05/30/2025
The great Cam Fella was born on this day in 1979
Hall of Fame Inductee, 1986
He was aptly named “The Pacing Machine.” He was “The People’s Horse,” the legendary Cam Fella, who after his retirement from stud was taken on a tour of major raceways and small-town tracks across North America to raise money for charity, attracting large crowds to greet him at every stop.
Cam Fella was Canada’s standardbred equivalent to thoroughbred’s Northern Dancer. Like “The Dancer”, Cam Fella was not only a great racehorse, but an incredibly majestic sire of champions and world record holders. He did more than any horse to focus public attention on harness racing during the 1980s, challenging all comers at tracks across North America. His feats endeared him to countless fans, many of whom formed an entourage that traveled to wherever Cam Fella raced.
On the track he had the will to overcome seemingly insurmountable leads by his foes. He simply refused to be beaten. His regular driver and trainer, Patrick “Pat” Crowe, said: “losing just wasn’t in Cam’s book.” Dave Perkins in The Toronto Star wrote, “He was from his own competitive planet, known for going only (but absolutely) as fast as necessary. He did his winning face-to-face, looking the competition in the eye and not letting it past.” His exploits became legendary. Consider his race record, which ended in 1984 on the crest of 28 consecutive victories, and earnings of over $2 million, which at the time made him the richest pacer in history.
Read Cam Fella’s story and see his tribute video here;
https://www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/1986/11/03/cam-fella/