Page 17 - June 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, June 2007 17
The Pierces Memorable Moments
By Chris Lomon
Admittedly, Malcolm Pierce isn't the type to get carried away whenever he watches one of his horses run. But on a February afternoon in New Orleans, the trainer couldn't help but be a bit emotional.
To most observers, Unto the Hills victory in the fourth race at Fair Grounds Racetrack on February 3 wouldn't appear to have any particular special meaning, with the exception
of her connections, or for
those who laid down a
wager on the mutuel
favourite.
For Pierce and his wife, Sally, who is also his assistant, however, the victory was truly a memorable one.
"The one thing that went
through my mind in the
final yards was Northern
Dancer," said Pierce, in
reference to the Canadian
thoroughbred legend.
"Emma (jockey Wilson) was wearing the Windfields silks, the ones you always associate with Northern Dancer.
"I've trained a few horses for Windfields for just over year and that was my first win for them. It was sure nice to get my picture taken with those colours."
Unto the Hill's victory was one of 13 from mid-November to mid-March for Pierce at the Louisiana racetrack that has indeed been kind to the Woodbine-based trainer over the years.
Pierce's first training win, on January 15, 1998, came at Fair Grounds, the third oldest racetrack in the United States.
In spite of his numerous successes both at home and away, Pierce, who began his thoroughbred career in 1981, working for Hall of Fame conditioner Jim Day, remains grounded.
"Once you stop learning, you better give up," said the Ontario native, who went on to become an assistant trainer, building a working relationship with veteran horsemen that lasted for more than 13 years. "We've learned a lot and seen a lot. But you go from winning a stakes race one afternoon, to finishing out of the money the next day. The highs and the lows in the business are so close together."
Pierce has enjoyed several standout moments in his career, prior to and after he went out on his own in 1997.
Among the first horses Pierce trained in 1998 was Victor Cooley, who won the 1996 Queen's Plate and 1997 Vosburgh, while in the barn of current Sam-Son Farm conditioner Mark Frostad. It was Victor Cooley who gave Pierce his first stakes win, the Pelleteri Breeders' Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds.
Ranking tied for forty-sixth at Woodbine in 1999, the following season saw Pierce jump into the top 20, finishing tied for 16th in 2000. He hasn't ranked lower than 18th since.
"I had a pretty good background," noted Pierce, of his affiliation with some of Canada's most noteworthy trainers. "I had been around a lot of good horses, too. That helped me immensely. That's what makes you win races. I do the same thing as a hundred other guys on the backstretch. The key is in finding that good horse.
"But the thought of winning a Queen's Plate, or a Breeders’ Cup, or a Kentucky Derby - that's what keeps you getting up in the morning."
With over 260 career winners and counting, does Pierce feel he has "finally arrived"?
"I'm not there yet," offered the 50-year-old, with a laugh. "It's just hard work, day in and day out. I've been to the Breeders' Cup with Sam-Son and to a lot of great racetracks around the continent. But we are lucky. I've got a great group of horses and I love doing what I'm doing."
The lure of winning some of the sport's high- profile events is as enticing as ever for Pierce, who has saddled 24 stakes winners, seven graded, as of May 18.
"As long as you've got that two-year-old that hasn't started, the one where someone says, 'Maybe this is the one,' it keeps you hungry."
Having developed a reputation as one of Canada's most proficient turf trainers, Pierce is far
from being simply a grass specialist.
Still, the man who continues to have tremendous
success with grass runners relishes the chance to saddle a horse to run on the surface, especially over Woodbine's world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
"It's a heck of a long stretch," said Pierce, who sent out nine turf winners at the Toronto oval in 2006. "I love it. It's a wide, wide lane. I think nine times out of 10, the best horse wins. You just hope you have the best horse. In my mind, it's the best turf in North America."
As for the reasons for his accomplishments on the green?
"I think it's the pedigree of the horse that the owners send me. But Victor Cooley, he came close to winning on the grass, and he had no turf pedigree. I wish all the races could be on the grass. I think it prolongs the longevity of a horse. But the Polytrack is great. Maybe I'll be known as a Polytrack trainer, too."
And maybe Pierce, who watched Devilment triumph in the Diliberto Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds on December 16, will record a victory in one of the sport's so-called "big races" sooner rather than later.
What would be going through his mind if it were to happen?
"You'd think, 'We all believed in this horse and they did it.' It's always a great feeling. It's gratifying."
"It's the best feeling in the world," offered Sally. "They are not your children. But they are very close to it. They are all different, they are all wonderful."
Something the Pierces are often reminded of.
Malcolm and Sally Pierce with 3-year-old Windfields Farm owned filly, Unto the Hills
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WEG Security Officers receive Horse Training
In an effort to educate the security officers in the safe handling of a horse in an emergency, Woodbine Entertainment Group’s Fire Marshall, Bob Webb, with the co-operation of the HBPA’s President Sue Leslie and administrative staff member Julia Samulak & her husband Greg, have organized safety instruction sessions which were held throughout the month of May.
The main job of
the security
officers on the
backstretch is to
ensure the safety
of the buildings
and the people
who work on or
visit the
backstretch. The
officers are also
the only people on
the backstretch
during the
nighttime hours and could very well be the first response for the horses in an emergency.
The training was voluntary and was offered to the security officers to instruct them in the safe handling of horses who may be cast in a stall or showing signs of distress of illness. They were also instructed on where to position themselves around the horses in the stall allowing them to remain out of harms way.
A demonstration on how to place a halter and lead shank on a horse in the event of a barn fire was also provided.
The training included one hour of in-class fire safety instruction from Bob Webb as well as a hands on session working with Julia’s demonstration thoroughbred named “Fred”.
Security Officers at Woodbine during hands-on training with Bob Webb and Julia Samulak