Longtime Standardbred owner Conrad Leber of Montreal, Que. passed away on January 1, 2022, at the age of 96 years old, surrounded by his adoring family.
He was born to parents Elizabeth and Frederic Leber on May 14, 1925 in Liepling, Romania and immigrated to Canada in 1932 along with predeceased brother Fred Leber.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Rose Coty, and is the amazing father and father in law to Andrea (David Coble), Conrad (Rochelle Cantor) and Tina (Andreas Kragaris). He was the humorous and kidding grandfather to Nicholas, Gregory, Jack, Jade and Jamie.
His involvement and ownership in semi pro sport clubs from the late 1940s to early 1970s in soccer and baseball allowed him to travel the world. His creation and success of the Beer Garden in Expo 67 changed his life forever. He is perhaps most well known for transforming his father’s 1939 painting company Leber & Sons.
In the 1970s, he got involved in Standardbred horse racing and never looked back from owning horses right until his last breath. His partnership extended to trainers Duncan Mactavish, Mike MacDonald, Fred Grant, Marcel Barrieau, Mark and Shawn Steacy. His most notable performers included Aerobatic, Amazing Dealer, Nightlife Seelster and his two favourites, Safe Arrival and Sunshine Beach. His excitement in the winner’s circle could not be contained whether it was a maiden race or a Grand Circuit race, he simply loved the horses and the sport.
Please consider donations in loving memory of Conrad to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS).
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Conrad Leber.
my condolences to the Leber
my condolences to the Leber family fromn rocco
Repose en paix Conrad,
Repose en paix Conrad, condoléances à la famille Leber.
Connie was a great fiend and
Connie was a great fiend and partner. He lived an exciting life. He was heavily involved as the owner of a soccer team which toured South America in the fifties. He owned the famous beer garden at Expo67 and later was partner in the Stagecoach restaurant located next to Blue Bonnets where he served many horsemen. All the while, he ran his commercial painting business.
He owned harness horses for about 50 years; several good ones. He was very proud that his Safe Harbor parked Niatross in the Meadowlands Pace and the Prix d'Ete. In 1913, I travelled with him to watch Sunshine Beach at the Meadowlands, Pocono, Dover and Mohawk. You have never seen anyone more excited than Connie when Sunshine Beach beat Captain Treacherous in the $500,000 Battle of Brandywine.
Right up to his death, well into his nineties, he continued to own standardbreds, mainly by his stallion sunshine Beach.
I miss our card games in the tack rooms and I will miss our Saturday morning breakfasts.
RIP
Connie and my dad owned
Connie and my dad owned horses together with Duncan in the 1970s and I remember them having so much fun doing so. They would give each other sh!t and give plenty of it to Duncan, too. I remember one trip the three of us took to Saratoga in 1978-- Connie was so kind and patient with me around. What a blast. Our thoughts and love are with his family today.
Our condolences to the Leber
Our condolences to the Leber family. RIP Connie
I have been very fortunate to
I have been very fortunate to have trained horses for Conrad for the last dozen or so years. Always enjoyed his visits and chats that we had. He was very witty and positive, who very much appreciated his horses. Sad to hear as we just chatted last week about how he was anxiously awaiting the return to racing of Québécois. Can still picture the excitement on his face when we raced Sunshine Beach. You will be greatly missed by Kathy and myself , but never forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family Mark Steacy.