Members of the harness racing community at Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino are morning the loss of one of their own.
Long-time racer Clarence "Sugar" Gagnon passed away Aug. 4, after battling cancer, Standardbred Canada's Trot Insider reported.
He lost his fight Aug. 4. He was 78.
Gagnon raced horses for more than 60 decades, at raceways across North America, before coming to the Cloverdale Raceway (which later became Fraser Downs) in 1976, the website reported.
"In his lifetime, Gagnon developed countless numbers of young horses, including BC Count, Armbro Vanessa, Willow Tauries and Misty Robin, to name a few," the website reported. "One of his favourites was the family trotter, Sandy Paper. In 2009 he was inducted into the BC Hall of Fame."
He's survived by his wife, Dianne, daughter Ellen, son-in-law Omar, brother Jim, and extended family members.