With a heavy heart, Hickory Lane Farm announced that the great racehorse and stallion, McArdle, passed away peacefully at the farm this past Saturday, Sept. 9 at the age of 24.
Born, raised and sold as a yearling by Perretti Farms, McArdle, the son of Falcon Seelster-Lilting Laughter, was owned by Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley, Sampson Street Stables (Louis Damiano) and TLP Stables (Thomas Pontone) during his racing career from 2001 through 2003. He was masterfully trained by Chris Ryder and driven at two, three and four by Luc Ouellette, David Miller, Mike LaChance, Brian Sears, Cat Manzi and Stephane Bouchard. As a racehorse, he earned a 1:49 mark at three and amassed $2,692,604 in earnings with while winning 28 races, the vast majority being stakes races.
Following his racing career, McArdle was syndicated and began his stallion career in 2004 at Perretti Farms of New Jersey before moving two years later in 2006 to Pennsylvania to stand at Lindwood Farms. There he stood until 2013 at which time he arrived at his final destination, Ohio's Hickory Lane Farm while, for most of his stallion career, being shuttled to perform stallion duty in the Southern Hemisphere at Nevele R Farm in New Zealand.
As a stallion in North America, McArdle’s results are as impressive in the breeding shed as they were during in his racing career. Known for siring fast and durable horses, he sired seven millionaires and winners of more than $86.7 including Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer and current Canadian sire McWicked p,7,1:46.2 ($5,103,271); world champion One More Laugh p,3,1:47.4 ($2,689,971); world champion Charlie May p,4,1:47.1 ($2,021,677); McCedes p,3,1:49.4 ($1,338,128); Nob Hill High p,6,1:50.1 ($1,113,043); McErlean p,4,1:49.1 ($1,039,646); Lispatty p,7,1:49.4 ($1,005,403) as well as Ohio filly champion, Queen Of The Pride p,4,1:50.2 ($802,129).
"As a racehorse and stallion, McArdle will be fondly remembered for forever touching the lives of many in a positive way both emotionally and financially. Anyone who was lucky enough to be directly associated with him knew he was a very special animal and truly one of the greats in our sport. He will be dearly missed," said the farm in its release.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of McArdle.
(With files from Hickory Lane Farm)