Winbak Farm has regretfully announced that the stellar broodmare Classic Wish passed away recently during foaling.

Her Somebeachsomewhere colt survived and is doing well.

Classic Wish earned her way into both the U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame and the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame through her production as a broodmare.

Bred by Dave Lemon of Komoka, ON, the daughter of Armbro Emerson and the Albatross mare Best of the Best was a three-time Ontario Sires Stakes winner at three in 1993. That same year she took a time trial mark of 1:52 at Lexington.

After earning over $436,000 on the track, Classic Wish entered the broodmare ranks at Winbak Farm. Her first foal, Bettors Delight, was a 2000 Breeders Crown Winner, 2001 Little Brown Jug winner and continues to earn great distinction as a sire.

Her third foal, No Pan Intended, won the Breeders Crown and became harness racing’s tenth pacing Triple Crown winner. He was named the U.S. Horse of the Year in 2003.

All totalled, Classic Wish’s offspring earned over $5 million.

Farm personnel said she had the perfect disposition for a broodmare; she was a happy and healthy mare who was a pleasure to be around. She truly was one in a million will be sorely missed.

Classic Wish was interred at Winbak Farm of Maryland next to Margies Melody, the dam of the great Nihilator.

Also buried there are some great thoroughbred mares: Natalma, dam of Northern Dancer; Fleur, dam of The Minstrel; and Flaming Page, dam of Nijinsky II and Minsky.