Veteran's career over after record 16 sub-1:50 wins

Co-owner Andy Willinger told harnessracing.com Wednesday morning that Lis Mara has been retired from racing after posting 27 victories—a record 16 in 1:50 or better—and earning $2,122,376 over his four-year career. Although it was first hoped Lis Mara would make his final start in Saturday's American National at Balmoral Park, Willinger said the decision to call it a career came following the 5-year-old son of Cambest’s seventh-place finish in the Gold Cup Invitational last Saturday night at Woodbine.

“It’s time; he’s ready to go to his next career (as a stud),” said Willinger. “He just really hasn’t been right the last six weeks or so. It was him telling us it’s time to move on to better things. He’s done way too much for us and doesn’t owe us anything. If we weren’t sure he was 100 percent—which he’s not—we’re not going to do it.”

Willinger originally paid $12,000 for Lis Mara as a yearling in a partnership in 2003, but when those partners decided to later opt out he sold half interest in early 2006 to MJG Racing Stables, which consists of Mike Gulotta, James Hess, John Jarka and Otis Ray. Along the way the new partnership decided to donate a portion of Lis Mara’s earnings to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation and Harness Horse Youth Foundation, and also use some of the funds to build houses in impoverished Haiti.

“He’s built 15 houses in Haiti and I’m sure he’ll build some more,” said Willinger. “In his second career we’ll be able to build more houses and continue to support those charities.”

Trained by Erv Miller, Lis Mara took his lifetime mark of 1:47.3 last year while winning the $500,000 Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands. Other big victories in 2006 were the Des Smith and the Canadian Pacing Derby, efforts that helped him earn honors in both the U.S. and Canada as Older Pacer of the Year. In 2007 his wins include the Graduate final and a repeat in the Canadian Pacing Derby. His last career victory came Oct. 21 at Hippodrome de Montreal when he won the $103,000 Rendez-Vous.

Besides Lis Mara’s record 16 sub-1:50 victories, his three career sub-1:48 efforts is an all-time record.

“It’s just been unbelievable. The most blessed ride you could ever have,” said Willinger. “Who would have ever thought? Two years in a row at a million dollars and knocking heads against the fastest group of free-for-allers in history and staying at the top of it. It’s amazing.”

Willinger said Lis Mara is currently at Miller’s Ontario barn at Classy Lane Training Center, and that he is hoping a possible “final lap” could be done at the Meadowlands either Breeders Crown elimination or final nights. Then Lis Mara will head to Kentuckiana Farms of Ontario, located at Emerald Ridge Farm in Rockwood, to begin his stallion career. Willinger said among the first horses Lis Mara will be bred to is the MJG-owned Worldly Beauty and Little Miss K.

“He deserves where he’s going now. If he can stamp himself on his foals he is going to be a wonderful stallion,” said Willinger. “But it’s tough. You take the bridle off for the last time, it’s tough. The joy of this game is racing them and when you can have one at the highest level, you only get one of those in a lifetime. I hope we are blessed with another one; we are sure going to try like heck to breed one through him. It was one heck of a ride.”

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