They are affectionately known as the Royal Couple of horseracing in British Columbia. Sadly, one part of that couple passed away this week. Russ Bennett, R.J., who, along with his wife Lois, is in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and have bred and/or raced over 60 stakes winners, died at the age of 94.
Mr. Bennett’s huge contribution to racing and breeding in British Columbia is almost impossible to quantify; although it is fair to say that his legacy, along with that of his wife and partner, Lois, will continue to filter through the sport for many years to come.
A member of The Jockey Club of Canada for almost 40 years, Bennett, along with Lois, was involved in Thoroughbred racing in Canada since the 1950’s and has been central to the sport’s success in B.C. ever since. They were inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007 and, in 2016, received the prestigious E. P. Taylor Award of Merit.
Their most famous horse was Travelling Victor. The colt they bred made history in 1983 when he became the first horse not raced in Ontario to win Horse of the Year honours in Canada as well as a Sovereign Award for the Older Horse category. In 1983, the Bennetts also won a Sovereign Award as Breeder of the Year.
However, Bennett’s many deserved accolades down the years barely scratch the surface of his contribution to racing and breeding in B.C. During his lifetime, he bred and campaigned thousands of horses which, in turn, provided hundreds of individuals with careers, jobs and livelihoods.
Bennett enjoyed telling the story of his first horse acquisition: “… I bought this mare called Rodo for $150. She was supposed to be not in foal and I was going to make her a jumper. Then it turned out she was in foal. I got the papers for the foal and then you start getting into pedigrees and you know the trap. The dream starts.”
According to HBPA BC President David Milburn, the significance of RJ’s impact upon the sport in British Columbia is unlikely to be repeated.
Milburn said: “We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Russ Bennett at the remarkable age of 94. RJ’s contribution to racing and breeding throughout our province is unlikely ever to be equaled, either in longevity or impact.”
“His legacy, through the Thoroughbred bloodlines he expertly and lovingly developed over nearly 70 years, is assured and will endure for decades to come.”
“We would like to express our condolences to his equally remarkable wife, Lois, his family and to all the very many friends and colleagues who knew him, not just as an owner and breeder, but as an extraordinary man, devoted to the horses that have served us all so well at Hastings and across Canada for many, many years.”
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