The renowned Sam-Son Farm, a Canadian horse farm established in 1972, has gained worldwide recognition for breeding and training thoroughbred racehorses. The farm was originally founded in the 1960s by Ernst L. Samuel, who aimed to breed horses for disciplines such as show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing. However, in 1971, Samuel shifted his focus to thoroughbreds, and by 1972, his horses began competing on the racetrack.
Art Warner, the farm's inaugural trainer, entered the stallion Takaring in races at Fort Erie, marking the farm's first stakes winner and setting the stage for the future success of its horses. In 1975, Ernie Samuel made a significant investment at the Woodbine Sales yearling auction, acquiring two fillies, No Class and Loudrangle. These horses became foundational to Sam-Son Farm's breeding program, with their descendants achieving remarkable accolades.
After Ernst Samuel passed away in 2000, management of the farm transitioned to his daughter, Tammy Samuel-Balazs, until 2008. Following her father's death from cancer, Sam-Son Farm continued as a family-run operation, now overseen by Tammy's descendants. The company operates from two locations: a breeding facility in Milton, Ontario, Canada, and a training centre in Ocala, Florida, USA.
Sam-Son Farm Achievements and Awards
Over almost half a century of existence, the company has become the North American flagship in the breeding of thoroughbred horses. The success of the horses bred here is incredible.
The plant has received 84 Sovereign Awards. The Eclipse Awards have been presented four times: to Sam-Son Farm in 1991 for world record racing earnings, to three-year-old filly Dance Smartly in 1991, and to champion stallions Sky Classic and Chief Bearhart in 1992 and 1997 respectively.
10 horses have been inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.
Ernie Samuel was inducted into Canada's Hall of Fame in 1991 as the country's preeminent racehorse owner and breeder.
The stables produced 37 classic winners, 14 category 1 winners, 19 category 2 winners and 22 category 3 winners.
The factory has something to be proud of: among its graduates there are 5 Royal Plate winners, 8 Woodbine Oaks winners, 13 million-dollar horses whose prize money exceeds this mark.
Sam-Son Farm Star Coaching Staff
Jim Day
Following Art Warner, Jim Day (born July 7, 1946), an accomplished Olympic champion in equestrian sports, took over as the leading trainer at the stud farm. Despite his remarkable determination and work ethic, he remained a modest and gentle individual who had a deep love for and understanding of horses, often engaging with them as if conversing. His extensive sports experience and intuitive insights greatly benefited his coaching career. Over the course of 25 years, Sam-Son Farm evolved into the premier thoroughbred breeding operation in the nation. Under his leadership, the farm received two American Eclipse Awards, and his horses were honoured as Canadian Horse of the Year on five occasions. They also secured victories in the Queen's Plate twice and achieved the Canadian Triple Crown in 1991. Jim Day earned the title of Canada's Best Trainer four times and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.
Mark R. Frostad
In 1995, Mark R. Frostad (born January 29, 1949) succeeded Jim Day. Growing up on his father’s farm in Vineland, Ontario, where approximately 50 horses were raised, he developed a deep connection to horses, as he puts it, "it's in my blood." Mark possesses a strong thirst for knowledge and a desire to embrace all that life has to offer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and European literature from Princeton University, and he is set to add an MBA from the University of Western Ontario to his credentials. Following this education, he started his own thoroughbred breeding business.
In 1989, Mark received his trainer’s licence and began racing, achieving his first victory in 1991. He joined Sam-Son Farm in 1994, forming a successful collaboration that saw significant achievements, including his horse Bruce Mill winning the Heresy Breeders' Cup Stakes at Woodbine. Later that year, Bruce Mill also triumphed in the Plate Trial and the Prince of Wales Stakes, marking the beginning of a remarkable winning streak for Frostad, which continued for several years.
Over his career, Frostad has secured numerous prestigious titles in Canada, including 4 Royal Plates, 4 Woodbine Oaks, 6 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, 5 King Edward Stakes, and 7 Toronto Cup Stakes, among others. He has praised the owners of Sam-Son Farm as wonderful collaborators, noting the pleasure of working with them. Some of the stud’s most notable horses, including Quiet Resolve, Chief Bearhart, and Soaring Free, were trained by him and earned the title of Horse of the Year.
In addition to his training accomplishments, Mark Frostad has served as president of the Canadian Horse Society and currently holds a position on the board of directors of Woodbine Entertainment Corporation.
Malcolm Pierce
Most recently, the stud's head trainer was Malcolm Pearce. He began working with Jim Jam and Mark Frost and succeeded the latter after his departure from the firm. He works in Toronto in the summer and at a boot camp in Florida in the winter. He trained horses such as Hide and Chic, Up With the Birds, Deceptive Vision, Don't Leave Me and Aldous Snow.
Famous stud horses
Dance Smartly (1988–2007)
Dance Smartly was arguably the most successful and renowned filly in the stable. In 1991, she showcased the remarkable genetics of her grandfather, Northern Dancer, establishing herself as an unbeatable force in North America. At just three years old, she achieved an undefeated record, triumphing at every stage of the Canadian Triple Crown and becoming the second mare to capture the title by an impressive 18 lengths at the final race. Following her commanding victory in the Canadian Oaks, her trainer Jim Dale started to enter her against stallions.
Notably, she was the first Canadian horse to secure a victory at the prestigious American Breeders' Cup. Throughout her career, Dance Smartly accumulated numerous accolades, including North American 3-Year-Old Horse of the Year, Canadian Horse of the Year, and US Champion 3-Year-Old Mare, with total earnings of $3,263,835.
After retiring from racing, Dance Smartly became the leading broodmare at the stud, with her offspring achieving victories in many elite races, including the Royal Plate. Sadly, she was euthanized in 2007 at the age of 19 due to arthritis in her knee.
Smart Strike (1992-2015)
The stallion is a full brother to Dance Smartly, sharing the same parents: the mare Classy 'n Smart and the sire Mr. Prospector. His most notable achievement in racing came when he won the Philip H. Iselin Handicap, a Group 1 event. Just as he was starting to make his mark in Canadian horse racing, tragedy struck: while preparing for the Breeders' Cup, he suffered a condyle fracture that ended his racing career abruptly.
Remarkably, this setback led to a successful new chapter in his life as a breeding stallion. Initially considered an average prospect, his worth surged as his offspring began to excel on the racetrack. In total, 113 of his progeny became race winners, including 5 Breeders' Cup champions and 2 Classic winners. Between 2007 and 2008, Smart Strike rose to prominence as the leading sire in North America.
Chief Bearhart (1993-2012)
This stallion has achieved remarkable accolades, including six Sovereign Awards and two Horse of the Year titles. Inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2002, he amassed an impressive $3,381,557 in career earnings.
A shin injury at age two hindered his potential early on, and his performance at three was also lacklustre until trainer Mark Frostad made the successful decision to switch him from dirt to turf. From that point forward, Chief Bearhart became a dominant force on the track, winning nearly every race he entered and capturing the hearts of fans. Regular attendees embraced him as "their guy," leading to packed stands during his races. In 1997 alone, he earned over $2 million in prize money. His notable victories include the 1996 Breeders' Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, as well as the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Race Course, the Breeders' Cup Turf in the USA, the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap, the Manhattan Handicap, and various Grade 1 races.
Following the 1998 racing season, Chief Bearhart was retired from competition.
Sky Classic (1987-2015)
The son of Nijinsky and the grandson of the Northern Dancer was born to win. At the beginning of his career, injuries prevented the stallion from performing successfully. But in 1991, out of his 9 starts, he won 6, and set track records at the Rothmans International and Arlington Handicap.
In 1992, the Sky Classic won 5 races, including the Manhattan Handicap, Turf Classic Invitational and Caesars International. As an outstanding racing stallion, he was awarded the 1992 American Eclipse Award.
In 1993, Sky Classic retired. As a stud sire, he has sired over 50 Gaded Stakes winners. His earnings were $3,320,398.
Care of retired horses
Sam-Son Farm is concerned about the fate of its horses who have ended their racing careers. Not all of them become outstanding producers; many end up in nurseries and shelters. One such organisation is LongRun.
They take in end-of-life horses, care for them and find loving owners who happily accept the horse.
The organisation is funded through voluntary donations, support from the racing industry and Sam-Son Farm in particular, and the work of volunteers.
On a beautiful 100-acre farm in Hillsburgh, Ontario, a veterinarian monitors the health of former runners, caring volunteers help the horses cope with the initial stress of a sudden transition to “worldly” life, and the horses receive basic retraining.
Announcement of closure of Sam-Son Farm
In October 2020, after much discussion and debate, the owners of the company decided to start selling the breeding herd. It was not an easy decision, “bittersweet,” as the Samuel/Balaz family writes.
This news evokes conflicting feelings in everyone, firstly, pride in the unique horse breeding farm that has supported the Canadian industry for many years, giving birth to wonderful racers and champions. And of course, it is a pity to lose a successful company with such a reputation and productivity. The Canadian pedigree horses bred by Sam-Son Farm, however, are not going away, they continue to race and participate in the breeding business, improving the Thoroughbred breed around the world.