Unwavering family support keeps Melissa Loyer grounded

by Matthew Lomon

No matter where on a map Melissa Loyer’s life in standardbred racing takes her, she can always rely on family to make her feel at home.

“It’s the little things, like my parents saying, ‘Good job. Keep up the good work,’” Loyer said. “They encourage me every day — even to this day — ‘Good luck tonight. Where are we racing? We’re watching.’

“When I win, I wave. That’s always to my parents. That’s our thing: ‘Make sure you wave even though we’re not there.’”

That unwavering support from her father Luc Loyer, a long-time — and still active — horseman based in Gatineau, QC, her mother Sylvia, and sister Victoria, who’s go-to advice — or jest — following a second-place finish is “do better,” has given Melissa the inspiration to dream big.

Just as importantly, it has been the foundation that steadies her when doubt creeps in.

“I’m really glad my family, my close friends, and even myself believed in me because some days I was just like, ‘Oh, my god, I can’t do this,” Melissa said. “I don’t remember how many times I told myself that, but my dad was always positive and telling me it was going to work out. That’s why he pushed me and encouraged this whole time. So, now, when my horses do well, I think, ‘Where would I be without my dad?’”

Luc, having lived the life himself, has been a rock-solid presence in his daughter’s corner from the beginning.

As Melissa recalls, she “always had horses” with her dad, even when she was working elsewhere.

While that was the norm for the child of a horseman, Melissa’s pursuit of a career in racing didn’t ignite until COVID-19 struck in 2020.

Wasting no time, she packed her bags for Florida where she would pick up work under veteran trainer Paul Holzman.

After a brief tenure in Holzman’s barn, Melissa journeyed to the Buckeye State to continue her craft at Northfield Park.

She spent a total of five years in the United States before returning home to Ottawa in July of last year – a move that changed the course of her life for good.

“I worked alongside my dad when I got back and I had a horse or two with him,” Melissa said. “Then Rideau [Carleton] closed for the winter, and I was actually going to come up here [to the Hamilton area] to work for somebody, but my dad encouraged me to go do it on my own.”

Though apprehensive about the prospect of a solo venture, Melissa was game to meet the challenge head on.

“My dad went off to Florida and pretty much said, ‘You have to take these horses. Go try it. You know what you’re doing. Give it your all,’” she said. “I’m nervous, but I couldn’t say no.”

Equipped with Luc’s truck and trailer, Melissa set course for Golden Horseshoe Lanes — a standardbred training facility five minutes from Flamboro Downs — and never looked back.

“I came up here and I had six,” Melissa said. “Now, I’m up to 10 because I’ve been claiming a few, the first being Missys Magic Man. He’s been really good to me and been working really hard. I think it’s paying off; I work night and day racing everywhere.

“I’m really happy my parents encouraged me, pushed me and supported me through it all.”

Luc’s influence has remained a powerful force in Melissa’s odyssey from part-time horsewoman to full-time conditioner.

Whether it be a phone call before or after a race, or the kind of tentpole wisdom only a parent can bestow, Melissa is eternally grateful for the wealth of lessons and reinforcement from her greatest inspiration.

“My dad always told me that your horse’s attitude is the biggest thing,” she said. “It’s about getting to know them, knowing the animal. When you take them to the track, you get a feel for them, and you can tell right away by the horse’s attitude and performance if something is off.

“It’s about making sure your horse feels good, they’re well taken care of, and they’re happy. They want to do good when they’re being well taken care of. Every day, when I go into the barn and all my horses are happy to see me – that’s a big thing for me.”

Melissa’s roster of racehorses has plenty of reason to be in good spirits after a banner opening to 2026.

In less than three months on the Ontario winter tour, Melissa has already blown past previous career-highs across the board.

Racing primarily at The Raceway at Western Fair District and Flamboro, Melissa’s early-season resume includes nine wins, eight seconds, and four thirds across 45 starts, good for nearly $50,000 in prizes (all recorded at time of submission).

However, the one victory that stands above the rest came March 9 courtesy of a pacer holding a special place in Melissa’s heart, Bettorholdontight.

“My dad had him for quite a while at Rideau; he’s definitely one of my favorite horses in the barn,” Melissa said of the 7-year-old bay, adding with a laugh, “He’s got the best personality, he’s just so fun. He’s like a little kid and he’s very needy and he gets a lot of treats. He definitely gets what he wants, he’s a very spoiled horse.”

The win in question — a three-quarters-of-a-length decision in 1:55.2 — represented Melissa’s first triumph at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t be there to witness the milestone, but that didn’t dampen the celebration one bit.

“I was in London in the parking lot, and I was with [trainer] Ben Hollingsworth and a couple other guys and I’m yelling,” she recalled fondly. “I had one in London, so I couldn’t be at Mohawk… no words could describe the feeling, but I always knew the horse could do it.

“There’s no better horse I could have gotten that win with. I wish I was there. He’s like my best friend, he’s just so great. And having Billy Davis [Jr.], who drove for me in Ohio, be the one driving for me at Mohawk and getting me my first win, that was just amazing.”

The moment, while in a different setting and under entirely different circumstances, stirred up the same emotions Melissa experienced after securing her first career win with Sweet Lou pacer Vanilla Malted at her hometown track of Rideau Carleton on May 14, 2023.

“I still have that same feeling,” she said. “There’s no other feeling like it in the world. It never gets old.”

With so much season left, the opportunities for Melissa to continue her ascent are endless.

Among the goals she hopes to achieve is growing her stable to 12 — her favorite number — and acquiring more horses capable of competing at Mohawk.

“I think that’s everybody’s goal and dream to race on that ‘A circuit,’” she said. “That’s definitely what I’m aiming towards.”

For all the quantifiable results she hopes to rein in, Melissa takes equal pride in the successes that won’t show up on the stat sheet.

“As long as they race the best they can, walk off the track sound, and then after the race their ears are up and they’re ready to go home, that’s when I know I did a good job,” she said.

Doing right by the horses and people who believe in her has given Melissa every bit of confidence that she is exactly where she’s meant to be.

“It is a really good, exhausting feeling when I go to bed and my head hits the pillow and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m tired but it was worth it, and I can’t wait to get up and do it again,’” she said. “I love it.”