Shadow Place Strikes Gold In Life After Racing
There were many things, a combination of kismet, coincidence, serendipity, and the very definition of a team effort, that brought Shadow Place to his happy place.
“I guess it really was meant to be,” started Tim Dickieson, a longtime Standardbred racehorse owner, who along with his wife, Alexandra, reside on a picturesque parcel of land in Holland Centre, Ontario. “I suppose it is kind of a neat story how this horse ended up at our farm.”
Katie Miller, a longtime horsewoman and owner of Shadow Place, is grateful for the journey that led him there.
“All we can do is put our horses first and I think this is the least I can do for him given all he has done for me,” Miller, a former harness racing driver and trainer, told the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS).
Tim Dickieson shares the same view.
“We enjoy the horses,” he said. “It can be difficult at times to find places for them. I grew up with horses and lost a few through claiming races. When you get that good bond with them and seeing them move on, it’s like losing anything that is dear to you. My wife and I are just happy to be able to give him a good home and ensure that Katie can come see him whenever she wants.”
The road that Shadow Place, bred by Dan Belliveau, took to his life after the racetrack started just under 14 years ago, on May 22, 2011, to be exact, when the son of Shadow Play-Loving Place was welcomed into the world.
Listed as Hip No. 1106 at the 2012 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, Shadow Place was sold for $21,000.
After a pair of qualifiers in June of 2013, one at Mohawk, the other at Rideau Carleton, Shadow Place debuted in the Ontario Sires Stakes ranks, finishing second in a Grassroots Series race at Georgian Downs that July.
One race later, the bay, then under the tutelage of trainer Stephane Larocque, struck OSS Grassroots gold, the milestone score coming at Hanover Raceway.
His biggest triumph and biggest payday came in the 2017 edition of the Gold Cup & Saucer. Considered one of the most celebrated harness racing events in Eastern Canada, the race saw its 65th edition contested last year at Charlottetown Driving Park.
Driven by Gilles Barrieau and trained by Robert Kyle Fellows, who earned his 100th lifetime win with the Gold Cup & Saucer victory, Shadow Place paid $22 for his signature score.
“Obviously growing up on the east coast, the Gold Cup & Saucer is the holy grail,” Miller shared with OSAS. “So, to take him there, let alone win it, was beyond anything I can ever describe. I actually thought I was going to pass out walking back to the winner’s circle that night. He stood there for 20 minutes, like an angel, while people took very muddy photos with him.”
The gelding, who posted purse earnings of $136,000 in 2017, also enjoyed other OSS successes and winner’s circle trips throughout Ontario, as well at a few U.S. racetracks, during his racing life.
Shadow Place’s curtain-closing race failed to produce a Hollywood-type finish. But the sixth-place finish on Dec. 17, 2021 – he finished less than three lengths back of the winner – did nothing to sully a fruitful career. His speed badge, 1:49.1, was collected at Woodbine Mohawk Park in his five-year-old campaign. His final winner’s circle trip came six weeks prior to his final start, a gate-to-wire score in 1:55.
Miller, at Shadow Place’s side for much of his career in various capacities, was his trainer for the final nine starts of his career.
His stat sheet shows 142 starts, 27 wins, 13 seconds, 19 thirds, and $360,539 in purse earnings.
“When I retired him four years ago, he had a tendon injury and he stayed with me until the opportunity came through OSAS to give him an amazing forever home with Alexandra and Tim, who are lovely,” said Miller, who is a detective with Regional Police in Waterloo, Ontario. “I personally can’t provide such a picturesque property for him to live out his days and may never be able to.”
Shadow Place is now part of a horse family, living a good life along with the saddle horses and Standardbreds who also reside on the farm.
“He’s so well-mannered and is so good with kids and other horses,” noted Tim, who owns a handful of Standardbreds. “He fit in right away. He settled in nicely. We turn him out with the other horses, and they get along so well. We take them in at night and give them a nice supper, a couple of apples, and tell them we’ll see them in the morning.
“He’s easy to get along with. Our youngest son, who will turn 18 soon, wasn’t around horses much growing up, and he’s taken right to him. He told us, ‘He’s the easiest one to get along with out of all of them.’”
Longtime supporters of OSAS, Tim and Alexandra are well-versed in what the organization does for retired racehorses and their connections.
In late 2024, Tim reached out to Joanne Coville, who has served as Events Coordinator with OSAS for several years, in addition to several other horse racing roles, including outrider duties at the Woodbine Entertainment racetracks.
It would be a game-changing conversation for many, including Shadow Place.
“I knew Joanne from the racetrack, and we had donated to the OSAS golf tournament – it’s such a great cause,” said Tim. “I touched base with Joanne after my wife and I had talked about looking into adding a few more horses to our farm. I told Joanne that if we could help in any way, we’d be happy to do so.
“When we spoke, Joanne said, ‘Tim, it’s funny you should mention that. We have a horse who won the Gold Cup & Saucer in 2017.’ She knew I had one [Likemebettor] in that race last summer, plus my family roots are from there, so there were some interesting coincidences there. That’s how it all started.”
The beginning of a story that would produce a fairytale ending.
“It is exactly that,” said Tim. “It’s a good experience to look after a retired horse – the transition of watching them race to then enjoying their life after that. A vast majority of the people involved with racehorses have the same mindset – they love animals and want to do what is best for them, not only on the racetrack but also when their careers are done.”
The door is open for Miller to visit the farm any time.
“It’s obvious how much Katie cares and loves this horse, so we are just happy to provide him with a home and have her pop up any time she wants to visit him. I know how they have a strong connection, and we want it to continue.”
After 142 race miles, highlighted by a golden moment on Canada’s horse racing-rich East Coast, Shadow Place is feeling right at home in his surroundings.
Tim Dickieson can see that with his own eyes.
“We have six here right now. We wake up, go out and have breakfast on the patio, and it overlooks the horses in the field – you never grow tired of those moments. Shadow Place – we’re just fortunate to have him with us.”
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park
