Page 10 - August 2019 Thoroughbred Highlight

Ownership Spotlight
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It’s Good to Know People in the Business
Owner Michael Loughry is no stranger to Thoroughbred racehorses. He grew up at Maryvale Farm located at Victoria Park and Lawrence in Toronto where his parents ran a boarding operation for thoroughbred racehorses. His father also owned one thoroughbred broodmare and the family would sell her yearlings or keep to race.
Once married Michael was no longer involved with the horses instead focusing on his career as a mechanical engineer with H.H. Angus & Associates Ltd. and raising his family.
In late 2002 with his children grown Michael partnered with his brothers Chris and Ed and his father-in law Gerry Morello on a 3 year-old colt Lloydtown claimed for $20,000 for them by trainer Bobby Tibbitts on October 4, 2002 at Woodbine.
They enjoyed immediate success with Lloydtown coming back to win his next race, a $34,100 maiden claiming on October 16 and another $24,000 claiming race on November 24. The staunch sprinter was a winner again in his second start at age 4 for $30,300 which would be the last race he would win before retiring mid-year the following year.
By 2006 the partnership had two horses on their books, Onemorebourbon and Miss Meggie and had others in and out of their stable for the next few years before the partnership dissolved in 2013 with 8 wins, 9 seconds, 6 thirds more than $225,000 in total earnings.
Continuing on his own, Michael found success with trainer Don MacRae who conditioned his horse Twilight Storm to 2 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds in 2012.
It was during that time that Michael Lay came into the fold as a partner. Their daughters had attended high school together and after a conversation one day with the teens at Lay’s home Lay attended the races with Loughry and it just so happened that Loughry’s horse Twilight Storm had a win.
Michael Lay had always had an interest in horseracing. His parents would take the family to the Queen’s Plate and other big races each year and Michael was in the stands when Secretariat ran
Trainer Don MacRae (left) with owners Michael Lay and Michael Loughry and their horse Join the Rush in the barns at Woodbine
his last race in 1973. His father knew people in the business but never became an owner himself. Similar to Loughry, Michael Lay’s days at the track became few when he pursued tertiary education and started a family.
That day at the track Lay and Loughry agreed on a partnership and Reeves Hill began running for the pair in May 2013 and provided the partnership with their rst win on September 25 that year.
“Mike knows a lot about the business.” mentioned Lay, “and knowing someone in the business made it easy for me to eventually become familiar and comfortable with the business.”
A second horse Elijah was added and the 2 horse stable consistently ran in the money with 3 wins, 3 seconds and 8 thirds in 2014 and 2015 and gave them incentive to purchase more horses.
Their trainer Don MacRae joined forces with the pair to make two memorable claims which would provide them all with the ultimate thrill of walking their stakes winners to the in eld win cicrle. “Winning stakes races is an incredible thrill.” Loughry stated, “You
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 10 - August 2019