Conway Hall euthanized, age 28

Lexington, KY — Conway Hall, one of the most influential trotting sires of the modern harness racing era, was euthanized Wednesday (Jan. 11) according to Alan J. Leavitt, manager of the Conway Hall Syndicate. Leavitt said the 28-year-old stallion had begun to suffer discomfort when an old stifle problem resurfaced.

Conway Hall was residing at Walnut Hall Limited in Lexington, Ky. He was retired from stud duty in 2020 when the infirmities of his age rendered him unable to continue as an active breeding stallion. His last foals, with 35 USTA registrations, were born in 2021 and will be 2-year-olds in 2023.

Trained by Bob Stewart, Conway Hall won $818,884 at ages two and three. At two he was unanimously voted the champion trotting colt, winning USHWA’s Dan Patch Award, Harness Tracks of America’s Nova Award, and Standardbred Canada’s O’Brien Award.

At three he got off to a late start due to an injury, but he continued to compete at the highest level. After finishing 2-1-2 in the Kentucky Futurity, he flew to Italy and won the classic Orsi Mangelli in straight heats, both times whipping the Italian champion Varenne.

Retired to the stud at age four, Conway Hall’s first crop included both the champion 2-year-old colt, the undefeated Broadway Hall, and the champion 2-year-old filly, the sensational Pizza Dolce.

From his second crop Conway Hall got the Triple Crown champion Windsong’s Legacy, who, although ill-fated to die after his fourth year in the stud, sired Chapter Seven, a top stakes winner and now a leading sire. Chapter Seven’s credits include Walner, whose first crops have become stakes winners as well.

Conway Hall sired a total of 1,726 foals registered with the USTA and they have won more than $95.5 million to date. In addition to Broadway Hall, Pizza Dolce, and Windsong’s Legacy, Conway Hall’s other outstanding progeny include the Kentucky Futurity winner and $2.3 million earner Wishing Stone; Win Missy B, winner of the Peaceful Way Stakes, Goldsmith Maid, and Kentucky Filly Futurity; Wellwood winner Habitat; and Creamy Mimi, winner of the Hambletonian Oaks.

As a son of Garland Lobell and Amour Angus, Conway Hall brought the outcross blood of Garland Lobell and Amour Angus into the breed, along with his brothers Andover Hall and Angus Hall, who died last year.

Leavitt said Conway Hall’s ashes will be buried in the historic Walnut Hall cemetery, with a stone marker, denoting his place in trotting history.

by Kathy Parker, for Hoof Beats