The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame sends condolences to the family and connections of British Columbia-based Thoroughbred breeder and owner Russ Bennett. Russ along with his wife Lois Bennett are the only couple to be inducted to the CHRHF together. That joint recognition speaks to the pair’s Thoroughbred achievements throughout their careers.
Along with Lois, Russ Bennett, involved in Thoroughbred racing since the 1950s, long dominated the breeder standings in British Columbia. Their racing stable similarly excelled, resulting in graded stakes victories from Lord Nelson, Majesticality , and Touching Promise since the turn of the century. All three homebreds scored their graded stakes victories at Hastings Racecourse, with Lord Nelson and Touching Promise respectively winning back-to-back renewals of the 2002-03 Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap (G3) and 2014-15 Ballerina Stakes (G3).
Years before, R.J. Bennett campaigned Travelling Victor, who made history in 1983 when he became the first horse not campaigned in Ontario to win Horse of the Year honors in Canada. He also won a Sovereign Award that year in the older horse category, and the R.J. Bennett took home a Sovereign award as breeder of the year in 1983.
A member of The Jockey Club of Canada for almost 40 years. In 2016, they received that organization’s prestigious E. P. Taylor Award of Merit.
The year before, Touching Promise was named Horse of the Year and champion older mare in British Columbia, when the Bennetts also notched leading breeder and owner titles there—regular occurrences for the couple.
At that time, they owned more than 40 broodmares and maintained a population of more than 100 Thoroughbreds at their Flying Horse Farm on the shores of Okanagan Lake in Westbank, British Columbia. Not Bourbon currently stands there.
Other top runners for the Bennetts included Brandy Magic, Skovinsky, Historical Devil, Tasty Victory, Supberly Honest, Darcia, Travelling Round, Easy Triumph, Hurried Romance, Billy Blue, Lively Lord, and Always a Dixie.
The Bennetts are credited with breeding and campaigning thousands of horses, supporting the British Columbia equine industry. R.J. Bennett served as president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (B.C. Division) from 1991-94.
R.J. Bennett is survived by Lois Bennett and adult children. (with files from Blood Horse)