Ronald L. Brechler, 75, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away at his home on Monday, November 28 after a brief illness
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He had been involved in harness racing for more than three decades and is perhaps best known as the breeder of Trick Man p, 4, 1:49.3f ($286,135), a top campaigner at the Meadows in the past two seasons.
Brechler was at the Meadows in late July when Trick Man took his record beating a field that included Foiled Again, We Will See, and Delmarvelous. He went off at odds of 60-1 and came roaring through the stretch to win by a length.
“He was there that day and we were all in the winner’s circle together,” said Ronald's son, Kris. “That was a real proud moment for us.”
Brechler also bred and owned such top Ohio performers as Touchtown p, 3, 1:51.3h ($129,179) and Sky Ridge Knight 4, 1:55s ($168,721). Other favourites were Talk Forever and Star Siren. His sons Doug and Kris shared his love of harness racing and owned many horses with their father.
“We won a lot of Ohio Sires Stakes and Ohio Breeders Championships,” said Kris. “Dad always kept about 14 mares at his farm and he trained a lot of their foals. He used Ray Paver, Jr. and Scott Mogan and Scott Cox as his trainers.”
Brechler was born in Iowa and moved to Ohio. He operated a dairy farm until 1980, then moved into the city of Mount Vernon to operate Knox Services, Inc., a milk brokerage. That’s when he began to get involved with harness racing. His first horse was the pacer Armada p, 6, 1:53.1 ($193,127).
“Dad was a farm boy all his life,” says Kris. “He loved spending time with the mares and foals on the farms. He’d raced some miniature horses before he got into harness racing. He loved the people in harness racing, particularly Ray Paver and Albert Adams.”
Brechler’s favourite broodmare was Touch Of Bogart, the dam of Touchtown and other good performers. She was bred to Rock N Roll Heaven this year.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Carolyn 'Vicki' (Schoon) Brechler; children, Kathryn Brechler of Mount Vernon, Douglas Brechler of Mount Vernon, Teresa (Brian) Young of Mason and Kris (Amy) Brechler of Mansfield; a granddaughter, Ashley Young of Mason; a half brother, Jud Brechler of Utica; a half sister, Karen (Ron) Murphy of Utica; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his stepmother, Fontelle Brechler; and a brother and sister-in-law, James and Yvonne Brechler.
The family will receive friends Thursday, December 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 E. High St., Mount Vernon.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, December 2, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with the Rev. Father Mark J. Hammond as the celebrant. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Mount Vernon.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 303 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road SE, Newark, OH 43055.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ronald Brechler.
(Hoffman Communications)