Harness Racing: Cam's Card Shark retired from stallion duty

After joint consultation, Jim Simpson, President of Hanover Shoe Farms and majority owner Jeff Snyder, have decided to retire Cam's Card Shark from active stallion duty at Hanover.

"The horse has been good to everybody associated with him from the day he was foaled," Simpson said. "He has now reached the stage in life where it is both difficult and dangerous for him and those around him to mount the phantom mare or even to be collected using a live mare."

Cam's Card Shark is a foal of 1991.

As a 2-year-old he was lightly campaigned under the guidance of trainer Micky McGivern. His wins at two included the Lou Babic Memorial and two New Jersey Sires Stakes.

At 3, he was transferred to the Bill Robinson Stable. He was voted Horse of the Year in 1994. In addition he garnered both O'Brien and Nova awards for Horse of the Year. His wins at three include the $1,000,000 Meadowlands Pace, North America Cup, Art Rooney Memorial, Adios, Messenger, New Jersey Classic and the Miller Memorial.

He was syndicated at the end of 1994 and retired with 2-and 3-year-old earnings of $2,498,204. He entered the stallion ranks at Hanover's New Jersey Farm in 1995.

His stallion accomplishments are many and varied He has sired 10 millionaires including five who have earned in excess of two million dollars.

He is credited with three Little Brown Jug winners and two winners of The Meadowlands Pace. His most renowned performers have been Shark Gesture, Bettors Delight, Four Starzzz Shark, Royalflush Hanover, Holborn Hanover, Roll With Joe, Village Jolt and Million Dollar Cam.

Of special note is that his son, Bettors Delight, is the fifth great stallion from a paternal line that follows from Meadow Skipper, through Most Happy Fella, to Cam Fella, to Cams Card Shark and now Bettors Delight. This is a feat unprecedented in both Standardbred and Thoroughbred breeding. Its quite possible that the line will be extended through his grandson Betterthancheddar.

Snyder said that Cams Card Shark will live out his remaining days "which I hope will be many" at Hanover Shoe Farms.

- edited release (Hanover Shoe Farms)