After 43 years in the business, trainer Garth Gordon has decided it is time to hang up the lines and retire.
Now 70, Gordon has trained winners in excess of $12.7 million and claimed victory in 1,023 starts over his lengthy career. Three-year-old Kadabra gelding Aggressive escorted his trainer to retirement in style, clocking a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4 over Mohawk Racetrack on August 28 with Mike Saftic in the bike.
Starting out at Blue Bonnets in Montreal, Gordon crossed provincial lines in 1971 to take on the Ontario competition. Gordon frequented Garden City, Greenwood and Mohawk before two of the three disappeared from Ontario’s racing landscape. A regular in Mohawk’s backstretch, he spent twenty years stabled at the Campbellville oval before moving to Classy Lane Training Centre in Puslinch.
Though Gordon had already spent several years in the business, the horse that truly ignited his love affair with racing was a yearling that would go on to be Harold J’s most illustrious offspring and top money-earner. With $11,000 in his pocket after the recent sale of a horse to Gord Waples, Gordon left the Liberty Bell Sale with Banker Fretz.
A handful to break, he hadn’t developed in time to see the track in his two year old season. When the gelding made his first start in February of 1978, he failed to dazzle. Breaking stride and needing to qualify, he was setting Gordon up for quite the surprise. With time, he managed to put the pieces together and collect $130,000 that season.
“He truly was my first good horse. He raced against a lot of great horses in many invitational events. ‘Banker’ seemed to win every third start; he was my horse, the one who really started me going.”
Banker Fretz would go on to face some of harness racing’s greatest pacers, including Cam Fella, Niatross and Abercrombie. His career would continue until the age of 10, when Gordon decided to retire him. Facing injuries, his fond owner-trainer had no interest in cheapening the horse by dropping him in class. The gelding would retire with a record of 46-18-19 in 127 lifetime starts and a bankroll in excess of $500,000 made the hard way.
“Today, a horse like him might be able to make that much in a season or two. He fought hard his whole career.”
With many years trackside under his belt, Gordon has many fond memories of his time in the industry. Though Banker Fretz will always hold a special place in his heart, other horses like Armbro Acton, Armbro Cruiser and Maple Leaf Buddy stand out as well. Close behind ‘Banker’ however, is the son of Storm Damage named Soft Light.
"Soft Light was something else. He was a special horse in his time too. He showed a lot of greatness on the track.”
The horse that wore a 63-inch hobble was a $30,000 purchase as a yearling in Lexington. Soft Light scored victories in the Toronto Pacing Series, the Valedictory and upset the dominating Matt Scooter at Mohawk in 1989.
Like Banker Fretz, Soft Light did not see racing action at two, but was tackling the free-for-all pacers in his fifteenth lifetime start the following year.
Gordon could be found in the bike until 2008, racking up nearly 4,000 drives since 1977. Collecting over $4 million in purse earnings, his talent as a horseman made him an impressive trainer-driver combination.
At this time last year, Gordon was training a stable of seventeen and had started to slowly downsize. He only had six left in his stable when he decided it was time to step away.
“I own a bit of five horses still, ones that I had up until now. I’ve turned them over to Paula Wellwood and Mike Keeling; that’s all that’s left of my stable.”
What does retirement have in store for the horseman?
“I’m not going to be doing anything! I’m just going to take it easy for a while and just relax. It was time to step back, but I’m not going anywhere.”
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)
I believe my best years in
I believe my best years in harness racing was working for Garth Gordon. I never knew a kinder, gentler trainer in my life. He loved his farm dog, Rex, so much, that he had him buried at the finish line at Lacombe's, and had a bronze placque placed at the spot. "Here lies a good dog" Rex would race the trainers to the finish line and was always neck and neck... even if he did cut across the infield! You're a good man Garth Gordon.
I'm going to miss having you
I'm going to miss having you come up behind me at Greenwood or Garden City's backstretch and saying "what's your favourite colour again"? Good Luck Garth....
Garth is a real credit to
Garth is a real credit to harness racing and will be greatly missed.
John Findley
I will never forget when
I will never forget when Garth Gordon went to Barrie Raceway he won an O.S.S. event there with Armbro Acton. Later on the same card Garth got a catch drive in the other division on Retzy Horton and set a track record in that division. Showing he is a great horseman all around. Thanks for all the great memories Garth. Best of luck in your retirement.
Best wishes to Garth on his
Best wishes to Garth on his retirement. He has always been an asset to harness racing. John Findley.
Hi Garth, raced with your
Hi Garth, raced with your father Jack at blue bonnets, even worked for him for a while and it is true what Murray say's, these golden years are here at last BUT, I cannot see, I cannot pee, I cannot chew, I cannot Scr--, my memory shrinks, my hearing stinks, no sense of smell, I look like hell, the golden years have come to pass, and the golden years can kiss my A--. Enjoy your retirement and good luck.
One of the hardest working
One of the hardest working people in harness racing . Rain or shine, hot or cold, sick or healthy Garth was always on the job ! It was probably bred into him by his father Jack who also was a gifted horseman.
Banker Fretz will forever be linked with Garth and he should be because The Banker would not have been the scintillating horse that he was without Garth Gordon . The horse was tough but Garth was tougher . I fondly remember some of the antics of The Banker and only Garth had the mental and physical toughness to counter The Banker . They made for a championship team . They were the only duo to win the Connaught Cup three times !
As for Garth's other team, the Leafs, it may surprise some to know that in his younger days Garth was an exceptional hockey player and YES he was tough in the corners .
Happy retirement to a great horseman and an even greater person.
Hector Clouthier
Retirement is about going to
Retirement is about going to bed went you want, getting up when you want, doing what you want, which will keep you healthy. TY for being so fair to deal with. Enjoy.
JIM G.
I wish you the best of luck
I wish you the best of luck in your retirement Garth Gordon. Always a gentleman, good to his horses, and a game competitor. R Kopas.
Congrats Garth, I stabled
Congrats Garth,
I stabled near you in Woodbine and raced a horse called Bien Vite for you in a stake race in Montreal.
Best Wishes In your new life, you are a really nice guy.
Peter Litwin
Garth, On behalf of the
Garth,
On behalf of the entire Sugar Rush Stable and your old friend Maple Leaf Buddy, we want to wish you a great retirement.
Special thanks for letting me jog and train horses on Saturday mornings for the last five years. It was quite an education. I learned a heck of a lot and, for me, it made horse ownership an incredible experience.
Looking forward to scoring some wins with our two trotters.
See you in the winners circle!
Bernard Tobin & the Sugar Rushers
The first time I watched
The first time I watched Banker Fretz race was my first time at Greenwood against Niatross. Always loved that horse as well as one of your lesser knowns, Mannart Swift.
All the best in your retirement Garth
Dear Garth Congrats on a well
Dear Garth
Congrats on a well deserved retirement you so deserve it. You are and will always
be remembered as one of the best conditioner's in the business. It was an honor to
know you and to have jogged so many times beside you.
Thelma
Banker Fretz always was and
Banker Fretz always was and always will be one of my favorites. Thanks for the memories, Garth and enjoy your retirement.
Wish you everything GOOD in
Wish you everything GOOD in your future. Try smiling more !!!!
Garth, Enjoy your retirement.
Garth,
Enjoy your retirement. You've earned it. But take it from someone who knows, those golden years aren't that golden. Thank goodness I'm only semi retired and I've still got as much to do as I want to.
I hope we'll still see you at Lexington and Harrisburg.
Be healthy.
Garth, I wish you all the
Garth, I wish you all the best in your well deserved retirement. You are a true gentleman and friend.
I fondly remember the fun times and success we had with Maple Leaf Buddy !!!
Now cheer on the blue and white......there is still hope.
Congratulations Garth on a
Congratulations Garth on a great career. Enjoy your retirement. You will be amazed how busy you will be doing the things that you enjoy and haven't had the time to do over the past 43 years.
You are indeed a gentleman. Take care, have fun and keep smiling.
Garth, Enjoy your time away
Garth,
Enjoy your time away from the game, and thanks for what you put into the game over the years.
Sincerely,
Ken Middleton
all the best Garth! Miriam
all the best Garth! Miriam and Glenn Peacock and Family.
I used to love watching and
I used to love watching and wagering on the Banker in the 70's at the Old Greenwood Raceway. I used to look forward to Earl Lennox's call...when the Banker raced...usually from off the pace. Earl would say........
"Here comes THE BANKER...3 wide off the turn...and he's LOOKING to CASH !"
His Dad Jack...was also a very good horseman
Garth Gordon; a true
Garth Gordon; a true gentleman, and a man's man! Double G, take time to smell the roses and enjoy life.
Doug McIntosh
Mr. Gordon has been a class
Mr. Gordon has been a class act since the first time I met him. He has never a bad word for anyone and a true gentleman. His downfall; believing that the Maple Leafs would win a Stanley Cup in this lifetime. Enjoy your retirement my friend, you have earned it.
Garth is a true gentleman -
Garth is a true gentleman - the sport will miss him. Enjoy retirement Garth!