Homebred trotting mare Just One Day, a consistent competitor among the Preferred ranks on the Ontario 'B' circuit for many years, has been retired from racing.
Just One Day scored her 41st and final career win on May 5 at Grand River Raceway and retires at age nine with 102 top three finishes from 166 starts and earnings totalling $282,473. She took her mark of 1:57.2 at Grand River in 2013, which was the fastest mile by an aged trotting mare on a half-mile track that year in Canada.
All business on the track, the tough race mare earned a special place in the hearts of her connections. Just One Day was campaigned by David Holliday and driven regularly by his son Ryan.
"Ryan's driven her for most of her career and she probably helped him kind of get to where he is," said Ryan's wife Caroline. "It always helps when you have a nice mare to race consistently week in and week out. She has a special spot in his heart for sure."
Together, they won 31 races, including a Preferred event on Molson Pace Night back in 2011, which was a memorable moment for Ryan and marked his 100th career driving win. On a 'related' note, Ryan earned his first career win with the mare's full brother Out All Night in 2008.
The Earl-Just One Night mare hails from a family bred by owner Graham Jackson of Listowel, Ont. After acquiring the broodmare Just One Night in 2002, Jackson continued to breed her to Earl, recognizing the success an early mating produced in the Tony Montini-trained Just A Lad ($893,904 - 1:53.3), and then to another Balanced Image sire Amigo Hall.
"Graham has a successful livestock business, but this is really what he loves: watching his horses race," said Caroline. "He pretty much has the whole family."
Now in foal to Ontario sire Holiday Road, Just One Day will expand the family next Spring.
Happy retirement! Always
Happy retirement! Always enjoyed watching her race or reading results. Tough mare for sure. Hope she will have a long and healthy retirement!