Honor Glide, a prominent turf runner in the late 1990s who captured the Mid-America Triple, died April 4 of a heart attack. The 18-year-old son of Honor Grades was standing at Ray and Anna Paul's Fanlew Farms near Sarepta, La.
Honor Glide won the Mid-America Triple at Arlington International Racecourse during the summer of 1997 at 3 after not having started at 2. He captured the first race in the series, the Arlington Classic Stakes (gr. IIT) in course record-equaling time of 1:47.59 for the 1 1/8 miles. He completed the series when winning the PrimeCo American Derby (gr. IIT) at 1 3/16 miles and the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at 1 1/4 miles. It was the first sweep since Buckpasser won the series in 1966 and the last time it has been accomplished.
Honor Glide also experienced another big summer in 1999. In consecutive starts in New York, he won the Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) and the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT).
Honor Glide, who won the 2001 Niagara Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Can-IIT), was retired with a record of 11-5-2 from 38 starts and earnings of $1,397,187. He was trained first by Jim Day, and later by Peter Vestal and Christophe Clement.
Bred in Florida by Bonnie Heath Farm, Honor Glide initially raced for Robert G. Schaedle III, who had bought the horse for $31,000 at the 1995 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale. Bonnie Heath Farm acquired an interest after the Bowling Green.
Honor Glide stood at CloverLeaf Farms II and at Bridlewood Farm, both in Florida, before being relocated to Fanlew for the 2009 breeding season. Honor Glide sired 71 winners from 160 foals of racing age and the earners of more than $3.5 million. He is represented by two stakes winners including Puerto Rican champion Salty’s Gilder and three stakes-placed runners.
Honor Glide was produced from the Run the Gauntlet mare Becky Branch, a full sister to French champion and Eclipse Award-winner female April Run.