Mike in the paddock with Souvenir Zone in September 2009. (Bob Gates photo)
By Track Historian Bob Gates
The news came via social media: Mike Olito had passed away on April 25th.
As the date for his celebration of life on May 19th approached, I found myself thinking of Mike frequently. The feeling of loss seemed disproportionate to the “relationship” we had over the past 15 years or so. The truth is, we hardly knew each other—save for a single moment we shared more than a decade ago.
More on that in a bit, but first I’d like to share some thoughts about Mike and his wife and soulmate, Verla. You can’t talk about Mike without speaking of the love of his life. You’d be hard-pressed to find another couple as perfectly matched as these two. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Mike and Verla celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2019.
Who was Mike Olito?
Talk about a loaded question! Mike wasn’t an easy person to describe. He danced to the beat of his own drum and was anything but a mainstream kind of guy.
You weren’t going to find his name in the sports pages, but thanks to his background in the arts, it popped up from time to time in the entertainment section. There, he was described as a writer, visual artist, performance artist, and leader of the Independent Rogue Rhinoceros Party of Manitoba.
She's the Fashion wins on June 30, 2009 (Gerry Hart photo)
In addition to the arts, Mike had a passion for horse racing—one that he and Verla shared. In the 1970s, Verla worked for seven-time Assiniboia Downs leading trainer Clayton Gray. She formed a close bond with Clayton and learned a great deal about horses and hard work. It wasn’t long before she and Mike owned their own horse and built a life together on the backside of the Downs for more than 40 years.
Theirs was always a small stable, and more often than not, their hopes and dreams rode on the back of a lone thoroughbred. Verla was the trainer of record, and Mike was always at her side. The last year they raced was 2019. A quick peek at the stats from 2009 to 2019 shows that Verla recorded just eight wins—two in 2015, one in 2010, and five in 2009. The wins may have been few, but they loved life at the Downs.
Their final win came courtesy of Pierre Lapin on July 17, 2015. Pierre was a horse “gifted” to Verla by her old boss, Clayton Gray, upon his retirement.
Pierre was an eight-year-old bay gelding who found his stride while racing in low-level claiming ranks in 2015. From July 3rd to August 12th, he put together a solid four-race streak, with one win and three second-place finishes.
Sadly, on August 12th, Pierre and the Olitos experienced a familiar fate for well-performing lower-level claimers—they lost him via a $2,500 claim. But such is life in the claiming game.
Final win - Pierre Lapin, July 17, 2015 (Gerry Hart photo)
As for my Mike Olito moment…
In August 2012, I wrote the blog story “A Derby Tale Out of This World,” which recounted the 21st running of the Manitoba Derby on July 19, 1969. That day was a special one, shared by an unlikely pair.
For me, it was a father-and-son day at the racetrack. It remains one of my most cherished memories—perhaps the most special day my dad and I ever experienced. He’s been gone for a dozen years now, and the memory hasn’t faded with time.
Sometime after the story was published, Mike approached me and said that the 1969 Derby was special for him as well. Keep in mind, we had never met before, yet he felt comfortable enough to share his Derby memory. Mike told me that July 19, 1969, was the day of his first date with Verla—a dinner at the Beachcomber restaurant.
He also gave me the booklet The Whittier Park Stock Farm (pictured on this page), which told the story of Jim Speers’ Whittier Park Stock Farm. It was a publication originally prepared for “the convenience of guests.”
Whittier Park Stock Farm - Booklet Gift (Olito Family photo)
Random comments from people who’ve been around the Downs for a long time echoed similar sentiments about Mike and Verla. They were good people who kept to themselves, looked after their horses, and were always together.
Mike’s service was attended by many family members, some of his racetrack family, and a great number of friends. His remembrance card was simple—just eight words capturing the “dash” between his birth and passing:
March 25, 1942 – April 25, 2025
Mike Olito: Artist, Writer, Thinker, Friend, Husband, Brother, Uncle, Horseman – Loved and missed by all.
Cover of Mike's card of remembrance, May 19, 2025 (Olito Family photo)
I’m glad Mike shared his memory of the July 19, 1969 “Out of This World Derby.” It’s one we’ll forever have in common. Mike was a good man, and the world was a better place with him in it.
May you rest in peace, Mike.