Motor-vehicle accidents have ended many successful sports careers. But in Gilles Filion's case, it started one
.
Filion, who died last week at age 78, was a truck driver by trade until a collision on a dusty road cost him his left leg just below the knee. That's when he too turned to driving standardbreds, the family specialty.
"He didn't really start to drive until after the accident, when he was about 30," said Yves Filion, 64, the youngest of the eight driving brothers from Angers, Que.(Gilles, the oldest, was predeceased by brother Henri).
"Gilles was a real hard worker, even with one leg. From scratch, he assembled a 20-horse stable. And he was a super driver. He was a top driver in Montreal and also had a lot of success at Saratoga as well as a catch-driver. He showed me that, if you want to amount to anything, you have to do the work," said Yves.
Gilles, who stopped driving in his 60s, was retired and living in a seniors' residence in Buckingham, Que., at the time of his death.
"He was doing well but got pneumonia," said Yves.
The Filion clan will reassemble Saturday at the family homestead in Angers after paying final respects to Gilles at a funeral service scheduled for 10 a.m. at Eglise de L'Ange-Gardien in Gatineau.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)
May you rest in peace my
May you rest in peace my friend as we had many great hours together at richelieu raceway.I cannot remember the good horse you had at that time but ( BOLO HAL???) he was quite a sight to watch race. You rest in peace my friend until we meet again. My condolences to the Filion family. Ron
It could be argued that the
It could be argued that the Filion brothers may well be the greatest family of harness drivers in the history of the sport. Although there has been much controversy when it came to Herve there is no denying the success and impact that this family has had on the sport. I never knew that Gilles Filion had lost a leg but it shows what hard work and natural talent can do.
I remember watching GIlles
I remember watching GIlles Filion drive many times in Montreal. So many great memories of racing in Montreal in its prime. No doubt the Filion name will always be associated with racing. I guess all good things come to an end eventually. RIP Gilles.