After all the miles Stew Firlotte put in sitting behind Town Pro and Ralph Hanover, the trainer is following those pacing stars into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Firlotte and Woodbine Entertainment Group chairman and CEO David Willmot head the eight 2005 inductees announced yesterday. The pair, along with six horses, will be honoured in a ceremony on Aug. 25.
Firlotte joins Town Pro, who was enshrined a year ago, and the best horse he campaigned, 1983 pacing Triple Crown winner Ralph Hanover, a 1986 inductee.
Willmot is best known these days for his leadership role at Woodbine. Under his reign, the company formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club was resurrected from a financial mess to a slot machine-fuelled success.
Willmot, who was inducted in the builders' category, has been an active horse owner for most of his life. He joins his late father, D.G. (Bud) Willmot, who was inducted in 1991. Willmot owns one-time thoroughbred breeding and racing powerhouse, Kinghaven Farms, which produced champions such as Izvestia and With Approval.
Among the 2005 equine inductees are trotters Garland Lobell, who was solid on the racetrack but a bigger success as a stud, and ageless star Glorys Comet. The latter earned more than $2 million for owner-breeder George Peters in a career that spanned 10 years and a remarkable 56 wins.
The thoroughbred horse nominees include Norcliffe, who was Canada's horse of the year in 1976 when he captured the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes. He'll be joined by Cool Reception, a gritty performer who finished second in the 1967 Belmont Stakes despite running the closing strides of the race on a broken foreleg.
Pacer Armbro Omaha and thoroughbred Anita's Son round out this year's inductees after being voted into the hall by the veteran's committee.
BELLAMY NOT OUT YET
Bellamy Road has not been ruled out of the Belmont Stakes, although it's unlikely that the beaten Kentucky Derby favourite will be healthy enough to run in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
The popped splint in his left front leg was "a very minute injury" and the 3-year-old colt would resume light training in two weeks.
