Yonnie Starr
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Yonnie" Starr was a Canadian Hall of Fame
Thoroughbred
racehorse
trainer
about whom the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame says has a "record unmatched in Canadian racing history."
Starr began his career in Thoroughbred racing as a jockey's
agent
, representing prominent jockeys such as Frank Mann, Pat Remillard, Red Pollard, and George Seabo. At the same time, in an unofficial capacity Starr became involved in the conditioning of horses. As an unlicensed trainer his first win in 1936 was not formally recognized as were the wins of other horses he trained between then and 1952 when he applied for his license.
Yonnie Starr earned his first Canadian Horse of the Year honors in 1955 with Ace Marine
, a colt
whose wins included the three races that four years later were officially designated as the Canadian Triple Crown series. In all, Starr won ten official Triple Crown Classics including four Queen's Plate
s. His horses earned ten Sovereign Award
s and won a record seven Canadian Horse of the Year titles: Ace Marine
(1955), Wonder Where
(1959), Fanfreluche
(1970), La Prevoyante
(1972), L'Enjoleur
(1974, 1975), L'Alezane
(1977). Seven of the horses he trained were inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame with one of them also elected to the U.S. United States Racing Hall of Fame
.
Although Starr trained horses of both sexes, he was recognized as someone who also had a special talent to develop fillies
. During his career he trained horses with great success for prominent owners such as Conn Smythe
and Larkin Maloney, both individually and for the Smythe/Maloney racing partnersip. In the 1970s and 1980s Starr continued as a dominant force in Canadian racing as the trainer for Quebec
sportsman, Jean-Louis Levesque
. In addition to training for others, he owned a few horses and notably trained Unbranded who won the 1954 Jockey Club Cup Handicap
.
Yonnie Starr trained horses until his death in Florida
in March 1990 at age eighty-four. At the time, he had been racing for the winter season at Gulfstream Park
.
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
about whom the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame says has a "record unmatched in Canadian racing history."
Starr began his career in Thoroughbred racing as a jockey's
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
, representing prominent jockeys such as Frank Mann, Pat Remillard, Red Pollard, and George Seabo. At the same time, in an unofficial capacity Starr became involved in the conditioning of horses. As an unlicensed trainer his first win in 1936 was not formally recognized as were the wins of other horses he trained between then and 1952 when he applied for his license.
Yonnie Starr earned his first Canadian Horse of the Year honors in 1955 with Ace Marine
Ace Marine
Ace Marine was a Canadian Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who in 1955 won the three races that four years later were officially designated the Canadian Triple Crown...
, a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
whose wins included the three races that four years later were officially designated as the Canadian Triple Crown series. In all, Starr won ten official Triple Crown Classics including four Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
s. His horses earned ten Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award
The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....
s and won a record seven Canadian Horse of the Year titles: Ace Marine
Ace Marine
Ace Marine was a Canadian Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who in 1955 won the three races that four years later were officially designated the Canadian Triple Crown...
(1955), Wonder Where
Wonder Where
Wonder Where was a Canadian Thoroughbred filly racehorse who was Canada's 1959 Horse of the Year and a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee....
(1959), Fanfreluche
Fanfreluche (horse)
Fanfreluche was a Canadian-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named by her French Canadian owner for the title character of a popular children's television show on the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
(1970), La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred race horse elected to the Racing Halls of Fame in the United States and Canada. A filly, she was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque...
(1972), L'Enjoleur
L'Enjoleur
L'Enjoleur was a Canadian Thoroughbred race horse. Bred and owned by prominent Montreal businessman Jean-Louis Lévesque, L'Enjoleur was sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Buckpasser, a son of another Hall of Famer, Tom Fool...
(1974, 1975), L'Alezane
L'Alezane
L'Alezane was a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred filly racehorse. The daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Fager, her dam, Northern Willow, was a daughter of breeder E. P. Taylor's great international sire, Northern Dancer....
(1977). Seven of the horses he trained were inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame with one of them also elected to the U.S. United States Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
Although Starr trained horses of both sexes, he was recognized as someone who also had a special talent to develop fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
. During his career he trained horses with great success for prominent owners such as Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
and Larkin Maloney, both individually and for the Smythe/Maloney racing partnersip. In the 1970s and 1980s Starr continued as a dominant force in Canadian racing as the trainer for Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
sportsman, Jean-Louis Levesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque, was a Canadian entrepreneur, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist....
. In addition to training for others, he owned a few horses and notably trained Unbranded who won the 1954 Jockey Club Cup Handicap
Sky Classic Stakes
The Sky Classic Stakes is a Canadian Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in mid to late September on turf over a distance of 1¼ miles , it is open to horses three years of age and older...
.
Yonnie Starr trained horses until his death in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in March 1990 at age eighty-four. At the time, he had been racing for the winter season at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
.