Carlspur makes winning return to Mighty M

Carlspur, Monticello Raceway’s Horse of the Years last season, returned to the Mighty M as promised by his co-owner, Tom Trezza, and on Tuesday, Aug. 28, the old warrior, a winner of over $900,000 in his illustrious career, scored one of his most impressive victories in recent years when Stephane Bouchard guided him to a 1:54 triumph in the track's weekly pacing feature. And that victory came right on the heels of the stallion’s 1:55:3 triumph at Freehold Raceway 10 days prior.

By now, many--and not only racing fans--know of the saga of how Carlspur nearly died last November and sustained a two-hour operation and months of rehabilitation before he was able to return to the racing wars. But now he’s back--and in a big way.

Trezza, who hadn’t missed any of Carlpsur’s five previous races at the Mighty M this season wasn’t able to be on hand to witness the veteran campaigner’s throttling triumph.

“I was so upset that I had business to attend to in Washington, D.C., and had to listen to the race on the phone with my dad while driving in my car on I-95 in Maryland,” Trezza related. “I really wanted to be there in person to witness this happy, but emotional, event for us. Maybe the old guy isn’t done yet and please don’t tell him he’s 11 years old going on 12.”

Carlspur’s second victory of the 2007 campaign was the pacers 73^rd of his career and the earnings from the Monticello race pushed his lifetime total to over $900,000.

Another of Carlspur’s co-owner,  Paul White  added some interesting facts about  the 11 year stallion. “After  a check a couple of weeks ago with Standardbred Canada, Carlspur’s 1:48 lifetime record still makes him the fastest ever Canadian-bred and the U.S. Trotting Association says he's the oldest ever to pace that fast-taking his mark as a 9 year old,” White said. (with files from Monticello) 

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