Dr Richard Flacco is joined by family members to accept the award to the farm’s stallion Lou’s Legacy as the 2024 Illinois Sire of the Year. (Terry Young Photo)

By Mike Paradise for the IHHA

 Back in 2013 Dr. Richard Flacco took a risk and acquired the trotting sire Lou’s Legacy and brought the stud to Flacco Family Farms in Alexis, Illinois.

 It was a risky move because the son of Windsong’s Legacy out of the Meadow Road broodmare Lady Love mare had a low fertility rate. However, the good doctor had some ideas that he felt could help the horse to be a more successful stud.

 And help Lou’s Legacy he did, and to a greater extent that Dr. Flacco could have ever imagined.

 “He’s turned out to be just unbelievable for us,” said the doctor in an earlier interview. “His fertility rate is like 10 times better than before we got him.”

 Lou’s Legacy has gone on to be the top sire in Illinois for trotters for an amazing seven consecutive years and 8 of the last 9 seasons. The prize stallion received his latest honor earlier this month at the annual Illinois Standardbred Banquet in Springfield.

 It was a no-brainer as far as people doing the voting were concerned. Of the six divisions for 2024 ICF trotters, Lou’s Legacy sired five champions--2-year-olds Lous My Number and Louise’s Legacy, 3-year-olds Whiskey Lou and Lou’s Private Eye, and the aged mare Marvelous Mystery.

 “Lou’s Legacy is 18 now and he’s been able to hold hIs weight,’ said the 83-year-old who continues his practice as a family doctor.

 According to USTA sire statistics, foals of Lou’s Legacy have earned over $12 million dollars just through the year 2022.

 Lou’s Legacy excellence as a sire has continued for the last two decades and in 2022 his daughter Funky Wiggle, an offspring out of the broodmare Hoosier Wiggles, came away with Illinois Harness Horse of the Year honors for her trainer Curt Grummel.

 Funny Wiggle’s record Illinois clocking of 1:51.4 as a 3-year-old is tops for a Lou’s Legacy foal with her full sister Marvelous Mystery next fastest with a 1:52.3 mile she trotted last year.

 Division champions sired by Lou’s Legacy has become the norm in Illinois for several years with the likes of Whiskey Lou (1:53.1), Lougazi (1:54.3), Loulita (1:55.2), Lousdobb (1:54), Lou Man (1:53.3) and Lousraptor (1:54) among those with notable in-state achievements.

 Lou’s Legacy has sired 14 horses that have won in 1:55 or faster. The horse’s stud fee is $5,000.

 The Flacco Family Farm’s Bands One Eye Love was honored as the top Illinois trotting broodmare for the second time. Her past foals include Lousdobb ($273,392) and his brother Lous Private Eye ($201,958), who have combined for 34 lifetime first place finishes. Both horses were sold to Ohio connections this past November and are currently racing in the Buckeye state.