Page 15 - July 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Black Belt on the Backstretch
By Dave Catsimbras
The Game, July 2008 15 Emmanuel with
3-year old son, Jude, after a Wednesday night session
Below: Emmanuel in the morning in the Colebrook Farms barn at Woodbine
For more information call 416-738-7212.
There are many people working on Woodbine’s backstretch that have talents other than that of working with thoroughbreds. One individual in particular is Emmanuel Reid-Oxley. “Manny” as co-workers and friends call him, is not only a groom at the Toronto based racetrack for Colebrook Farms, but, he also instructs lessons in the martial arts in the city’s West End.
Feeling safe around Emmanuel is easy. His second career choice, studying martial arts, has lead him to become a very highly skilled teacher. A martial arts instructor in Toronto’s West End Emmanuel passes on his knowledge to his students at the Budo Ancient Martial Arts Karate Do school.
Born on November 18, 1964, in the tropical country of Trinidad, Emmanuel became fond of both horses and the martial arts at a young age. With the in uence of his friends, Manny had made two career choices that would stay with him until this day. His love of horses was ignited when a friend offered him an opportunity to work with horses. “I always liked horses and I always wanted to know how to ride, but, that’s tough when you have a height of ve-feet and ten-inches”, Emmanuel explains, with a look of adolescent reminiscence on his mind. “I still like to ride but I moved on to grooming because I love the animals, they’re gorgeous.”
Manny studied the arts of Sho Dan, Jodo, and Eido in which he is now a black belt in all three (third degree in Sho Dan) and has received gold and silver medals in competition earlier in his career.
Grooming at Woodbine’s backstretch since 1990, Emmanuel has worked for some prominent trainers in his days including Danny Vella and Reade Baker. Now he brings his experience to second year trainer, Ashlee Brnjas, and the rest of the Colebrook Farms out t.
Emmanuel has used his study of martial arts to help him in everyday life as a tool for mental and physical discipline, “Martial arts teaches you to
do things in life the right way, the little things, all things. A perfect example is like the person who gets up in the early morning and comes to a stop sign on an empty street on the way to work, what do they do? Martial arts teach people to stop rather than roll on through. They teach you the discipline to handle the little things and all things, eventually, the right way.”
“He’s a quiet guy, he’s great with the staff and great with the horses, he takes his time with the dif cult ones, horses that is. Manny is very po-
lite and he makes us feel safe with his martial arts background, Colebrook is very lucky to have him.” Ashley says of Emmanuel.
It has been Emmanuel’s fortune to have two wonderful careers, and after becoming a teacher and helping shape others in a positive way, it is a thrill that leaves him satis ed with his work.
Not only does martial arts help with one’s dis- cipline, but, many other virtues too, as a student
of Emmanuel’s and fellow backstretch employee, Angela Krist, tells of how Manny’s sessions have helped her, “It helps you relax, it helps you focus, it helps you concentrate and I nd I have much more con dence in myself and a lot more energy.”
Manny’s eyes, he believes anybody can learn what he teaches, “You just have to make up your mind and say ‘I can do this’.”
There is always room for more students, and in
Increase your yearling’s earning potential with an ad in
The Game’s Yearling Sales Issue! Publishing August 2008 Deadline: July 23
Call: 1-866-886-5827 for details
Outside the Borders -
mare, Brittan Lee was purchased by Vicki Pappas and her husband Bill Diamant at Keeneland in 2002. She was in foal to Dixie Union and the resulting foal was a lly which was named Cambridge Belle which they sold as a weanling. The mare’s next foal was Ebon Lee, from the last crop of Capote, and then Brittan
Lee produced Broderick, by Hold That Tiger, who topped the Canadian Yearling Sale in 2006 at $250,000. Brittan Lee was sold in foal to Forest Camp in 2005 and her resulting foal was South Central (noted above).
For the best in Equine Insurance
CALDWELL & ASSOCIATES
Personal Service - Competitive Rates
CALDWELL & ASSOCIATES EQUINE INSURANCE INC.
“Serving your best interests”
Nancy Caldwell, President
32 Fairground Lane Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada L4L 3B7
905-856-8665 (office) 905-856-6133 (fax)
continued from Page 14
Last year he won the 2yo Cov- entry Stakes, this year he won with
a dazzling last to rst performance by Art Connoisseur, so it’s anybody’s guess how good he’ll turn out to be.
The main race of the second day
was the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and this was duly won by the well backed favourite Duke Of Marmalade. This son of Danehill was highly tried in Gr1 company last season and has thrived during his 4yo campaign, making it three from three with Gr1 victories
in France, Ireland and England. His stablemate Yeats will be out to defend his staying crown in the 2m 4f Ascot Gold Cup and win for the third year in a row, but may have it all to do to keep Coastal Path at bay.
On a sad note - Broderick, who was owned by James Sapara and Don and Alice Danard and trained by Josie Carroll, collapsed and passed away after the 10th race on Queen’s Plate day at Woodbine.
From The Game Editor:
The Game passes on their sincere regrets.
There was a Canadian connection at Ascot this year.
South Central, a
2 year-old colt
by Forest Camp - Brittan Lee, by Forty Niner was the winner of the G2 Norfolk Stakes on June 19 at Royal Ascot for owner Transend Blood- stock.
The colt’s
The Game JULY 2008.indd 15
6/25/08 1:55:27 AM