from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Joie De Vie, the 3-year-old colt trotter of the year in 1983, died Jan. 4, 2009, in Vigone, Italy.

A son of Super Bowl-Heidi Rodney, Joie De Vie won 13 of his 25 starts as a sophomore, banking $1,007,705. He was victorious in the Yonkers Trot that year for driver Buddy Gilmour and finished in a dead-heart for fourth behind the filly Duenna in the Hambletonian final after winning his elimination. He was owned at the time by breeder Maurice Siegel, along with Crown Stable, Paul Nigito and Lana Lobell Farms of New Jersey.

As a sire, he had seven crops while standing in New Jersey and fathered 595 registered foals, 357 of which made it to the races. He produced 42 $100,000 winners and his offspring banked more than $13 million. His richest was Sirocco Spur, who earned $497,758, while his fastest were Furman and Fat Toy, who each took a mark of 1:54.3. He was exported after being sold in late 1989.