Feb 26, 2024 6 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Jeff Weaver loved Standardbred racehorse Lord of Winterfell for what he represented and how he represented.

Until the end a few weeks ago, “Tony” — as the horse was affectionately known by Weaver and in the Norm Parker barn at The Meadows — was a link to Weaver’s late wife Brenda.

A few weeks ago, Lord of Winterfell was injured while training. He was taken to Ohio State University to surgically repair a broken Cannon bone — a rare injury for a Standardbred horse. The surgery could not repair the injury and he had to be humanely euthanized.

Tony was a present for Brenda when she was suffering from and fighting ovarian cancer. Tony, through his racing, brought much joy and comfort to the Weavers.

On track, he was a gritty pacer until recently, when he also became a rare double-gaited horse and competed also as a trotter.

He was truly one of a kind.

“Yes, I’m missing my Tony boy very much,” Weaver said. “I got there (Ohio State) and got to hold his head as he breathed his last. It will be long felt and remembered.”

For the record, Lord of Winterfell, won 32 of 215 lifetime pacing races with 29 seconds and 28 thirds. He earned $315,426 as a pacer. As a trotter, Lord of Winterfell won one of six races with two third place finishes and earnings of $8,066.

His last win was Dec. 7 at The Meadows with Christopher Lems driving. His final race was Dec. 28, a third-place finish.

“Tony began my business relationship and my friendship with Jeff and Brenda,” Parker said. “The first night Jeff and I saw him at the barn before Jeff bought him, Tony came to him like he knew he had a purpose. And boy did he fulfill that purpose.

“His racing career started slowly but as each year progressed, he improved until at one point he won our open pace at The Meadows. He was a model of consistency in the middle part of his career. He always trotted whenever he jogged so it was a natural thing when I decided when he was 8- years-old to try him. That didn’t last long because he still had earning potential on the pace. Because of the races getting tougher on the pace and him having lost a step as he aged, we tried again on the trot and he rewarded us with a win.

“The accomplishment of doing that was a special moment in my career. Tony was a special horse. He was the reason I bought Angelo J Fra — his half-brother — who I was able to race in our signature, The Adios. Both of those two horses are the reason we bought Wild Wild Western, who has become one of my best horses ever. I will forever be grateful that Jeff said yes when we saw Tony that night. He will be in our hearts.”

Jeff Weaver, 65, was hoping for a miracle when he and Parker purchased Lord of Winterfell.

Weaver did not get the miracle — Brenda passed away in 2017 — he was hoping for, but Tony was a blessing.

“He was,” Weaver said. “I never got into horse racing (before) but he helped me a lot. He gave me something else to focus on. Tony was the most unique horse. He was highly intelligent, loved children and was a social leader in the barn.”

He was a Godsend for Weaver who also lost a father.

Lord of Winterfell was purchased for $8,000 in 2016 as a gift for his wife — who rode horses — and was interested in owning a racehorse.

Brenda Weaver, whose ovarian cancer was in remission, however, was unable to ride horses.

Jeff Weaver gifted her Lord Winterfell, who provided joy and comfort to his wife as she dealt with an extended stay in the hospital.

While Brenda Weaver never made it physically to the winner’s circle to celebrate a Lord Winterfell victory, she did rejoice when he won – seven times while Brenda was alive.

“He raced on her last day of chemo,” Jeff Weaver explained. “All of her IV nurses were in the room with us (October 2016) for his first race with his new owners. Everyone was cheering. He finished second. We were ecstatic.”

Jeff Weaver recalled another time he and his wife watched Tony race from her hospital room.

“I think it was during his fourth win in 2017, we started shouting for him so loud as he crossed the finish line, the alarms for a hospital emergency code sounded,” he remembered. “Just as we stopped to listen, five nurses came running into the room. We apologized and showed them the race. They stayed and watched the replay.

“Brenda was in the hospital for his last race he won for her (Memorial Day weekend 2017.) It was his seventh and last race for her. That’s when the tears rolled down her check as she looked up and spoke. ‘Tony you surely are my wonder horse.”

Now, Tony is gone.

“We bought him to fulfill my wife’s dream,” Jeff Weaver said. “We moved to Pennsylvania, my home state (Weaver is an Indiana native) in 2015 so I could take care of my dad. My wife’s cancer was in remission but her cancer returned that year.”

Before Tony’s passing, Weaver had been making plans for the horse’s retirement.

He would help in the owner’s non-profit he is developing in Indiana.

Take the Reins Youth Stable for Life, Inc., based near Indianapolis, is a nonprofit organization currently being set up by Jeff Weaver and co-founder Alison Haag.

Take the Reins will facilitate a structured and safe haven environment where historically opportunity gap-affected youth are encouraged to be involved in applied learning, hard work, supportive interaction and teamwork while engaging in equine sports and riding activities.

Weaver had planned to teach Tony “the under the saddle life” and help kids learn how to care for or ride a horse.

Unfortunately, fate intervened.

“In some ways, it felt like losing a son,” Weaver said. “Lord of Winterfell gave my wife fun and enjoyment. I am happy for that. I didn’t realize how much enjoyment until after Brenda’s passing.”

John Sacco writes a column about local sports history for the Observer-Reporter.