Canadian horseman Passero dies at 77

Frank Passero, shown in 2006, won a world-record 14 races in a row at Gulfstream Park in 1996 (Michael Burns Photography)

Frank Passero Jr., the man who still holds the record for most wins
at one Woodbine meet by a trainer, passed away Tuesday morning in
Toronto.

Passero, born in Fort Erie, Ontario, succumbed after a long battle
with cancer. He was 77.

Based at Woodbine for most of his career, Passero collected two other
Woodbine training titles in 1981 (Autumn meet) and 1992, in addition to
his still-standing record mark of 89 wins in 1995. He also recorded five
Ontario training championships, including titles at Greenwood and Fort
Erie, in 1981, 1982, 1988, 1992 and 1995.

Characterized as the “King of the Claimers” for much of his career,
he also won dozens of stakes races, including multiple added-money wins
by I Can’t Believe, Fleet Wahine and Wild Zone. He earned his training
license in 1965 and finished with 2,061 lifetime scores.

He is probably best known for his remarkable accomplishment of
winning a world-record 14 consecutive races at Gulfstream Park in 1996.

Funeral arrangements are pending.