Gray Gladiator retired

Harnessracing.com was told Friday morning by co-owner Ed Sayfie that Admiral’s Express, the sport’s all-time leader in sub-1:50 victories, has been retired after a career in which he won 76 races and $1,649,900. Sayfie and his wife, Cheryl, and partners Gary and Laurel Gust originally paid just $3,700 for him as a yearling in 1997.

“He was losing a little bit…and we always said the horse would tell us, and he is telling us,” Ed Sayfie told harnessracing.com Friday morning of retiring the 11-year-old gray Admirals Galley gelding. “By doing this now, we just want to honor him with the class that he has. It’s a retirement that is well deserved.”

Admiral’s Express made his final start Dec. 23 at Woodbine, finishing off a 293-start career in which his gritty and determine efforts earned him the nickname “The Gray Gladiator” from former Woodbine/Mohawk race announcer Frank Salive. His 14 sub-1:50 victories is an all-time record, with his career-best 1:48.2 coming in an Open Pace at Woodbine at age nine on June 11, 2005.

“They are so many special races, and some of those were when he didn’t win,” Sayfie said. “He gave us goose bumps every time he went behind the gate.”

Admiral’s Express was Canada’s 2005 Horse of the Year, and he also won two other O’Brien Awards as the best of his division. He was trained by Mike Hales and driven primarily by Paul MacDonell, although Sayfie pointed out others such as John Campbell, David Miller, Luc Ouellette, Brad Kramer, Rick Zeron, Steve Condren, Pat Hudon and Phil Hudon have climbed in the sulky behind him.

“To have so many wonderful drivers to race and win with him, it’s just special,” said Sayfie.

Sayfie said Admiral’s Express will remain at Hales’ farm in Orillia, Ont., and that he will also continue to be ridden by Hale’s fiancée, Lacey Beer. He added an official retirement ceremony is being planned for Victoria Day in Canada on May 21 at Mohawk Racetrack.

“They wanted to do it at Mohawk, where the fans are closer; they can get right up close to him,” explained Sayfie.

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