The Canadian Sportsman
Lee Way
Back To Lee WayDecember 30, 2010
A salute to Blue, and the rest of this year’s retirement class
As the clock ticks towards midnight on New Year’s Eve, another group of old racing warriors will join the ranks of the retired.
As it is every year, this year’s class of mandatory retirees has several distinguished members, who gave their all through hundreds of starts, making lasting memories every step of the way.
The great Admirals Express (above) is among this year’s names. And although his retirement comes posthumously, after his unfortunate passing in October, the Grey Gladiator had the fastest mark (1:48.2) and most career earnings ($2,176,860) of any 14-year-old horse that made at least one start in 2010.
Somewhat surprisingly, his 86 lifetime wins only rank him fifth in terms of this year’s retirees, behind pacers J C (95 wins), Blue Oxfords (93) and Southwind Night (87) and trotter Boomer Berman (89), who had the best final year of all comers — with a record of 13-12-5 from 37 starts this year racing primarily at Batavia and Buffalo on the western New York circuit.
Blue Oxfords (below), a son of Cambest—Bunny Blue Butler, won 93 times and more than $825,000 in purses, but thrills and cheques don’t begin to describe what he’s meant to Gale Moen and family.
Of the nine horses that the 75-year-old grandmother and retired GM worker trains on her farm in Lapeer, MI, Blue Oxfords is clearly king.
“He’s the first one fed and the first one out in the morning,” said Moen.
“He’s the one and he’s never leaving the farm. He’s earned a little barn and his own paddock and he’ll live out his days right here.”
Through the years, “Blue” has made trails from Michigan’s Sports Creek Raceway to Northville Downs and Hazel Park. He was a frequently successful invader in preferred competition at Windsor Raceway and Western Fair, circa 2003-2006, where he was often paired with driver Terry Kerr to form a winning combination. In the years before that, he could be found on the Jockey Club or trying his luck at the Meadowlands.
In short, the horse has logged more than a few miles in the last decade but ever since he was plucked from a $60,000 claimer at Woodbine by Gale’s husband Ray in 2000, he’s always come back home to Lapeer.
For the Moens, the journey began in 1975. Ray, Gale and their three boys all worked at GM and Ray purchased his first horse back then as something the whole family could have a little fun with in their spare time.
“We had so much fun with it — and the kids got so involved with it — that then they bought another one... and another one... and then we bought the farm,” said Gale.
“That’s just the way it happened.”
They carried on that way for a good many years, before tragedy struck when two of Ray and Gale’s boys were killed in a car accident in 1998. In the aftermath of that great loss, Blue Oxfords came along and his success and longevity provided a measure of joy amid the sadness.
Less than two years after acquiring the horse that brightened their days, the family was dealt another blow when Ray succumbed to cancer.
Undeterred, Gale persevered with the horses and the farm. As a tribute to her husband and sons, she trained Blue Oxfords — one of the last horses Ray bought before his passing — herself and has kept him racing through the years with the help of her 26-year-old grandson, Lindsay, who often serves as driver.
To her, Blue means so much more than wins and earnings.
“Oh, we love him,” she said.
“Through it all, he’s helped us and given us something to keep busy with. He’s just been special in every way, shape and form.”
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