Page 32 - January 2005 The Game

32 The Game, January 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Woodbine Stakes Recap
Wednesday, December 1 - Sunday, December 12, 2004 • Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Classy ‘N Smart Stakes - 3yr-old fillies & mares $129,000
Winner: Brass in Pocket
Pedigree: Domasca Dan - Luck In My Pocket, by Lucky North Owner: Frank DiGiulio Jr.
Trainer: Robert Tiller
Jockey: Todd Kabel
Breeder: Frank DiGiulio & Frank DiGiulio Jr. in ON
• Sunday, December 5, 2004
Ontario Lassie Stakes - 2 yr-old fillies
$163,350
Winner: Silver Impulse
Pedigree: Silver Charm - Golden Genie, by Beau Genius Owner: B. and B. Stables & W. Penny
Trainer: Stanley Baresich
Jockey: Emile Ramsammy
Breeder: Anderson Farms (Ont.) Inc. & Rod Ferguson in ON • Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Sir Barton Stakes - 3yr-old colts & geldings
$126,375
Winner: Arch Hall
Pedigree: Archers Bay - Selena Smile, by Fortunate Prospect Owner: Eugene & Laura Melnyk
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Patrick Husbands
Breeder: Eugene Melnyk in ON
• Sunday, December 12, 2004
Kingarvie Stakes - 2 yr-olds
$134,875
Winner: Enough is Enough
Pedigree: Porto Foricos - Basta Barbara, by Great Gladiator Owner: John Milloy, Sheldon Pettle & Steve Attard
Trainer: Steve Attard
Jockey: Todd Kabel
Breeder: Noel Randall in ON
• Sunday, December 12, 2004
Valedictory Handicap - 3 yr-old & Up
$137,375
Winner: Daddy Cool
Pedigree: Capote - Platinum Paws, by Vice Regent
Owner: Stronach Stables
Trainer: Sean Smullen
Jockey: Jim McAleney
Breeder: Adena Springs in KY
Norm McKnight setting a standard
By Kelly MacKay
With the Thoroughbred-racing season now over in Ontario, many of Woodbines back- stretch employees have headed off to race elsewhere.
Norm Mc Knight has switched tracks as well, but hasn’t gone far. He will be looking at the same grandstand, but from the vantage point of the inner Standardbred track.
Norm has “changed hats”, from Thoroughbred trainer to “catch driver”, a term used to describe a Standardbred driver who is available for hire to drive horses he doesn’t own or train. This skill with both breeds‚ gives Norm a bit of an edge because he can race here at home year round.
Norm decided this winter would be a good time to continue his quest for 1500 victories. “I’m not looking to get into the Standardbreds in a big way. I thought if nothing else to achieve 1500 would be a nice milestone.” The filly Foxy Babe trained by Terry McCorkell, has already contributed two wins to his stats. Bringing his total to 1460 as of December 8, 2004.
Norm has been bridging the gap between the two racing breeds for some time. He originally drifted over to Thoroughbred racing by accident when a friend introduced him to trainer Rita Schnitzler. He was soon approached by Lou Donato to train some of his horses. Not being familiar with the training of thoroughbreds, he formed a partnership with Rita and collectively they were successful.
In 1999 Norm went out on his own and challenged the “nay sayers” that continually referred to him as “that Standard bred guy”. He brought some of his previous Standardbred owners, including Rick Scriber to the Thoroughbred ways. Winning the Seagram Cup with Brite Adam, and the Play the King with Dawson’s Legacy, he finished the year with 13 wins in 93 starts.
Now with five years of successful training of Thoroughbreds added to his resume, Norm wants to dabble back into his roots. “The Thoroughbreds are my bread and butter. The Standardbreds are something I’ve always loved. I have missed the driving.”
Like his earlier converts, Norm is taking some Thoroughbred people and is introducing them to the Standard bred ways. Rick Scriber has followed him back. He owns a horse called Twin City Turbo. Devanand Persaud, another Thoroughbred client, just purchased his first Standardbred named Small Town Beauty and the high profile combination of Shale Wagman, Aaron Waxman, Todd Kabel and Norm himself is what is generating the most buzz among the Thoroughbred people. These four have come together to purchase a three-year-old filly pacer named Artaura. Norm hopes as the winter progresses he can generate even more interest on both sides and convince owners in each breed to cross over into dual breed ownership.
With 25 years of standardbred knowledge
and three months of down time, it is a logical move back to driving. Norm states, “The March to December Thoroughbred season makes it very difficult to continually make a good living, unless you go away to race.”
However going away is not always financially viable. Tired horses, shipping expenses and start up costs coupled with finding reliable staff to travel with you, deters many operations from going to other racing jurisdic- tions for the winter months. “If your stock gets claimed and the clients don’t replace them, you’re left with an empty barn and staff to consider.” adds Norm, pointing out another downside of travelling.
For Norm there is no real advantage to go away so the decision to stay in Ontario was easy. Here he can stay in the racing community among his peers while maintaining some cash flow and adding to his impressive list of achievements.
Over the years Norm has enjoyed several wins in both Ontario Sire Stakes and New York Sire Stakes as well as a second place finish in the filly division of the Little Brown Jug. He also placed fifth place in the Little Brown Jug and he has competed in the Hamiltonian. Modest about his prior accolades Norm is just happy he can have the chance to re-develop some old friendships.
“I think it’s great to have both breeds racing at the same facility. It makes introductions into each other’s world a little easier.” says Norm.
Once the Thoroughbred season starts up again he plans to maintain his standardbred relationships and continue to drive Standardbreds in the evenings. This will make for long days however Norm says that he is used to it from his years with the standardbreds, “I come from Standardbreds where days are a lot longer than with the Thoroughbreds.”
The average thoroughbred person is in the barn at 6 a.m., and is finished by lunchtime. Even if there is racing during the day, most evenings are free.
The Standard bred lovers start around 7 a.m. They get a little rest in the afternoon, and then they truck to where they have to race. If they are racing far away like Windsor it is a four-hour drive. Competing in the last race, cooling out, reloading the truck and then the driving home would usually get them back in time to start all over again.
The Transition back to a Standardbred lifestyle won’t be easy. “With the Thoroughbreds you get a little spoiled and a little Lazy.” admits Norm.
Of course the hardest part about putting in those kinds of hours again is the strain it can have on a relationship however Norm is thankful for the solid relationship he enjoys with a special someone he describes as “a really great girl.”
With a goal to accomplish and a job that he loves Norm is aiming for continued success in the New Year.
Jockey Todd Kabel celebrates his 36th Stakes win of the season aboard Enough is Enough. Sheldon Pettle, who owns the horse in partnership with John Milloy and trainer Steve Attard, leads the 2- year-old son of Porto Foricos - Basta Barbara (Great Gladiator) into the walking ring after winning the $134,875 Kingarvie Stakes at Woodbine on December 12, the final day of the 2004 live thorough- bred season.
With the win Todd Kabel tied Avelino Gomez’s 38 year-old record of 36 stakes wins in a season.
After the race Kabel beamed, "It's awesome," he said, when asked about having his name etched in the record books. "He (Gomez) was the king, but now he has to share the crown with another king. It's a great honour to be in his league. Dreams come true."
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