September 4, 2024 – from Olive Branch Farm

WINGATE, N.C. — Former Maine pacing sire Sweet Dragon, 33, was laid to rest on Monday (Sept. 2) from the infirmities of old age at Olive Branch Farm in North Carolina.

A former leading Maine pacing sire Sweet Dragon p,2,1:54.4 ($232,392) was a multiple sub-1:53 sire and sired the winners of over $4.69 million in the Pine Tree State.

A half-brother to Hall of Fame broodmare Sweet Future, he was a son of Breeders Crown winner Dragon’s Lair, and was the first foal from the Nero mare Sweet Dahrlin p,3,1:55.4 ($169,163).

Olive Branch Farm owner-operator Chris Coyle stated, “He was special horse that I helped raise during my years at Walnridge Farm in New Jersey.  I got to watch him finish 2nd in the 1993 Woodrow Wilson with Jim Doherty driving for trainer Polie Mallar and owner Dr. Binette. He went on to be a leading Maine pacing sire for many years under the management of Lynn-Marie Plouffe at her Dupuis Farm in Saco.”

In 2012 he was adopted by Chris Coyle, his breeder Seth Rosenfeld, and trainer Polie Mallar and got to live a long, happy life at Olive Branch as a baby sitter to many yearling colts. 

Coyle added, “We adopted him from the Standardbred Retirement Foundation of NJ, an organization that does a wonderful job placing horses in good homes lead by Judy Bokman.”