George Filion dies in Florida

Horseman George Filion died from a suspected sudden and massive coronary attack when finishing his morning training duties on Wednesday at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. He was 74.

 

"I'd been training a 2-year-old filly alongside him and he really helped me by going with the trotting mare Conflicting Tales that he has in to go on Friday night," said fellow trainer Geoff Howles. "I came out with another horse just a couple minutes later and he was on the ground. (Trainer) Brian Bellamy told me that it was obvious that George was in very serious trouble and that the best efforts of the first responders couldn't revive him. This morning I still had the 2:28 on my watch from that training mile with George and I remember shouting over a big thanks to him as we were pulling up. Today on the Pompano backstretch we're coping with just how sudden this was."

 

Pending the expected approval of the judges and track management, fellow trainer Mel Turcotte is generously stepping in to ensure that George Filion's entrants get raced on the final weekend of the Pompano meet on Friday and Saturday evenings to honor his memory.

 

Mr. Filion was born at Acton Vale, Que., on April 19, 1936. On the Pompano backstretch he would often recount anecdotes from his experiences as being the oldest child of a family of 16 brothers and sisters. His memories of working with the horses and competing on the former Quebec fair circuit dated to when he was 10 years old.

 

At the time of his passing, George Filion had a four-horse string in South Florida including trotting mare Conflicting Tales, pacing mare Pannsylvania Dutch, and pacing geldings Brians Joy and Cobbler Hanover. His permanent home in the United States was at Greenville, N.C. and while campaigning in Florida he resided at Loxahatchee. Probably the highest profile horse to pass through his care and ownership was trotter Hobokenbahamamamas who went on to sire Great George Two. From 2004-2007, Great George Two raced with the best of his generation in the Dexter Cup, Bluegrass Stakes, Canadian Trotting Classic, The Goodtimes Stakes, and he was the runner-up to Vivid Photo in the 2005 World Trotting Derby.

 

"George was an unfailingly patient and professional horseman that was really well liked around here," says Pompano's director of racing operations John Yinger. "It is a very sudden and sad loss for all of us."

 

Funeral arrangements for George Albert Filion are pending at this time and will be announced when available. (Pompano Park)