by Dean A. Hoffman

USTA Photo

John Chadbourne, an avid racing fan from Scarborough, Maine, submitted the winning name in the contest to name the first foal of Bunny Lake, the 2001 Horse of the year.

His name of Bunny’s Legacy was chosen by Bunny Lake’s owners from the thousands of entries in the contest. There were similar name suggestions, but it was Chadbourne’s name that was selected.

Bunny Lake, a winner of 47 races and more than $2.8 million in her career, is owed by Wendy and Skip Spring of Johnstown, New York , and former trainer-driver John Stark, Jr. Her first foal is a filly by Western Hanover .

Chadbourne, 32, has been a racing fan since he was 10 years old.

“I go primarily to Scarborough and the area fairs,” he says. “I take an occasional trip to Plainridge and I’ve also been to the Meadowlands and Freehold.”

Although he saw Bunny Lake only on simulcast, he says, “She is surely one of the greatest pacing mares ever to race.”

He prefers live racing to simulcast viewing.

“I’d just as soon watch a $1,000 race at the Topsham Fair than go to the OTB to watch a $1 million race on simulcast,” he says. “I watched Walter Case, Jr, George Brennan, and Leigh Fitch growing up, and I have lots of fond memories of attending the races with my dad.”

Chadbourne says that he owned “a few cheap claimers” a few years back, but is not an active owner now. He has many friends in the sport.

For submitting the winning name, Chadbourne will receive a memento of Bunny Lake from her owners.