Page 10 - January 2007 The Game

10 The Game, January 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Woodbine’s Toy Mountain Highest Ever
Employees at Woodbine outdid themselves again in 2006, collecting and donating more than $24,000 worth of toys to the ChumCity Toy drive.
The Toy Mountain collection at Woodbine featured generosity from a wide variety of sources.
“This is an employee driven initiative,” said Jane Holmes, Vice President, Corporate Affairs. “The jockeys, backstretch people, the HBPA and the CTHS were all contributors to it.”
Toy Mountain was spearheaded by stable area
Manager Wendy McLaren,
shops supervisor Peggie Higgins, and treasury manager Lynda Pike.
Woodbine had promised to match whatever the employees collected, and when that amounted rocked the cash register for $5300, WEG kicked in the same.
The jockeys contributed $2300, backstretch trainers and owners added $3500, the HBPA tossed in $1000 and the CTHS donated $250. There was also a carry over from last year’s drive, contributions that arrived after the deadline.
The total collected was just over $21,000, but thanks to thoughtful discounts from Zellers in the Woodbine Mall and Samco Sales, the $24,000 peak was scaled and this represents the most ever collected in the ten years that Woodbine has been involved with the Toy Mountain drive.
“Apparently we cleaned out the store,” quipped Holmes, referring to Woodbine’s raid on the nearby Zellers.
On Tuesday, December 19, all the toys were packed up and taken down to the ChumCity toy distribution depot.
Woodbine Employee Toy Drive Co-Chairs Lynda Pike (left) and Peggy Higgins (right) flank Santa Claus (Garth Essery) behind the moun- tain of toys which were collected this year for the CHUM-City Christmas Wish.
Let Youth Be Served
- Continued from Page 9
The new V-P of racing at Woodbine,
Jamie Martin, at 46, is hardly a neophyte; in fact, he’s got a dignified salt and pepper thing going on in his hair. Still, he’s older than a few of the jockeys over whom he presides. Martin was promoted to this position the week of the Pattison International in late October and finds himself in the middle of a lot of important activity.
“We have racing to run, both standard- bred and thoroughbred,” he says, “We have race offices, back stretches and tracks to maintain and I’m responsible for all the employees who do that. I’m also responsible for the budgets as well as the race secretary, backstretch operations and all associated horse people. If horsemen have concerns, I’m at the end of the road.”
Actually, Martin is a bit closer than the end of the road. His office is just behind the covered walking ring at the west side of the track, a short walk from the jockey’s room. That’s not without purpose.
“I want to be accessible,” he explains, “I think my office should be with the rest of the folks on the racing side. Trainers and horse owners can easily walk in here. That’s the way it should be.”
Martin acknowledges that he has quite a lot in common with the ORC’s Stone. Both gained experience on the harness side and both now find themselves in charge of both breeds.
“I’m originally from Chatham, which is near Dresden,” says Martin, “There’s a small harness track there that races in the summer and my family has been involved with that track since the late ‘60s. I have
to become more engaged with the thoroughbred game. I like to be at the races, talking to customers and horsepeople about what their concerns are, what they like, and what they don’t like about the racing game.”
As for the influx of youth in an industry that has traditionally favoured those eligible for government pensions, Martin doesn’t even think it needs defending.
“It’s inevitable. Change will happen,” he asserts, “Nick has been here a long time and he will bring something else to the table. On the racing department side, we’ve got some key long-term people like Director of Racing Tom Cosgrove and Racing Secretary Steve Lym and that’s the foundation of our operations.”
Martin makes a special point of emphasizing the challenging position Lym has.
“Being race secretary is tough,” says Martin, “His job is to put on good betting races with lots of horses and sometimes that’s contrary to what the trainers want. They want short fields and easy races.”
Coming in as late in the season as he did, Martin admits he’s still getting comfortable in the job, but that doesn’t mean he’s not sensitive to the issues of the staff underneath him.
“It’s been a tough year, putting in a new track. All of that went better than we had hoped, but it was something our front line people had to deal with all the time and I’m certainly mindful of that. Next year will be a year where things should be normal and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Normal? Nah, that wouldn’t be any fun.
Woodbine Entertainment Group is currently looking to fill the following position:
OUTRIDER
Your expert horsemanship skills will be valued as part of our Thoroughbred Racing Operation. As an Outrider you will maintain safety on Woodbine’s racing and training tracks. You will be relied upon to control misbehaving horses and occasionally retrieve loose horses. The ideal candidate will demonstrate leadership skills, exhibit superior riding and horsemanship skills,
and have general horseracing knowledge.
We offer competitive wages commensurate with your years of experience. The hours of work will vary with the racing and training schedules which include early mornings, days, weekends and holidays.
Interested applicants can forward their resumes to: Woodbine Entertainment Group
Human Resources Services
Email: Jobs@woodbineentertainment.com
Fax: (416) 213-2129
Or visit www.WoodbineEntertainment.com for more opportunities.
RICHARD MOYLAN Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agent
NEW YEAR • NEW ARENA • NEW STALLS
SAME GREAT EXPERTISE
Broodmare Care & Foaling
Sales Prep & Sales Consignment • Breaking & Lay-ups
Hunterview Farm
North off Hwy #9, Between Airport Rd. & Hwy #50 993445Mono-AdjalaTownline,RR#5,Orangeville,ON L9W2Z2
Farm: 519-940-0319 Cell: 416-999-1249
SHELTER
Seeking the Gold - Missed the Storm, by Storm Cat
2007 Fee: $1,500
We’ve Moved!
Shelter will be standing at
JERICHO STUD
New home of owners Randy & Kimberly Conn in Simcoe, Ontario
519-875-2078 • Email: Jericho.stud@hotmail.com
Broodmare Care: $15/$18
Subscribe to The Game Today! $35.00 (in Canada) for 12 Editions Call 1-866-886-5827 or email: info@thehorsegame.com