by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Fox Valley Redhot, one of the greatest race and broodmares in Illinois harness racing history, has died at the age of 20. The chestnut pacing daughter of Armbro Wolf, owned by Jim and Donna Crebs of Cantrall, Ill., colicked over the weekend and was unable to recover.

Timothy M. Jones photo

Fox Valley Redhot was successful both on the track and as a broodmare.

“Redhot”, as she was affectionately called by her owners, was in the process of being bred to Sportsmaster at Morning Glory Farm in southeastern Illinois, and was waiting for her 16 day breeding check when she succumbed.

Dr. Anna Ruhman spoke with Crebs on Saturday, informing him the mare was suffering from the colic attack, but everything was being done to make her comfortable. Crebs had the option of sending the mare to the University of Illinois Veterinary Clinic for surgery, but did not feel it would be fair to her at that age.

“The prognosis was such, we didn’t believe she could make the trip,” said Crebs.

At 7:40 a.m. Sunday morning, April 22, Crebs received the news that his prized mare had died.

Fox Valley Redhot was aptly named. The color of her coat was the most visual aspect of her name, but her natural talent on the racetrack was probably the best indication of her moniker.

Winning seven of nine starts as a 2-year-old, and earning nearly $200,000, Fox Valley Redhot was named Illinois Harness Horse of the Year in 1989, the first time a 2-year-old pacing filly had ever achieved that honor. The Illinois divisional champion was also that year’s season’s leader with her 1:54.2 mark, until eclipsed during the Lexington meet by Delinquent Account’s 1:54.1 mark.

Retired from racing in 1991, Fox Valley Redhot proved to be just as successful producing record setting offspring as she had setting race marks. The Illinois Harness Horse Association elected her to their Hall of Fame in 1999, and then in 2005, she was also honored as Illinois Pacing Broodmare of the Year.

The dam of 10 foals from 1993–2003, with earnings of more than $1.3 million, six of those progeny earned over $100,000 each, and seven posted race marks of 1:54 or better.

Her most famous son, based on performance and lifetime earnings of nearly $500,000, was world champion Hot Chilli Pepper. The Cole Muffler gelding, in 1996, repeated his mother’s 2-year-old success by winning nine of 16, posting a 1:52.2 race mark and earning over $115,000. Among those victories were the $50,000 and $60,000 finals of the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes and Governor’s Cup at Du Quoin, respectively. He also earned the honor of 2-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year.

Her 1995 daughter by Broadway Express, She’s Redhot, is also a producer of world champions. Her gelded son by Sportsmaster, Hot N Sporty, equaled Lucky Z Tam’s 1:50.2 then world record, in the 2005 Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes final. He has earned over $239,000 in three seasons on the track.

Crebs reflected that earlier in the year Fox Valley Redhot was “acting like a 3-year-old the way she was ripping and running around the farm.” He also pointed out that “she established and paid for our farm.”

A great race horse, but perhaps even better mother. Fox Valley Redhot may be gone, but she will never be forgotten.