Page 21 - October 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game, October 2008 21 HBPA Owners Appreciation
The Shoe Fits the Wit
By Dave Catsimbras
always done good work for me, he’s come a long way since I took him to his rst dentist appointment.”
What do you get when you mix horseshoes, television and a great big set of pearly whites? No, it’s not Mr. Ed. In fact you get one of the best character people on the Woodbine Racetrack grounds, Mike Dunslow. If you don’t know Mike Dunslow you haven’t been following what’s going on at Woodbine. He’s a hard work-
ing guy getting by shoeing horses in the backstretch and as the paddock blacksmith, and giving a little of his precious time and thoughts to “the Score’s” Sunday race program on sum- mer Sundays, with Woodbine Live and Score T.V. personality Elissa Blowe, doing a bit called “If the Shoe Fits.”
Mike has lots of friends on the grounds at Woodbine, but it was one particular individual that thought Mike had the charisma to make a stint on television, and that young lady’s name
Mike is a native of Malton, Ontario and the youngest of ve brothers. It was a couple of his older siblings that brought Mike to the Toronto oval to get his rst job working with horses. Mike took to it right away and found that he could work doing many jobs from walking “hots” to grooming and even galloping for a few years. This, in turn, would bring Mike to the hard- nosed job he has today.
Mike Dunslow with Elizabeth’s Tune at Williams Armata’s barn
Fort Erie Trainer/Owner Al Parody is ready to enjoy the delicious picnic prepared by the Nordic kitchens
Andrew and his mother Samatha, grandson and daugh- ter-in-law of Heron of HJT Racing Stable at Woodbine.
Assiniboia Downs Stakes Recap
• Friday, August 29, 2008
Jack Hardy Stakes - $30,000
3 year-old llies - 1 1/16 miles, Dirt
Winner: Miss Missile
Owner: Charles Edwin Smith
Trainer: Charles Smith
Jockey: Rohan Singh
Breeder: D.J.R. Thoroughbreds
2005 lly by Golden Missile - Whistling Bullet, by Silver Deputy in KY
• Sunday, August 31, 2008
North Dakota Futurity Stakes - $20,000
2 year-old - 6 furlongs, Dirt
Winner: Copper Badges
Owner: William G. Larson
Trainer: Blair Miller
Jockey: Timothy Gardiner
Breeder: William Larson
2006 gelding by Demidoff - Cassa Della, by Fly So Free in MB
• Sunday, August 31, 2008
R.J. Speers Stakes - $30,000
3 year-old & up - 1 1/16 miles, Dirt
Winner: Monsoon Rain
Owner: Larry Carter
Trainer: Martin Drexler
Jockey: Carlos Marquez
Breeder: Ten Broeck Farm Inc.
2002 gelding by Old Trietse - Smokey Mirage, by Holy Bull in KY
• Monday, September 1, 2008
CTHS Sales Stakes - $40,000
2 year-old - 6 furlongs, Dirt
Winner: One On One
Owner: Ken Lee and Dennis Mitchell
Trainer: Chad Torevell
Jockey: Timothy Gardiner
Breeder: Tri Venture Thoroughbred
2006 gelding by Prized - Prospecting Lady, by Imperial Falcon in MB
• Saturday, September 13, 2008
J.W. Sifton Stakes - $50,000
3 year-old - 1 1/8 miles, Dirt
Winner: Spying Eyes
Owner: Marlilet Stable
Trainer: Randy Gray
Jockey: Rohan Singh
Breeder: Cm Ziprick
2005 gelding by Battle Cat - Bashful Dancer, by Bashful Cloud in MB
• Sunday, September 14, 2008
Buffalo Stakes - $50,000
2 year-old - 1 mile, Dirt
Winner: Adventcia
Owner: Dr. Ross McKague
Trainer: Carl Anderson
Jockey: Mark Anderson
Breeder: Dr. Ross A. McKague
2006 lly by Petionville - Ms. Tenacious, by Buckley Boy in MB
Fort Erie owner Cathy Caton said that the hamburgers were great
(left to right) Trainer Tino Attard his daugh- ter,Tanya Pohatyretz and her husband Darren with Darren’s Mother Eve and Grandmother Julia Pohatyretz, who were visiting from Montreal, and Carmen Attard at Woodbine
• Saturday, September 20, 2008
Matron Stakes - $74,500
3 year-old & up llies & mares - 1 1/8 miles, Dirt Winner: Tanika
Owner: Calmar Stables & Ranch
Trainer: Barry Brown
Jockey: Stephan Heiler
Breeder: Fox Hill Farm
2004 lly by Orientate - Bandango, by Dixieland Band in KY
• Sunday, September 21, 2008
Gold Cup Stakes - $74,250
3 year-old & up - 1 1/8 miles, Dirt
Winner: Monsoon Rain
Owner: Larry Carter
Trainer: Martin Drexler
Jockey: Carlos Marquez
Breeder: Ten Broeck Farm Inc.
2002 gelding by Old Trieste - Smokey Mirage, by Holy Bull in KY
• Sunday, September 21, 2008
Winnipeg Futurity Stakes - $74,250
2 year-old - 1 mile, Dirt
Winner: Prayforthesoldiers
Owner: Play 2 Win
Trainer: Aaron Sayler
Jockey: David Lopez
Breeder: Jenny Mills
2006 gelding by Lost Soldier - Six Ribbons, by Cape Town in KY
• Monday, September 1, 2008
Puss n Boots Cup Stakes - $27,500
3 year-old & up - 1 1/16 miles, Turf
Winner: Sandspit
Owner: Anthony Alderson
Trainer: Anthony Alderson
Jockey: Eldridge Lindsay
Breeder: Lynne Hindmarsh
1999 gelding by Sandpit (BRZ) - Smart Vices, by Vice Regent in ON
• Monday, September 1, 2008
Labatt Cup Stakes - $27,500
3 year-old & up llies & mares - 1 1/16 miles, Turf Winner: Nasty Fever
Owner: Ivan Dalos
Trainer: Nick Gonzalez
Jockey: Martin Ramirez
Breeder: Steven Sansone
2004 lly by Stormin Fever - Nasty Affair, by Nasty and Bold in KY
is Elissa Blowe. “It was my idea to bring Mike on the show, I thought he would bring a different point of view to it, plus, he’s a funny guy”, reminds Blowe.
After saving his earnings, Mike would nd himself interested in pur- chasing a horse, which he did. Eddie’s Present was young Dunslow’s rst equine purchase and that horse had some problems with his feet. “Well Pat Nemmett was the blacksmith around my barn at the time and I was asking him questions” Mike remembers, “and he told me I should learn a little about his line of work, so I took the course the following year and ended up doing my apprenticeship with Pat for four or ve years.”
When queried on how to describe Mike’s presence on “If the Shoe Fits” Elissa says with a giggle, “Unpredict- able. We never know what he is going to do, we don’t practice before the show and Mike just comes up with ma- terial on his own. When Mike is asked to be serious he does a good job. We like to utilize him for what he does as a blacksmith and for his horse knowl- edge, not just to be goofy.” Elissa believes there could be more to come from the tandem for next season, “As long as the Score show is back next season on Sundays, Mike will be a part of it, if I have anything to say about it”, she says laughing.
Dunslow has been grateful to be around a long list of good horsemen including the likes of John Tammaro, Audre Cappuccitti, Vito Armata, “Red” Johnson, Michael Wright Sr. and 2008’s leading trainer, so far, Mark Casse. “John is probably the
best horseman I’ve ever known, he taught me a lot.” Says Mike of the late conditioner. “But I have great relations with lots of trainers and one in particu- lar is Mike Wright. The joke used to be that I was his adopted son, he’s a great guy and he always helped me out if I needed it and he’s fun to joke around with.” When asked about his thoughts about Dunslow’s new career move to television Wright Sr. quips, “He might be one of the worst handicappers ever, he couldn’t tip a pool cue! But, Mike’s a good kid, well he’s not a kid, but he’s
When you want to be around a guy who works hard and still puts some life in to the monotony of the same old thing, Mike is the guy.
The people in the Jocks Room will tell you, Mike’s presence has been very positive, “It’s been a pleasure working in here with big Mike, he’s a real card, a comedian, but a true gentleman at the same time.” tells Clerk of Scales Bobby Bertrand,
Fort Erie Race Track Stakes Recap
You never know what Mike’s going to do when he’s around, but we can all be sure it will be done with a lot of dedication, determination, a little bit of class, and a whole lot of wit. Truly, when you put Mike Dunslow and horseracing together the shoe does t.
Subscribe to The Game Today! $35* for 11 Exciting Issues *In Canada Call 1-866-886-5827
or email info@thehorsegame.com
The Game OCTOBER 2008.indd
21
9/25/08 11:11:34 AM