Nancy Gredig and standardbreds are birds of a feather

by Chris Lomon

As a caretaker, Nancy Gredig is polished and precise in her duties, methodical and measured the moment she walks into the barn. Outside of that world, she prefers to wing it, so to speak.

In a horse racing career that has spanned 40 years, Gredig is the consummate professional when it comes to her craft, a steady hand wherever she has plied her trade.

She also requires a steady hand for a hobby unrelated to the equine world.

“I am going to sound like a nerd, but when you get to a certain age, a lot of older people enjoy bird watching,” said Gredig, who hails from St. Thomas, ON, a 35-minute drive south of Western Fair Raceway, the half-mile oval in London. “In the spring, if I can, I go to Rondeau Provincial Park and spend hours there, looking out for all types of birds. I am a bird nerd.”

Gredig, who works in the barn of trainer John Pentland, is also a standardbred standout.

On Jan. 31, at the annual O’Brien Awards banquet, she was selected as the 2025 Caretaker of the Year, an honor that caught her off-guard.

“I wish they could give one to everybody who was nominated,” Gredig said. “I look around me — at the training center and track — and there are so many hard-working people who deserve it.

“I knew that John and his girlfriend Sherri [Summer] were the ones who nominated me, so that is pretty special, too, when you know your employer was the person who nominated you. That meant a lot to me.”

There wasn’t much time to savor the moment.

“It felt like it was so quick, getting back to reality and getting back to work on Monday,” Gredig said. “But I was very surprised at receiving the award and it was just so amazing.”

Gredig, who takes care of Pentland trainees Sorcha Seelster, Swift Talker, Dirty Diana, Talbot Kristen, and Mist Amber, came back into the racing fold after some time spent outside of the sport.

All it took to draw her back was a phone call from a familiar voice, one question, and a quick response.

“I know people talk about it all the time, getting the racing bug,” she said. “I have had jobs outside of standardbred racing, working with other breeds of horses, on occasion. Before I started working for John, I worked for a few months at Old Navy, in one of their warehouses.”

The fashion world was not her forte – but she knew what was.

“When John contacted me and was looking for a groom — I had worked for him before — I didn’t think twice and was happy to jump back in,” Gredig said. “This industry is so rewarding and it is the only thing I have ever done that has made me feel happy and good.”

And that is exactly how the horses under Gredig are made to feel.

Pacers and trotters in the Pentland barn have an unabashed and enthusiastic cheerleader in their corner.

“I’m quiet, at least most of the time,” she said. “But there have been a few races over the years where I am kind of rooting on one of our horses. I don’t get loud, but I certainly get caught up in the moment on certain occasions. It can be so exciting.”

Does she think horses know when they have won?

“I don’t know, but I often wonder about that,” Gredig said. “Everyone around them is happy and they must know something is different when they get their picture taken. But I try to make them feel appreciated every day.”

Gredig has learned to navigate the challenging times with the understanding that such moments are inevitable, but not unconquerable.

“There are so many highs and lows,” she said. “John deals with young horses, so I can’t recall any time where I have had one of my horses claimed. But when a horse I look after gets sold, it’s tough when you don’t see their faces every day at the barn. But some of them are fillies and mares, so it’s nice to know that after they go to the breeding shed, you have a chance to see their offspring racing.

“There can also be bad days when a horse isn’t at their best — they might be sick or hurt — and you hate to see that. They are such wonderful animals and all you hope for is that they are happy and well taken care of.”

That is certainly the case for the trio of former standardbreds — Elm Grove Operativ, Quick Tour, and Lyons Susan – Gredig, who is a huge proponent of equine aftercare, calls her own.

“Elm Grove Operativ is a horse I fostered and then adopted from New Start Standardbreds, a licensed charity in Ontario that plays a part along with OSAS in standardbred aftercare,” said Gredig of the 25-year-old son of Armbro Operative. “He made over $350,000 and raced for a lot of different trainers. He ended up being a foster fail, but I was so happy to have him back.”

Lyons Susan, an 18-year-old daughter of Camluck, is a familiar face.

“Over 10 years ago, I had my trainer’s license for a while,” Gredig said. “Lyons Susan was a mare who I raced, then leased as a broodmare. Now, I have her back.”

Quick Tour is a 9-year-old son of Mach Three, who went 5-5-3 from 24 career starts.

“I looked after Quick Tour when I worked for [trainer] Mark Horner,” Gredig said. “He was a nice horse. He was so good at 2. He won almost all his Grassroots starts, except when he was second to [champion and multiple stakes winner] Tattoo Artist. I ended up leaving Mark’s and I asked him that whenever Quick Tour retires, I would love to give him a home. It was so nice of Mark to remember and call me when that day arrived.

“I feel so fortunate to have these horses in my life.”

A sentiment that perfectly captures the contented mind of an award-winning, horse-caring, bird-loving individual.