by Matthew Lomon

Part 1 is here.

Last week’s edition of All Over Ontario delivered the first quarter of a four-part series spotlighting the leading owners at Ontario racetracks in 2024.

The inaugural column covered the throne-holders at Hanover Raceway (Robert Jenkins, Jr., William Burgess, and Jeffrey Kelly), Dresden Raceway (Cameron McQueen), and Georgian Downs (A1Stable).

This week, in Part 2 of the grassroots series, All Over Ontario applauds the accomplishments of the title-holding owners at Kawartha Downs (Amanda Riley), Flamboro Downs (Triple S Equine/Carl Kuepfer), and Clinton Raceway (Larry Lane).

The three ownership groups will be among the 24 honored in a special presentation alongside the best and brightest in Canadian harness racing at the 36th annual O’Brien Awards on Feb. 8.

Each awardee will receive a custom plaque and a complimentary ticket to the ceremony, as part of the Owner Recognition Program.

All three will first receive their flowers from Harness Racing Update, beginning with Kawartha’s top-rated owner, Riley.

A third-generation horseperson, Riley learned the trade of racing horses with her mother Brenda Lane and uncle Garry Bye.

The Roseneath, ON-based owner/trainer translated a lifetime of lessons into success this past season at Kawartha, where she inspired her troops to record 12 wins, three more than the nine recorded by Kuepfer’s Triple S Equine, across 28 starts.

Riley’s racers tacked on five seconds and five thirds to amass an earnings total of $35,288.

However, her connection to the neighboring Fraserville, ON oval is one that extends far beyond numbers on a stat sheet.

“It’s pretty cool because it’s our local track, and it’s the closest track in Ontario to our farm,” said Riley. “It’s got a really fun atmosphere – like an old school feeling with more laid-back racing. My husband and I grew up together there, so it holds a special place for both of us.”

Riley’s husband, trainer/owner Tom Riley, himself had a career year in 2024 guiding his charges to 66 wins through 331 starts.

Together, the husband-and-wife team that first met at Kawartha as youngsters, have four children of their own: Lane, Blake, Kennedy and Holden.

Amanda’s star pupil on the track was 9-year-old pacer Majestic Virgin, whom she purchased for around $5,000 USD through onGait.

The bay daughter of Always A Virgin—Fox Valley Tulip accounted for nine of Amanda’s dozen Kawartha tallies, exuding resolve, grit, and an indomitable spirit along the way.

“She had bowed a tendon, and then the previous owners put her on onGait,” Amanda said. “I rehabbed her, we brought her back and then raced her three or four times, but she broke down again, and I rehabbed her.”

Another bowed tendon and arduous rehabilitation followed, but the tough times brought Amanda and her prized mare closer together.

“She’s the biggest sweetheart – I’m not usually a mare person,” Amanda said. “I prefer geldings, but she’s laid back and loves her work. She stresses me out, though, when I race her, because of the tendon issues. But then she’d go out, and just kept on winning. She’s really fun to have. I’d have a whole barn full of her, maybe just a little bit sounder.

“She’s high maintenance, but you don’t mind looking after them when they look after you. That’s my favorite kind of horse to have, too. One that needs a little extra bit of attention because I like to spend the extra time on them.”

About 200 kilometers (125 miles) south west of Kawartha, at Flamboro Downs, Triple S Equine was busy pacing the Dundas, ON track’s owner colony.

Kuepfer, the man behind Triple S Equine, found this past season at the half-mile oval to be a reprieve during a season stricken by unfortunate bounces.

“Overall, it was a tough year in the business,” Kuepfer said. “I never thought we’d hit this mark given the year we had. My focus tends to mainly be on our Woodbine Mohawk Park numbers, and that side of it wasn’t great this year – lots of tough luck. But I’m certainly happy to hoist top honors for Flamboro.”

Kuepfer has been in the equine business for about 15 years now. In 2010, he started his own horse marketing business, Shooting Star Stables, before testing the waters on the racing side in 2017-18.

Around 2020, Kuepfer decided it was best to keep the racing side separate from the marketing side, thus giving way to the inception of Triple S Equine.

He quickly learned over that time what comes with a life in the standardbred sphere.

“Like I’m sure all people in this business find it to be, you have good times and then also times that are not so great, but it keeps it interesting,” he said.

Smooth Lou, a 9-year-old pacer bred by Brittany Farms, provided several big moments down the stretch for Kuepfer and Triple S Equine.

The son of Sweet Lou—Smooth Silver collected 10 wins across 24 starts at Flamboro in 2024, including three straight in October to help secure the top spot for Triple S Equine.

Overall, Smooth Lou sports a 31-18-11 line, for $270,847, across 112 lifetime starts.

In addition to the effusive praise he bestowed upon his savvy veteran bay, Kuepfer took a moment to express his gratitude to the conditioners who have had his back.

“I must give a huge thank you to each and every one of my trainers over the last few years,” Kuepfer said. “I’ve been fortunate to make a lot of great friends and many more great memories. I’m thankful for all the guidance, encouragement, and positive comments over the years, it has been a great influence.”

The third and final member on this week’s leading owner highlight reel is Clinton Raceway’s chart-topper Lane.

The Goderich, ON-based horseman put together a strong showing at Clinton’s past meet, winning nearly half of the contests his pacers and trotters competed in.

Across 20 starts at the southwestern Ontario track, Lane’s racing roster compiled a 7-2-4 slash line. Altogether, the group banked $19,254.

His seven wins outpaced a quartet of owners tied for second place with five.