Shadow Play (foaled 5 June 2005 in Pennsylvania) is a world-record-holding standardbred racehorse. He was sired by The Panderosa, out of Matts Filly, a Matts Scooter mare. The colt was purchased as a yearling for $16,000, and is owned by Dr Ian Moore of Charlottetown, PEI, R G McGroup LTD of Bathurst, NB, and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec. In 2022, Shadow Play was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

2 Year Old Campaign Shadow Play made his racing debut on 21 June 2007 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Along with owner and trainer Ian Moore, he beat a field of maiden pacers by 4-1/2 lengths.

Shortly thereafter, Moore shipped the colt to Ontario, where he raced for the remainder of his 2-year-old year. He finished 2nd in 2 legs of the Dream Maker Pacing Series, followed by a 4th in the final.

The highlight of his year was a 3rd-place finish in an elimination of The Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack. Assigned an outside post, Shadow Play never really got into the race despite pacing his own mile in 1:51-3/5.

He completed his freshman campaign with a mark of 1:57.2 taken at Mohawk Racetrack while compiling 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds in 13 starts and earning $31,151.

3 Year Old Campaign On 12 April 2008, Shadow Play surfaced for his second year with a 1:58 qualifier in Charlottetown, where he was 14 lengths the best. He returned to the track one week later to make his parimutuel debut, where he won by 13 lengths in 1:56.

Shadow Play's next start came in the Diplomat Pacing Series at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, where he returned a winner in a new career best 1:52-1/5. After winning both his starts in the initial legs of the Diplomat, he was sent away as favourite in the final but finished a fading 4th.

On 1 July 2008, Shadow Play made his racing debut for high-profile trainer Mark Ford. Leaving from the outside at Pocono Downs, a 5/8-mile track in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he finished third after being parked every step. The winner, Upfront Hannahsboy, set a new track record for 3-year-old colt & gelding pacers by virtue of his 1:49-2/5 victory.

Shadow Play then reeled off two victories at Pocono Downs, winning in 1:50-1/5 and 1:49-4/5, before breaking stride in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake event at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino near Pittsburgh.

On 1 August 2008, he won an elimination of the Coors Delvin Miller Adios. With leading Grand Circuit driver David Miller in control, Shadow Play eased off the gate before making his move. Clearing just before the half, he opened up by 2 lengths on the field and maintained that advantage as he powered home in a world record for 3-year-old colt & gelding pacers on a 5/8-mile track, 1:48-2/5. This mile was 2/5-seconds from the all-aged world record and tied the 2nd-fastest mile on a 5/8th-mile track ever. He returned 8 days later to capture the $350,000 final of the Adios with a time of 1:50-4/5.

On 9 September 2008, it was announced that Shadow Play was named Horse of the Year at Pocono Downs.

On 18 September 2008, he again stepped into the record books. In his first heat of the Little Brown Jug, Shadow Play tied Mr Feelgood's stakes record of 1:50 scoring over Badlands Nitro. Though that record was broken in the next race by Lonestar Legend, Shadow Play returned to capture the Little Brown Jug, winning the second heat in a time of 1:50.1, setting a new two-heat world record for 3-year-old pacing colts.

10 October 2008 marked another milestone for Shadow Play as he returned a first-up winner over Badlands Nitro in the $275,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park. The time of 1:50.4 set a stakes record, lowering the 1:51.3 mark set in the 2007 edition by Booze Cruzin.

4 Year Old Campaign After a promising start to his 4-year-old campaign, Shadow Play experienced trouble that put his season in question. It started with sickness in his Molson Pace elimination and was followed by a foot separation in each foot - just over a month apart. One week removed from his latest separation, Shadow Play returned a 14-1 winner in a new best 1:47.4 while holding off Mister Big in the US Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands on 8 August 2009.

Races Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Money RecordLife 492095$1 549 8811:47.4 2009 11331$351 2501:47.4 2008 251431$1 177 4211:48.2 2007 13333$31 1511:57.2

Date Track Race Purse Finish Fin. Time Last 1/4 Odds Driver Trainer 10 October 2009 Red Mile ALLERAGE$149,0006/1T1:49.427.34.80 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 3 October 2009 Red Mile ALLERAGE E$10,0005/4Q1:50.227.02.60 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 29 September 2009 Red Mile QUA1/11:52.127.3 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 5 September 2009 Mohawk CDN DERBY$500,000Scratched - Vet (Sick) 29 August 2009 Mohawk CDN DERBY E$50,0003/11:50.227.1*1.20 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 8 August 2009 The Meadowlands US PACING$328,7501/1T1:47.426.214.40 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 1 August 2009 The Meadowlands INVITATIONAL$50 0002/HD1:48.426.32.10 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 25 July 2009 The Meadowlands NW26500L5$27 5001/NK1:49.328.1*0.50 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 19 July 2009 Chester BEN FRANKLIN E$50 0005/1H1:49.226.27.70 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 11 July 2009 Mohawk OPEN$50 0002/2Q1:50.127.43.25 Jason Brewer Dr Ian Moore 28 June 2009 Rideau Carleton DES SMITH$162 000Scratched - Judges 26 June 2009 Mohawk QUA1/7Q1:52.028.0 Paul MacDonell Dr Ian Moore 20 June 2009 Mohawk PREFERRED$40 000Scratched - Vet (Sick) 22 May 2009 Western Fair MOLSON PACE E$25 0005/12H1:54.430.3*0.60 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 10 May 2009 Mohawk 4YR OPEN$35 0001/H1:51.127.1*0.55 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 2 May 2009 Charlottetown QUA11:53.428.0 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 29 November 2008 The Meadowlands BREEDERS CROWN F$500 0002/1T1:49.026.44.40 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 22 November 2008 The Meadowlands BREEDERS CROWN E$25 0001/1Q1:51.426.0*0.40 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 1 November 2008 Balmoral Park AMERICAN NATIONAL$300,0001/11:49.326.1*0.20 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 25 October 2008 Yonkers MESSENGER$650,0002/NK1:52.127.42.20 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 10 October 2008 Maywood Park WINDY CITY$275,0001/HD1:50.427.2*0.70 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 18 September 2008 Delaware County Fair LITTLE BROWN JUG F$264,5891/6Q1:50.126.2*0.60 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 18 September 2008 Delaware County Fair LITTLE BROWN JUG E$58 7971/1H1:50.026.21.50 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 30 August 2008 Mohawk NW30000L6CD$29,0002/NS1:50.327.4*0.95 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 17 August 2008 Flamboro CONFED CUP F$493,0005/8H1:51.027.44.90 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 17 August 2008 Flamboro CONFED CUP E$50,0001/21:50.227.3*0.75 David Miller Dr Ian Moore 9 August 2008 Pocono ADIOS F$350,0001/H1:50.429.4*1.00 David Miller Mark Ford 1 August 2008 Pocono ADIOS E$50,0001/21:48.228.14.80 David Miller Mark Ford 25 July 2008 The Meadows PASS 3YOC&G$68,1215/61:52.229.3*1.00 David Miller Mark Ford 19 July 2008 Pocono NW11500L4$18 1001/1T1:49.427.2*0.20 Tim Tetrick Mark Ford 8 July 2008 Pocono REYNOLDS 3YOC$33 4031/1Q1:50.127.1*0.30 David Miller Mark Ford 1 July 2008 Pocono PASS 3YOC$42 5533/2T1:50.029.018.20 David Miller Mark Ford 21 June 2008 Mohawk NW3R50000LCD$22 0001/8Q1:50.226.1*0.65 Tim Tetrick Dr Ian Moore 14 June 2008 Mohawk NA CUP C$100 0007/12T1:52.028.273.10 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 7 June 2008 Mohawk NA CUP E$50 0008/11T1:51.227.3139.75 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 31 May 2008 Mohawk BURLINGTON$100 0005/7Q1:53.028.319.40 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 17 May 2008 Pocono MAX HEMPT E$37 6346/81:52.429.311.70 Tim Tetrick Dr Ian Moore 10 May 2008 Mohawk DIPLOMAT$78 0004/4H1:52.128.3*0.80 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 3 May 2008 Mohawk DIPLOMAT$25 0001/T1:54.227.0*1.20 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 26 April 2008 Woodbine DIPLOMAT$25 0001/2H1:52.128.13.80 Rick Zeron Dr Ian Moore 19 April 2008 Charlottetown NW1901L5CD$2 5001/131:56.028.2*0.15 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 12 April 2008 Charlottetown QUA1/141:58.027.2 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 28 October 2007 Flamboro NW2R18500L$6 8002/1Q1:57.029.3*0.05 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 20 October 2007 Woodbine GOV CUP$23 0007/9T1:53.427.381.00 Paul MacDonell Dr Ian Moore 23 September 2007 Mohawk NW2R30000LCD$17 0003/T1:54.228.41.50 Mark MacDonald Dr Ian Moore 15 September 2007 Mohawk NASAGAWEYA$143 8008/12T1:55.230.33.45 Mark MacDonald Dr Ian Moore 1 September 2007 Mohawk METRO F$1 000 0006/9T1:51.328.237.05 Mark MacDonald Dr Ian Moore 25 August 2007 Mohawk METRO E$40 0003/41:53.028.14.90 Mark MacDonald Dr Ian Moore 19 August 2007 Mohawk NW2R22000LCD$17 0003/11:53.127.25.95 Paul MacDonell Dr Ian Moore 6 August 2007 Mohawk DREAM MAKER$56 2004/2Q1:54.128.14.90 Paul MacDonell Dr Ian Moore 30 July 2007 Mohawk DREAM MAKER$15 0002/1T1:53.430.06.50 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 23 July 2007 Mohawk DREAM MAKER$15 0002/Q1:54.027.4*1.15 Paul MacDonell Dr Ian Moore 15 July 2007 Mohawk 2YR-C-COND$15 0001/H1:57.227.3*0.65 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 30 June 2007 Charlottetown NW2RLFTCD$1 1501/4H1:58.028.1*0.25 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 21 June 2007 Charlottetown NW1RLFT$1 0001/4H2:02.329.4*0.95 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore 14 June 2007 Charlottetown QUA1/5H2:03.129.2 Dr Ian Moore Dr Ian Moore

Breeding Career

Shadow Play was retired from racing in October 2009. On January 1, 2010 Blue Chip Farms, the stallion's breeding partner, announced that Shadow Play would stand his first season at stud in Ontario at Winbak Farm. Over his stallion career in Ontario, Shadow Play would go on to sire notable horses such as multiple stake winner Lady Shadow, 2021 Meadowlands Pace and Adios Pace winner Lawless Shadow, 2021 North America Cup winner Desperate Man, as well as the great Bulldog Hanover, the fastest standardbred ever. In November 2002, Blue Chip Farms announced that Shadow Play would be moving to New York where he would stand stud at their Wallkill, NY farm.

Pedigree

References

External links Shadow Play Qualifies at Mohawk Shadow Play Headlines Windy City Pace Moore: Shadow Play Sound, Raring to Go Dr. Moore Gives Shadow Play Update Moore High on Shadow Play's Jug Chances Field Set for Little Brown Jug Confederation Cup Elims Complete, Final Set

Shadow Play Favoured in Delvin Miller Adios World Record for Shadow Play in Adios