The horse that changed my life
When first asked about the most significant horse she has come across in her life to this point, owner and trainer Lynn Farrell could not decide on just one. The 47-year-old from Sunderland. ON is the epitome of the passionate, hard working and dedicated person that make up the Ontario horse racing industry; every horse to her is a gift.
A three-day eventer and Thoroughbred exercise rider as a young adult, later a Standardbred owner and trainer, Farrell has also been an accomplished barrel racer with top Quarter Horses. In 1996, her husband Brian lured her into the Quarter Horse racing scene.
It was that year when she met Star Fire Dash, a horse who changed her life.
“I took my barrel racing mare, Paying Dues, to be bred to Star Fire Dash,” said Farrell, a mother of two. “It was a big step to pay the stallion fee, losing a year with her in barrels. We were just starting out, Brian and I, and we didn't have a dime. I was hoping for a barrel racing foal and my husband was hoping for a racehorse.”
They ended up with both actually as the breeding to Starfire Dash, a stakes-placed son of Down Home Dash owned by Belinda Taggert, produced Raised in Debt, the High Point 2-year-old Gelding at Picov Downs in 1999 and later, a record-setting barrel racer. The next year, the mare produced a full brother, Raise the Debt, a winner of 13 races.
Farrell has continued to breed a few mares to Star Fire Dash (affectionately known as Clint) each spring, the stallion has been standing at stud at the 1,100-acre Farrell farm (most of it leased) for the last few years.
Farrell has found that the foals are not only honest runners but talented barrel racers and gentle companions.
“I don’t have superstar mares but what makes me proud and what is fun is when you pick out the stallion, raise and play with the foal, break them and take them to the races,” said Farrell. “If they win a race or two, that’s great and then If Ii can sell them to be a barrel horse, that’s a big thing too.”
The Farrells, who raised Black Angus cattle and have some 300 lambs born on the farm each year, breed and race their own stable, Four Leaf Racing, with friend Herb Goldie.
“I am lucky I have surrounded myself with so many great people,” said Farrell. “Tara Hills Farm help me out with advice on the breeding aspect, Murray Brethour, a Standardbred trainer, has also been a great help as has Les Baker, John McInerney and Ed Walton.”
Farrell is excited about racing an other half-dozen offspring of Star Fire Dash in the coming years.
“He is 23-years-old now and he is such a class act,” said Farrell. “He is a gentleman; he will stand there and let kids brush him.”
The ever modest Farrell, who juggles horses, hay and kids in hockey each day (hubby Brian builds airports and runaways all over the world) says she does not have any secrets to their success.
“We’ve been really lucky,” said Farrell. “Some of Star Fire Dash’s horses are still running, doing barrels. And Raise the Debt is now babysitting a little kid who is learning to ride.”
(PHOTO - Star Fire Dash, successful sire and a gentleman too)
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