Page 14 - June 2005 The Game

14 The Game, June 2005
Apprentice will Join the Fray at Woodbine
Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Sam Krasner to receive Avelino Gomez Award in 2005
the at Woodbine is showing a couple of talented stand-outs who are running head to head with the journeymen and definitely making their presence
known on the racetrack. Well there is another would-be jockey who is about to make her debut at Woodbine, and she is ready
certificate, Jackie began riding at Hawkesbury Racetrack as an apprentice for trainer Paul Perry. From there she travelled to five or six different racetracks throughout New South Wales before taking on the hurdles in New Zealand.
Jackie moved to Canada four years ago and because her mother and
Sam Krasner never could have imagined that his most cherished riding accomplishment would come one year after he decided to hang up his tack.
Throughout his time as a jockey, the well-respected Krasner enjoyed several memorable triumphs and reached key milestones. But nothing, not even his 3,000th lifetime win or any of his riding titles, could compare with being named the recipient of the 2005 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.
"It's such a prestigious honour," said Krasner, of becoming the 21st person to receive the award. "I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it. I would rate this right at the top of the list of things that I was lucky enough to accomplish."
The coveted award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.
Presented annually on (Labatt Woodbine) Oaks day (Sunday, June 12 in 2005), the honour is in memory of Gomez, one of the sport's most heralded and revered performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.
As a lasting reminder of his contributions, a life-size statue of Gomez, who called Toronto home and raised a family there, proudly overlooks Woodbine's pristine walking ring. A replica is presented
disappointed at never having met or rode against Gomez, having his name associat- ed with the legendary competitor is something he truly cherishes.
"Everything you hear about Avelino is positive," said the Atlanta-born Krasner, who arrived at Vancouver's Exhibition Park (now Hastings) in 1975. "When you see the names on that plaque and realize how talented and successful Avelino was, it really puts the honour in perspective."
For Krasner, a former high school gymnast, who got his first taste of riding in Northern California, the honour is similar to winning the prestigious George Woolf Award, given annually to a U.S.-based jockey, or an Academy Award.
"What makes this special is that it isn't for something a rider did in just one year," said Krasner, who married trainer Cindy Olson in 1982. "It's like getting an Oscar for lifetime achievement. It's for a body of work. To me, this is unbelievable."
Admittedly, Krasner, who rode in Canada for 30 years, is still at loss to put this chapter of his career into perspective.
"I hope I'm not walking all over my tongue when I receive the award," said Krasner, who also rode in Seattle, Tampa Bay and Cleveland over his career. "I'm 55 right now and I'm sure 10 years from now, I'll look at this award and think to myself, 'I had an okay career.' What a way to end my career. I don't think anything in the world could top this."
Krasner joins Ron Turcotte, John Longden, Sandy Hawley, Don MacBeth, Chris Rogers, Jeff Fell, Lloyd Duffy, Hugo Dittfach, Robin Platts, Larry Attard, Don Seymour, David Gall, Richard Grubb, Irwin Driedger, David Clark, Jim McKnight, Chris Loseth, Richard Dos Ramos, Robert Landry and Francine Villeneuve as Gomez honourees.
Once apprentice
again scene
and determined to fulfill her lifelong dream of a career in race riding.
Twenty-six year old Jackie Briscoe, was born and raised in Australia and has been on the backs of horses pretty much all of her life. Her family owned a 10-acre thoroughbred breeding farm and in between riding in show jumping competi- tions, Jackie would help get the young horses started and ready for the racetrack.
Jackie knew she wanted to become a jockey since the first day she visited the racetrack with her mother and now, after many years of preparation, the time has come for her to prove that she has what it takes.
“I can’t wait to get out there.” said the personable rider.
At age sixteen, as part of a school work
two older sisters where born in Canada she is eligible for dual citizenship.
Her reasons for coming to Canada were simple, she needed a change of scenery, “I had enough of the scene.” said Jackie, “There are so many riders and so many tracks. And it was very male oriented.”
Originally Jackie left Australia to travel the world, with Toronto being the first stop on her travels. However after working for trainers Roger Attfield and Mike Doyle and competing in quarter horse races as Picov’s Downs, Jackie had a renewed determination to fulfill her dream of becoming a jockey.
Jackie is in the process of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s with the officials and it won’t be long before her name starts to appear in the Woodbine program.
Up & coming apprentice Jackie Briscoe
Ontario Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club
TWELFTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
MONDAY, JULY 18TH, 2005
held at the
KLEINBURG GOLF CLUB
115 Putting Green Crescent
(Between Highway 27 & Highway 50 on the Nashville Road)
to each honouree.
year's
For more information contact
Dan Mooney, Huntington Stud Dan Steeves, Woodlands Farm Richard Day, Kingview Farm
(416)414-7883 (416)346-3600 (416)606-6887
Vans Equipped with Satellite Tracking
P.O. Box 880, Nobleton, Ontario L0G 1N0 Website:www.perryt.com
WOODLANDS
Sales Representation and Preparation Boarding/Layups Training/Foaling Bloodstock Consultation
GAIL WOOD
P.O. Box 164 Hillsburgh, Ont. N0B 1Z0 www.woodlandsfarm.com
Phone: (519) 855-4915 Fax: (519)855-4514
Golf Tournament Package:
$150.00
time
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Includes Green Fee, Cart, Scoring and Dinner
Dinner Only: $50.00 **************************************
Tee Off Time Cash Bar Dinner
12:30pm (Shotgun) 5:30pm
6:30pm
In order to assist us with our planning please book your foursome early and send your payment to Ontario Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, 4305 King Rd., King City, Ont. L7B 1K4
Booking Deadline - June 30th, 2005
Although Krasner, who recorded 3,136 life-
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