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Gustav Schickedanz, builder and horse breeder extraordinaire, is a survivor. He doesn't see difficulties. He sees only possibilities.

He arrived in Canada in 1950 with only $3 in his pocket, no command of the English language and a not-to-be-denied attitude.

The most difficult part of his life was already behind him. The rest was easy, he says.

Since his arrival 58 years ago, Schickedanz has built 15,000 homes in Canada and the United States, and a powerful thoroughbred racing legacy. And he's earned the respect of his peers in a way that can't be measured.

That's why he doesn't worry about his colt, Marlang, being the only 3-year-old in a field of seasoned, older veterans in the $2-million Pattison Canadian International Championship Stakes today at Toronto's Woodbine racetrack. He sees only the advantages of a having a fleet colt with an exceedingly long stride.

"He will win," Schickedanz said with conviction.

In his early days, Schickedanz, 79, wasn't convinced he would live past his teens in the Memel region in the northernmost part of old Germany, less than two kilometres from the Russian border. It is now part of Lithuania.

The Schickedanz family owned 500 acres of land near the Baltic Sea when the Russian army invaded in 1944. The Russians took up residence in their farmhouse, which was located on a hill on one side of a river. The German army barricaded a neighbour's house on the other side.

When an employee was shot in the back trying to leave, the Schickedanzes decided to escape at night, loading whatever they could into wagons.

But the Russians overtook the group and shelling followed. The explosions scattered the horses and created chaos. Schickedanz, then 15, had been driving one of the wagons but it overturned as the horses panicked.

"It was pitch dark," he said of that night on Oct. 8, 1944.

He cut the traces of the fallen horses to let them loose. In the chaos, he heard the sound of a cousin's voice and followed it to discover his sister, who had suffered a serious head wound from shrapnel.

After the shelling, the Schickedanzes had one wagon still upright. It had been drawn by an old, quiet mare and she kept the younger horse beside her calm.

Schickedanz's mother placed her hand on her daughter's wound and held it there until they found a medical aid station, only to find that all of the doctors had fled.

A male nurse — "a wonderful man," Schickedanz said — patched up the wound with a gold coin belonging to his mother.

The group did not stop to rest. They were still four or five kilometres from a bridge, which they crossed only a few hours before the advancing Russian troops destroyed it.

The Schickedanzes resettled in Bavaria where Schickedanz's brothers were conscripted into the German army. When Schickedanz, the youngest, turned 16 and got his marching orders, his mother burned the papers and hid him from officials.

The family tried to leave the country, but, "in 1945, everybody thought all of us were Nazis," Schickedanz said.

Canada was the first country to allow Germans to immigrate and Schickedanz, never having been in the army, went first at age 21. His brothers followed about 10 months later.

German money was worthless in Canada, so Schickedanz worked as a bricklayer before becoming a stonemason. He built one house, and then another. And with three of his brothers, they formed Schickedanz Bros. Ltd.

"Canada is a wonderful land," he said. "We are doing well here. I love the way my mother put it one day. She said, 'Now, boys, you've got the land back in a different place. And you didn't have to kill to do it. You've bought it properly in the market. You can be proud. But now I think you have enough.'ƒ|"

Today, still involved in the building business, Schickedanz said horses are his life. He still rides with the local hunt two or three times a week, jumping brush and ditches.

He climbs wooden steps to mount his trusty Trakehner, Crown Prince, and rides every morning for 1 1/2 hours through his rolling farmland. Schickedanz also drives a four-in-hand carriage.

There are sons and daughters of thoroughbreds Wando, Langfuhr and Mobil in his fields now.

"I'd like to win more races," Schickedanz said. "I have a reason to do what I do. In this business, you always have a 2-year-old that will keep you alive as long as you can."

Anyone who knows his story tips a hat to him.

"I think he's an incredibly strong person," said Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, who is running a horse against Schickedanz tomorrow in the International.

"He's a good person. He loves the sport. He loves his horses. I admire the man a great deal, knowing his background."

As Attfield passed Schickedanz at the draw for post positions on Wednesday, the trainer raised a glass of wine to the 79-year-old and promised they would raise another one after the race.

Years ago, Schickedanz had asked Attfield if he could spirit away his assistant trainer, Mike Keogh, to become his private trainer. Keogh went on to win the Canadian Triple Crown and two Queen's Plates for Schickedanz.

As a boss, farm manager Lauri Kenny said, Schickedanz is "the best ever." He said Schickedanz treats him like a family member.

"I couldn't describe it," he said. "When I started with him, all I asked is that he treated me fairly.

"He said he would. And he did. He's an exceptional man."

Gustav and glory

- Gustav Schickedanz's first stakes winner was Victorious Answer (1979 La Prevoyante Stakes). She became his foundation broodmare and was nominated for outstanding broodmare in Canada in 2007.

- He won the Canadian Triple Crown with Wando in 2003. Mobil was second to Wando in the Queen's Plate and eventually won more than $1-million. Wando won $2.7-million.

- He won the 1999 Queen's Plate with Woodcarver, chosen Canada's top 3-year-old.

- His homebred Langfuhr, sire of Wando and Mobil, was the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Metropolitan Mile in New York in 1996. Langfuhr won three other New York sprint stakes en route to being Canada's top sprinter in 1996.

- His Glanmire was Canada's top sprinter in 1997.

- He is senior master of the Eglinton-Caledon Hunt.

- He was nominated four times as Canada's top thoroughbred breeder, but was up against heavy hitters such as Eugene Melnyk, Sam-Son Farms and Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. In 1995, Schickedanz had 36 winners from 41 starters and five stakes wins.

- He was nominated for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.