Blair Corbeil has built quite a career in harness racing
by Murray Brown
Blair Corbeil’s first horse was a $6,000 claimer which promptly went out and won its first start for its new owner, only to be immediately claimed away from him. Since then, his horse holdings have risen to where they cover somewhere around 80 head and include just about everything, racehorses, yearlings, weanlings, broodmares, and stallion shares. He has horses throughout North America with trainers in Western Canada, Ontario, and New Jersey.
To me you are somewhat unique since as far as I know you are the first Western Canadian I have had the pleasure of interviewing.
“Well thank you for doing it. It is my pleasure as well.”
In terms of Western Canadians, you are unique in several ways, one of which is that you own and race trotters.
“I suppose that is correct. There are no races for trotters, only pacers and runners in Alberta where I live. I wish we had trotters here. I really don’t understand why not. Actually, one of the best trotters I’ve owned was initially broke and trained by Kelly Hoerdt in Alberta. His name is Rubber Duck and how I came to own him is a story all by itself. I was in Harrisburg with my wife Ema. She came running to me about this horse she had seen that was in the mixed sale that she really liked. Basically, to humor her I went to look at the Muscle Mass colt named Rubber Duck that she had discovered. I looked at him and liked what I saw. We bought him for all of $3,500. We sent him to Kelly in Alberta who prepped him to race in the Ontario Sires Stakes. We then sent him to Julie Walker in Ontario. Julie raced him pretty successfully in Ontario at 2 and 3. We then sent him to Joe Bongiorno to race at Yonkers. He finished his racing career earning $609,074 and then transitioned to show and dressage where I understand he has performed exceptionally well. He is now owned and shown by a young lady named Ashley Parsells in Mechanicsburg, PA. We visit with her each year at the Harrisburg Sale.
“One of the first good horses we had was also as trotter named Nureyev who specialized in being second, mostly to the good trotter Define The World. At 3, he raced 17 times, never winning a single heat, but still managed to win over $200,000 Canadian.”
In addition to racing, you also have been involved in breeding.
“I’ve been fortunate in pretty much every area of harness racing in which I’ve been involved. The very first yearling I sold at public auction was bought by Dr. Ian Moore for $40,000. I thought that was a decent price and was satisfied, but probably not as pleased as Dr. Moore was, because that colt named Rockin In Heaven went on to earn more than a million Canadian dollars for Dr. Moore and partners. I’m a firm believer in offering all the yearlings that we own at public auction. We own approximately 20 broodmares. We keep and raise our horses at Dean and Ashley Wilson’s farm in Kenwood, ON. I believe they do an excellent job.”
Who are your trainers nowadays?
“In Alberta, it’s still Kelly Hoerdt. In Ontario we have and have had horses with Rob and Kyle Fellows, Bill Companion, Julie Walker, Bob Young, Clark Beelby, and Carl Jamieson. In New Jersey my horses are with Ron and Regina Coyne. Most of my horses are owned in partnerships. I’m a firm believer in them for two main reasons. Firstly, because economically it makes sense. You get to spread the risk. Secondly, because its more enjoyable, especially if you are lucky enough to have a good horse. It’s so much more fun to spread the joy among friends and partners. I’m also a fan of smaller operations. I like to think that in those you get the attention of the people to whom you are paying the bills.”
You have four O’Brien Award nominees this year.
“Of the four, I think the one that has the best chance of winning is the 2-year-old Cattlewash filly A Clean Deal. She won six of seven starts and earned $454,464 including the OSS Super Final. I’d be disappointed if she didn’t win. But you never know. I think Logan Park also has a good chance. One that I am certain won’t win, although he is a very good colt is Tilthecowscomehome. I would expect that if Beau Jangles isn’t a unanimous pick, then something is wrong.”
You are a presence at all of the yearling sales.
“I really enjoy going to the sales, because I view them as seeing where the future lies. The first sale I went to was the New Jersey Classic at Showplace Farms many years ago. We left there having bought four yearlings. It was there where I first met Dale Welk. I’ve been friends with him ever since. I go to Harrisburg, Lexington, and London every year. Ironically, the sale I often miss out on is the Western Canada yearling sale because it often conflicts with Lexington.”
What is it in real life that allows you to be as prominent as you are in harness racing?
“I’m in the construction business here in Edmonton. As much as I view the necessity of my construction building to be profitable, in the same manner I look at my horse enterprises as a business. Of course, I do not make a profit every year. But I feel we do most of the time.”
Are any members of your family involved in your horse ventures?
“Only my wife who enjoys it as much as I do. We have four kids and 12 grandchildren. They enjoy hearing about the horses and occasionally watching them race. But they are grown and have their own lives to lead.”
