Trot Insider has learned that Standardbred breeder and owner Gordon Gregory of High River, Alberta, passed away during the afternoon hours of Thursday, June 12 at the age of 82.
Gregory, who served several terms on the board of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, is survived by his loving wife, Betty, and five children.
Gregory grew up around the harness racing industry in Prince Edward Island and was nicknamed ‘Dempsey’ for his boxing prowess. His love of ‘the sweet science’ saw him work his way up to the 132-pound class in his younger years.
Having left the Island more than 60 years ago, Gregory ended up in southern Alberta after he was transferred to the area during his time with the Air Force. Gregory would ultimately retire as vice president and general manager of Yellow Cab in Calgary, but that was only so he could concentrate on the breeding and raising of Standardbreds.
Gregory continued to be a figure in the Canadian boxing industry, as he judged every Alberta fight that Canadian champions George Chuvalo, Sean O’Sullivan and Willie Dewitt fought in during his time in the province. He also continued to play hockey while in Alberta. He had won a Maritime Senior ‘B’ Cup while out east, but found himself playing for his airbase team and hometown teams while in Alberta – he was even flown to Calgary to suit up for the airbase team in Lincoln Park.
The Gregorys bought a farm in Calgary’s outskirts in 1978 and began raising Standardbred foals. In 1990, two years after Gregory retired, the family moved their operation to High River to continue to breed harness horses.
Gregory was a co-owner of the filly Relhom Jan, who was a rare distaff winner of the Western Canada Pacing Derby (1978). He also found success with Coteau Lad and No Stuff – the latter of which was a pacing-bred that raced to a Stampede Park trotting record in 1982. One of Gergory’s first broodmares, Armbro Spry, produced Spry Ty, the 1987 Western Canada Pacing Derby winner. Gregory also had world champion On The Road Again on his farm as a yearling.
In 2004, Gregory was honoured in the province with the Breeders’ Award of Recognition.