Trot Insider has learned that longtime harness horsemen Clarence 'Sugar' Gagnon, of Cloverdale, BC passed away on August 4 after having fought a brave battle with
cancer. He was 78.
Gagnon raced horses for over six decades, from Manitoba Great Western Fair circuit, across the Prairies and into the U.S. midwest to California. He then went east and raced at Ontario, Quebec and New York tracks.
He trained and drove at Patterson Park in Lander, BC, yet returned east and won the 1969 Frank Ryan Memorial with Mr Galophone. In 1974, he relocated back to BC and began racing at Cloverdale Raceway in January 1976. He continued to train and race in BC long after Cloverdale Raceway had become Fraser Downs.
In his lifetime, Gagnon developed countless numbers of young horses, including BC Count, Armbro Vanessa, Willow Tauries and Misty Robin, to name a few. One of his favourites was the family trotter, Sandy Paper. In 2009 he was inducted into the BC Hall of Fame.
Clarence will be sadly missed by his wife, Dianne, daughter, Ellen, son-in-law, Omar, brother, Jim, and his large extended family.
His family wishes to extend their condolences to his friends and the racing community.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Clarence Gagnon.
I knew Clarence as a caring
I knew Clarence as a caring and passionate individual who loved harness racing. No matter where you or one of his horses finished in the race he was always the same friendly, easy going person. We can all learn from that positive atitude. He will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Greg Nixon, Kemptville Ontario