Blissfull Hall Comes Home

It was 17 years ago that Blissfull Hall was named Canada's Horse of the Year, and 17 years ago that he started his stud career. Now the pacing Triple Crown winner is coming home after concluding his years as a stallion.

The son of Cambest - Hundred Kisses concluded his on-track career in 1999 after a stellar career for trainer Ben Wallace and owner Daniel Plouffe. His three-year-old season was honoured with awards on both sides of the border after posting a 15-3-4 record from 23 starts and earnings exceeding $1.32 million. His campaign will forever be linked to his success in pacing's Triple Crown events -- the Cane Pace at Freehold, the Little Brown Jug at Delaware and the Messenger at The Meadows.

To date, Blissfull Hall's North American offspring have combined earnings in excess of $72 million with 19 performers in 1:50 or better. His downunder performers have earned more than $15 million with many still on the track.

Now 21, Blissfull Hall's stallion career has concluded after spending the last few years at Empire Stallions in Australia. His owner, Quebec's Daniel Plouffe, has always had a place in mind for him to settle down once he was done in the breeding shed.

"Daniel Plouffe wanted the horse to live the rest of his life in Kentucky," said Claude Brault on behalf of the ownership. "He thinks it's the greatest place and wanted the horse to have a home there."

Brault arranged to have Blissfull Hall turned out at Schare Adams' Saga Farm, not far from where the stallion was foaled at Walnut Hall in 1996. Those familiar with the stallion at Empire had nothing but praise for the pacer Wallace called "the perfect horse."

"We have had 'Bliss' with us for the last 10 years and he is the kindest, nicest stallion we have ever worked with," said Empire Stallions' proprieter David James. "Blissfull Hall was our farm favourite and we miss him already! We are very happy that he is going to live out his retirement at Saga Farms and hope to visit him the next time we are in Kentucky."