Page 27 - The Game October 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, October 2006 27
The Ballad of Bill the Reverend
For this issue, I have asked Brian Johnston to give us a “golfer’s eye view” of the Pat Day/Chaplaincy Golf Tournament. Here is his report:
Golf Tournament Will Benefit Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada
By Brian R. Johnston
Etobicoke, ON – This year marked the first annual Racetrack Chaplaincy of Canada Golf Tournament and proved to be well attended and supported by many in the industry. The golf tournament was held at Royal Woodbine Golf Course on August 28, 2006 and Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day took on the role as Honourary Chairman of the event. Dr. Enrique Torres, Executive Director of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, was in from his home base of California and attended with his wife.
This tournament was filled with tremendous rivalries and competitiveness between all involved, but none more so than the team of Na Somsanith, David Clark, Constant Montpellier and Jerry Baird who represented the Jockey’s Guild and their rivals
Greg Broadhurst, Steve Roberts, Schemlin Montoute and Shane Learn.
It was predicted
that the winner
would need to be a
minimum of 12
under par to win
the event on the
beautiful champi-
onship course at
Royal Woodbine
and that was exact-
ly what it took to finish first. In the end, it was the team from the Jockey’s Guild that would go down in history as the events first ever winners. Congratulations to Na, David, Constant and Jerry on their victory!
Finishing second in the event at 11 under par was the team led by Greg Broadhurst. Greg will now go back to the drawing board and over the coming months attempt to find the secret formula that will be needed to knock our champions off of the pedestal. Other notables were Brian Blair and Mark Dunn, the “Closest to the Pin” winners!
McMartin and Associates, Drs. Coker and Starmer & Dave Dwyer.
Congratulations are in order for the sponsors, The Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada and its Council who worked so diligently to make this event a huge success. They are grateful to Tim Orlando of Slo-Motion Sports who put so much organization into this event Participants this year will certainly be looking forward to next year’s event and those that were unable to attend this inaugural will have ample warning to schedule their time accordingly for what we know will be a bigger and stronger tournament in the future.
Personally, I think the tournament was a smashing victory in a photo finish and I will be in the entry box, as soon as next
year’s date is announced.
So, Where Does It All Go?
Years ago, there was a golf tournament held to raise funds for a chapel for Woodbine’s back- stretch. Now, this was before my
A lunch greeted the golfers as they arrived and after the tournament everyone was able to participate in a silent auction and raffle. A beautiful buffet dinner was then followed by the awards and keynote speaker Pat Day. Pat Day doesn’t golf, but encouraged all teams and posed for pictures with every team.
has been accounted for).
Our goal was not to make money - it
was to highlight the ministry of the Chaplaincy in coordination with a visit from Pat Day. Most of our budget goes to my salary, with additional monies for our Bar-B-Q’s, mileage expenses, phone, office supplies, etc. Our Chaplaincy is run by a Council made up of trainers, media members, backstretch personnel, jockeys owners and breeders and meets nearly every two weeks. Everything that I do is accountable to them and they are ultimately accountable to those who support the RTCC. We are a transparent ministry and will remain so. Anyone who has an interest in the working of the RTCC is invited to inquire of me or any member of our Council.
We are, after all, in service to you.
My thanks to Tim Orlando of Slo- Motion Sports, who is a joy to work with and I’m already anticipating next year.
The Chaplaincy Council were extremely pleased and most thankful for the support that was shown by the following:
Prize Sponsors: Woodbine Entertainment Group, Michael Burns Photography, Julie Morton, Gus Schickendanz, Colebrook Farms, Pat Day, Greg & Julia Samulak, Jim Bannon, Horsepower Racing Management, Robert Landry, Greenhawk, Merrill’s, The CTHS of Ontario, The HBPA of Ontario, Ontario Harness Horsemen's Association, Gary Kemplen and The Jock's Room.
Hole Sponsors: Bob Tiller, Lorne Spearman & Corey Fraser, Danny Vella, Scott Fairlie, Radlie Loney, Jim Bannon, Reade Baker, Dr. Candace Allen, Mike DePaulo, Greg DeGannes, Dave Bell, Mike Luider, Dominion Bloodstock,
(l-r) Jockeys Jerry Baird, Constant Montpellier, time, so I have to former jockey Pat Day, put together the Jockeys Na Somsanith & David Clark facts from reliable sources. As far as I know, pledges were made and funds were raised and then suddenly the plug was pulled. Those who put money up, (as opposed to a pledge, which is more like a promise), were given the option of having their contribution returned or leaving the money in a trust fund which was managed by Jim Bannon and Nelson Hamm. Earlier this year, Jim and Nelson presented a check from that trust fund to the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada (RTCC), Inc., which is a registered charity, for just over $10,000. Now, I am a firm believer of accountability, especially when it comes to OPM (Other People’s Money). This year’s fundraiser cost $13,800 and we made grossed almost $19,000, with the final numbers still to come in (not all support
Get Tied On
with Chaplain Shawn
There’s a story that needs telling,
It concerns the racetrack breed, ‘Bout a gyp named Bill the Reverend And St. Gregory his steed.
‘Twas winter at the Dufferin And things were mighty tough, For ‘Reverend’ and a big bay horse He’d purchased on the cuff.
Bill scurried in the mornings
To make a buck or two,
By mucking stalls and walking hots, Like all the hustlers do,
But jobs were few and dollars too, And so, alas it fell
The ‘Reverend’ thought of stealing oats For his equine pal.
And all the time St. Gregory
Just stood there munching hay, While Willie figured ways and means Of keeping things that way.
The old bay horse just stood there Contented in his stall,
While the ‘Reverend’ was conniving - His back up to the wall.
A coffee for his breakfast,
Bran mash at dinner time, Stewed carrots for his supper, With a little dago wine.
Tho’ the essence of his vittles Induced to malnutrition, ‘Twas not the cause of poor ole Bill’s Being close to perdition.
As he lay with empty belly
In his shakedown bed a-scheming, He dozed off for a minute
And promptly went to dreaming;
Of boyhood days when he had the craze - A horse to call his own,
A racetrack life (no loving wife) -
A tackroom for a home.
But his Daddy was a parson Who daily racked his brain With logic and with reason
In an effort to explain, “You’re an only son of mine my lad And it’s your obligation
To study for the ministry - A hallowed occupation.
Besides you are a young ‘un And it’s up to me, your father, To see that you don’t do the things, You really hadn’t orter.
The ministry’s your calling,
I wish you wouldn’t balk, When I am old and useless You’ll be caring for the flock.
And when you fill your daddy’s shoes Be sure to recollect,
‘Tis your moral obligation
All peoples to protect;
The poor the needy are the ones, Who need a helping hand, Whatever faith they practice - From any foreign land.”
At this point Bill awakened,
But lay there for a while,
‘Tho his stomach gnawed from hunger, The ‘Reverend’ had a smile.
‘Tho things looked mighty gloomy -
Could almost say ‘done in’
The ‘Reverend’s’ smile just widened - Into a happy grin.
Then straightaway he fetched a pail And water from the spicket,
And hummed a tune (Gregorian Chant), As clear as any cricket.
“Dear father thank you for the thought, I’m on my way to see
If all the parsons are as kind
As you’d want me to be.”
He walked awhile and looked around Until a parsonage he found, Quickly introduced himself
To parson, who devoid of wealth, Listened to his tale of woe, Attentively and with show
Of understanding for the need Of Willie and his hungry steed.
Immediately he saw the light Of Bill the Reverend’s sorry plight, Acknowledging his near demise Offered him a compromise; Half-interest in the Thoroughbred Who’d put poor Willie in the red, For Bill had almost guaranteed Potential for his running steed.
The parson looked a trifle pale When he’s signed the Bill of Sale. Now a legal partnership
With Bill the Reverend - a racetrack gyp; He wondered if the congregation Would approve his incorporation, ‘Cause vittles for the parson’s table Were cheaper than a public stable.
Yet springtime came to the Dufferin course And Gregory was a runnin’ horse. Carrying the silks of the Rectory
To many a smashing victory.
The investment reaping large returns, ‘Cause Gregory skipped ‘round the turns, And thus he kindly reimbursed
The congregation’s empty purse.
The day’s that followed proved to be Successful for the ‘company’; Bill the Reverend’s jubilation Matched that of the congregation, For when St. Gregory ran his races The congregation’s happy faces Wagered heavily, (as a rule), Increasing Orpen’s mutuel pool.
Yet Gregory did pull up sore
And to the ‘Reverend’ - nevermore, The congregation’s noble steed, (Which Willie once had guaranteed) Would carry silks of the Rectory,
To a running race - and victory.
For the Vet explained as he made his test, “He’s a ‘broke-down’ horse who’s done his
best.”
Today there stands in a Bloor Street church, Where you and all may see,
A statue of a Saint whose name
Is good St. Gregory.
And when the people pass it by,
(so reverently of course)
I know they think of Dufferin Park - And Bill the Reverend’s horse.
- By William Galvin, taken from his book, ballads of the turf and other doggerels