MAY 2019 THE RIDER /3 Ian Millar Continued from Page 1.


show jumping riders of all time, Millar is stepping away from the international level to re-focus his efforts on coaching and develop- ing young horses. Born in Halifax, NS, in


1947, Millar began riding at the age of 10 in Alberta and was named to his first Nations’ Cup team in 1971. Since that time, Millar has been a stalwart on the Canadian Equestrian Team, revered for his ability to deliver under pressure in major compe- titions. Millar has represented Canada in more than 200 Na- tions’ Cup team competitions, including appearances in 10 Olympic Games, 10 Pan Ameri- can Games, and seven World Championships. Millar’s 10 Olympic appearances is a world record for any athlete across all sports. He won his first Olympic medal, a team silver, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has 10 Pan American Games medals, including two individual and two team gold. “Representing Canada


many times over my career has been my greatest honour,” said Millar of Perth, ON. “Each time I wore the red team jacket was very special to me, and the fact that I was able to share this ex- perience with so many great rid- ers is a testament to the quality of horsemen and horsewomen here in our country.” In addition to his efforts


representing Canada internation- ally, Millar has won over 150 grand prix competitions over the


Ajax Downs Continued from Page 2.


to race, the confidence to invest, and the encouragement to con- tinue to work to grow our indus- try right here in Ajax. By giving our industry the certainty that we’ll continue to have a site to race at, in addition to the long term funding agreement the gov- ernment has already announced, quarter horse racers have the cer- tainty we need to thrive,” said Bob Broadstock, President of Quarter Racing Owners of On- tario.


Ajax Downs President,


Justin Picov added “I would like to personally thank the OLG, OGGTA, and the Ontario gov- ernment for their efforts to ex- tend racing and gaming at Ajax Downs. We are looking forward to working through plans to im- prove the offerings at Ajax Downs to ensure our guests con- tinue to have the best racing and gaming experience possible.” The long term nature of the


lease affords the track the ability to seek out opportunities to add other non-gaming amenities at the site that will help Ajax Downs continue to be a premier draw for all Ontarians. ‘We sincerely appreciate


the hard work and ongoing sup- port that we’ve received from MPP Rod Phillips, Minister Fedeli and his staff and the Ford Government. Without their sin- cere desire to ensure a future for quarter racing in Ontario, none of this would have been possi- ble. This is a great way to start our 50th year of racing” Picov added.


course of his illustrious career, including winning the prestigious international grand prix three times at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Cal- gary, AB. He is a 12-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and was the first rider to win back-to-back World Cup Finals, earning the title in 1988 and 1989. His most successful horse, Big Ben, was a household name throughout Canada in the late 1980s and 1990s and was a favourite to win everywhere he competed. Millar built his home stable, Millar


Brooke Farm, located in Perth, ON, into a powerhouse training ground for interna- tional show jumping. In addition to his development of over 100 grand prix horses, Millar has coached a number of other top international riders including Canadian Olympic teammates Mario Deslauriers and Jill Henselwood, as well as Richard Spooner of the U.S. He has


also been instrumental in the successful careers of his son, Jonathon; daughter, Amy; and daughter-in-law, Kelly, all of whom currently represent their country in international competition. Today, Millar operates Millar Brooke Farm alongside his children and focuses on producing top show jumping horses and riders for com- petition. In recognition of his many suc-


cesses, Millar has received numerous awards including being named a Member of the Order of Canada. He has been in- ducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Fall of Fame, and the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. While Millar is stepping back from


international competition, he plans to be busier than ever working with up-and- coming athletes and horses. “The bond formed between horse and rider is an amazing thing to experi-


ence, but the partnership has to be built the right way, with compassion, under- standing, and care,” said Millar. “Over the past few years, I have found myself more and more drawn toward working with young horses and riders, and I am excited to expand my coaching to share my knowledge and passion with the next generation.” At the conclusion of his interna-


tional career, Millar paid tribute to those closest to him over the years. “It has been the journey of a lifetime


with so many dreams realized, so much due to the fantastic horses I was blessed to ride, to whom I am eternally grateful,” said Millar. “I would like to personally thank my owners and sponsors for all their help and support during my show jumping career. While there are too many to name, my partnerships with owner Ann Matthews and sponsor BMO Financial


Group had especially long and sustained successes. I would also like to thank all the members of my support team who have supported me faithfully over the years: my family, staff, veterinarians, equine therapists, chef d’equipes, and all my fellow riders. Finally, the biggest con- tributor to my success was my late wife, Lynn, with whom I shared my most cher- ished bond. Through our partnership, we achieved incredible success.”


Photo on Cover: Ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar has announced his retirement from international show jump- ing competition. Photo by Simon Stafford for Starting Gate Communica- tions


See more Ian Millar coverage on Page 29


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52