London, ON — The Raceway at Western Fair District has announced that long time horseman Larry Fitzsimmons will be inducted into its prestigious Wall of Fame during the annual ceremony which will take place this year on Friday (May 17).

The Raceway at Western Fair District has announced that long time horseman Larry Fitzsimmons will be inducted into its prestigious Wall of Fame. WFD Photo.

The native of Hanover, Ontario first fell in love with the horses as a youngster when he would attend the Fall Fairs with his father. In 1965, he turned that passion into a career when he opened his own stable.

Since that time, Fitzsimmons has not missed a race meet at Western Fair and during his 54-year career has won many Trainer of the Year titles at the London oval. He has bred and developed many top performers and some of the horses he is best known for include quarter-million dollar winners Stonebridge Celest (C$440,000) Angels Uprising (C$309,000) and Laurstar (C$251,000).

One of his favorites is Chicopee Star who was his first OSS winner and became his first broodmare. She is the grandmother of current Fitzsimmons’ barn favorite Jake Parrish.

Fitzsimmons will be inducted into The Raceway’s Wall of Fame during a ceremony at the track that night which will also include the Wall of Fame feature race.