Longtime horseman Michael 'Mike' Scott Smith of Millbrook, Ont. passed away on April 18, 2024 at the age of 62.
Mike was a loving husband to Sandra for 32 years. He was a pillar of strength to his wife and four children, Mathew (Justine), Danielle (Brandon), Michael (Melissa) and Brooke (Tyler). Mike adored his role as “Papa” to his four granddaughters, Lexi, Lily, Fallon and Harbour and was excited about his newest granddaughter arriving this summer.
Mike is survived by his mother Brenda, sister Cheryl and brother Todd. He is pre-deceased by his father Robert Smith and his mother-in-law Shirley Williams. He will be greatly missed by his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Merridy & Joe Burt, Lynn & Paul MacDonell, Andrea Williams, and his many nieces and nephews.
Mike fought a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Mike was surrounded in his final hours by his family and friends as he watched one final Blue Jays and Maple Leaf game. Mike is known for his kind heart and compassionate nature. He cherished the moments spent with his friends and family at Bellemere Winds Golf Resort at the family cottage and partaking in a round or two of golf. Mike was a major sports fan and closely followed hockey, baseball and golf, but most of all, Standardbred horse racing. He enjoyed spending time with his racehorses at his barn and the racing community, where he was extremely proud of the achievements of his homebred trotter Justasmalltowngirl. He was the biggest fan of his Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame brother-in-law Paul MacDonell and followed Somebeachsomewhere’s journey with great excitement.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Mike on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Cavan Monaghan Community Centre, 986 County Road 10, Millbrook, Ont. L0A 1G0. The family encourages everyone to wear their Leaf or Jays gear. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Mike’s memory to the Hospice Peterborough, which enabled his final day of celebration with his friends and family in a warm, compassionate environment.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Mike Smith.
Mike Smith
On behalf of Kawartha Downs, we would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the Smith family. We will miss Mike at those Wednesday training days watching him teaching one if his young trotters how to become a racehorse. As well as on race nights when his entire family could be seen in the grandstand cheering on one of his trotters.
Mike will always be a part of the KD family of horseman and will be greatly missed.
Jim Huck
Kawartha Downs
Sandra and family so sorry…
Sandra and family so sorry for your loss. So glad we had a chance to catch up with Smitty last summer. Gord and Joy
So very sorry to hear of the…
So very sorry to hear of the passing of Mike. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Sandara and family. He was always someone we would be glad to see at KD. Shaun Moscrop and Ronda Markle