Hard work pays off for Twaddle
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
Tim Twaddle admits it has taken “tons of folks” to get him to where he is today.
The Standardbred trainer operates a stable at The Meadows. He is one of the top trainers and “good guys” at the track and in the industry.
Twaddle understands the value of hard work and humility.
Combined with his family-first values, those characteristics have served Twaddle well and define him as a man, father, husband and trainer of Standardbred horses.
“He was a good driver, and for health reasons he moved over to being a trainer,” said former Meadows track announcer Roger Huston. “He and Anthony MacDonald have come together to build a formidable partnership and good stable of horses for Tim.”
Before he trained horses, Twaddle was a successful driver. He became one of Canada’s best drivers. He won the Juggette (1993) and a Breeders Crown (1994) as a driver 30 years ago with Hardie Hanover, who won the 3-year-old Filly Pace. The horse was Canada’s divisional champion that year.
Twaddle’s driving career took a turn because of injuries. One accident changed his career path. He shattered a hip during an accident in 1985.
During surgery, Twaddle said, doctors found he had a leaky heart valve and an aneurism the size of a softball.
As fate would have it, the accident and surgery might have saved his life.
“None of it may have been found if not for the hip injury,” Twaddle said. “It was a blessing. “
Twaddle, 61, who became a U.S. citizen in 2008, had heart surgery in February of 1985.
“They fixed the aortic valve,” Twaddle added. “For a catch-driver to miss that much time in recovery, I wondered if I’d drive again.”
Horse crazy
“I was horse crazy,” said Twaddle, a native of St. Catharines, Ontario. “When I was young, my mom and I would sit on a blanket and watch the Daily Double at (the former) Garden City Raceway.”
That love of horses helped him land a part-time job at the track, in the barn of Bill Carroll, a local horseman. Now, years later, Twaddle’s aim is to place blankets on the back of the trotters and pacers he conditions to victory in big races.
Huston encouraged Twaddle to move to the Western Pennsylvania track.
“Not long after I moved here from California I was struggling for a “pay horse” so I called an old friend, legendary trainer Freddie Grant,” Twaddle explained. “Fred winters in Florida with young horses and then sets up camp at Pocono for the summer. He sent me a filly he owned with Seth Rosenfeld (owner of Birnam Wood Farms) to train and race until she went to the blooded horse sale.
“That led to Seth sending me a horse to train named Goggles Paisano and several more over the years, including a fabulous mare named Macharoundtheclock. That mare was a solid open mare here until she went on to be a broodmare. Her first foal was a colt I trained here for Seth named Like Clockwork and he was Horse of the Year here as a 2-year-old.
“A few foals later came a Sweet Lou colt named Punch The Clock selling at Timonium. During Covid they went to Timonium, Md. I was able to go there and buy that colt for Micki Rae Stables and myself and he was later named Fourever Boy.”
Twaddle credits the late trainer Carroll, who gave him his start at grooming. Through Carroll, Twaddle met his best friend, Dave (Frankie) Boughton.
Twaddle, inducted into the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, added that “many owners, grooms and trainers along the way” were vital to his career and in recent years “teaming up” with Anthony Macdonald and his fractional stable has given him opportunities to race more horses and put-up solid numbers.
“It’s been a terrific connection and I love his energy and what he has done and continues to do for the industry,” Twaddle said. “He’s extremely driven and I learn a lot from him.”
The two have promising 2-year-old filly trotters – Freedom Hill and Aunt Lilly – both of whom won at The Meadows June 22 in a “Pop-Up-Series.”
All in the family
“The family liked (The Meadows) so much, they named their first daughter after it – Meadow,” Huston said.
Sophia Twaddle, a former caretaker and trainer in California, is a force in the barn.
“There are a lot of ups and downs in horse racing,” she said. “Tim takes every race with the same enthusiasm and intensity, whether it be for $2,500 or $25,000. Working in a barn is not a comfortable job but working with the horses, keeping them healthy makes you feel good.
“When we win a race, we’re all excited. Nothing has been like the last few years with Fourever Boy. Our family has been all over the country with him. He’s brought us together.”
The Twaddles have three children, Meadow, a recent graduate of Washington & Jefferson, a college-aged daughter Lexi, and high-school-aged son, Parker. Everyone contributes to what is typically a 30-horse stable.
“It’s definitely an interesting lifestyle,” said Meadow Twaddle. “It’s demanding but rewarding.
“The last few years with Fourever Boy, there’s been more emotion, excitement. My dad is always the same. This is more than about a check to him. He is so humble and serious. … He is working all the time, gets calls anytime of the day and he never once complains.”
It’s easy to understand the Twaddles’ special affection for Fourever Boy. While his age class is loaded with outstanding horses, he runs with them.
Fourever Boy won a division of the Little Brown Jug and finished second to The Meadows’ Bythemissal in the final in his 3-year-old campaign in 2022. He won Pennsylvania’s championship. Fourever Boy entered 2024 with career earnings of $935,588.
“The past two years have been so exciting,” said Lexi Twaddle. “That’s because of Fourever Boy.
“The real lesson is learned from my father. He is the most respectful, hardworking person I know. There’s no one like him.”
Parker Twaddle, an underclassman at Canon-McMillan High School, said the harness racing business is “a unique way of living.”
“My dad is on 24-7,” he added. “I do what I can in the barn. I’ve learned this: hard work pays off.”
Tim Twaddle is realistic in his approach and always a sportsman.
“I marvel at what the big barns do,” Tim Twaddle said. “I don’t know how they manage so many horses all over the country. Those trainers and their people work hard and they expect big-time success. The difference for us as a small barn is that we hope for success.”
Big change
Until recently, David Cohen, who is Micki Rae Stables LLC, was a financial driving force to put the Twaddles “in the game.”
Cohen and Tim Twaddle went to sales and were able to buy “top-dollar yearlings and high-dollar racehorses.”
Recently, the Micki Rae Stables pulled its horses from the Twaddle barn – including Fourever Boy. Tim Twaddle is still adjusting to the development, but said that with MacDonald his stable remains full and strong.
The legacy
Twaddle gained his1,000th training win in December at The Meadows. That came on top of 1,946 driving wins.
Clearly, his family has taken on his work ethic and desire to excel.
Tim Twaddle knows what it takes to compete every day and through all circumstances and obstacles.
“This business is extremely humbling; one never stops learning, whether it’s from the horses – the caretakers or life,” he said. “Each day makes us tougher and wiser. Harness racing is not for the weak at heart. It’s a tough lifestyle and you’re either winning or losing and there’s never an in between. The key is to keep your head, whether the storms and never let them see you sweat.”
Maybe his opponents won’t see Twaddle sweat on track, but his friends and his family know it’s the time and sweat he puts into acquiring good, healthy horses to his organized and well-run barn that allows Twaddle to gain success and add to his legacy.
“He and his family understand what it takes,” Huston said. “They do things the right way. They’re good, hard-working people.”
John Sacco writes a column about local sports history.