by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications
Toronto, ON — Trainer/driver Keith Jones has officially announced the retirement of 13-year-old trotter Abbey Road C, a career winner of $1,651,917.
New Image Media photo
Abbey Road C earned more than $100,000 for seven straight seasons from 2002-2008.
The son of Incredible Abe-Jayport Whimsy was purchased as a yearling for $11,000 by owner Mary Charlton and was conditioned by Jones throughout his entire career.
“He was just getting up there in age and we decided to call it a career,” said Jones. “He was such a terrific horse to have. A once in a lifetime horse and he’ll forever have a home.”
The gelding, who has made 66 career trips to the winner’s circle, took his lifetime mark of 1:52.4 as a 4-year-old.
Abbey Road C, an Ontario Sires Stakes graduate, captured the Frank Ryan Memorial Trot, The Honourable Earl Rowe Cup along with multiple Preferred and Open victories on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit. His biggest payday came with a third place finish in the $800,000 Breeders Crown in 2003, collecting $96,000.
“That was just an incredible evening and probably my favorite memory of him,” Jones said of the 2003 Crown race. “To compete against the very best older trotters in the world and finish third is quite an honor.”