by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Hightstown, NJ — Supergrit, who won the 1999 Breeders Crown Open Trot on his way to that year’s Dan Patch Award for best older male trotter, passed away Saturday (June 30) at central New Jersey’s Blairwood Farms, which was his home since retiring in 2001. He was 25.

Barbara Livingston photo

Leslie McLaren owned Supergrit following his career on the racetrack.

“He was a good boy; we enjoyed him for about 17 years,” said Blairwood’s Leslie McLaren, who owned Supergrit following his career on the racetrack. “It’s sad when they pass. When you work with these animals the endings are always hard, but you remember all the good stuff and good times.”

Supergrit, a son of Supergill out of Gutsy Lobell, was purchased for $21,000 by trainer Mark Jordan for owner Dennis Doyle at the 1994 Tattersalls Sale. Supergrit went on to earn $1.48 million thanks to collecting a check in 57 of 63 career races, winning 27.

In addition to the Breeders Crown, Supergrit’s victories included the inaugural Trot Mondial in 1999, where he upset Moni Maker, and the 1997 Maple Leaf Trot.

The gelding enjoyed something of a second career after retiring, overseeing yearlings at Blairwood Farms.

“He was the babysitter,” McLaren said. “He kept an eye on them and kept them in line for many years.”