that Canadian Thoroughbred racing industry icon Gustav ‘Gus’ Schickedanz, who also had a notable impact in the nation’s Standardbred sector, recently passed away at the age of 90.
Schickedanz was a home builder, a breeder and owner of some of the industry’s top Thoroughbreds, but, most of all, a survivor. He was also an elegant, classy gentleman who always greeted with a kind smile and a tip of his hat.
Schickendanz’s passing is a tremendous loss to Canada’s horse racing industry. His Thoroughbred breeding operation at Schonberg Farm near Nobleton, Ont. produced the likes of Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando, by homebred Langfuhr, who himself won four major U.S. stakes races (the Forego, Vosburgh, Carter and the Metropolitan Handicaps) and a Sovereign Award as champion sprinter. Other Langfuhr success stories included Eclipse Award winner Lawyer Ron, Mobil, Jambalaya (a triple stakes winner in the U.S.), Kimchi and Marlang. Langfuhr also led the American sire lists in winners on three occasions.
Schickedanz is the only Canadian to breed winners of the Kentucky Oaks (Gal In A Ruckus), Canadian Triple Crown (Wando) and the Arlington Million (Jambalaya). He also won two Queen’s Plates with Wando and Woodcarver. His Sovereign Award winners include Wando, Mobil, Langfuhr, Glanmire and Kimchi. Schickedanz was a finalist for Breeder of the Year multiple times, and earlier this year was awarded a special Sovereign award E. P. Taylor Award of Merit by the Jockey Club of Canada.
Schickedanz shared a life-long friendship with Standardbred breeder H. Charles Armstrong, also a CHRHF member. The two were co-breeders of Goodtimes, formerly Canada’s richest Canadian-bred trotter with earnings of $2.2 million and a member of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (for more on Goodtimes, click here). One can only imagine the reminiscing and stories these two pillars of Canadian horse racing shared during their lives.
Please join Standardbred Canada and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in extending condolences to Gus’ wife, Ann, and their family, as well as all those who loved him, including his longtime and loyal farm manager Lauri Kenny and dedicated trainer Mike Keogh.
To learn more about the life and career of Gus Schickedanz, click here.
(With files from the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)