Page 21 - June 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, June 2007 21
Timing is Everything
Trainer Sandra Dominguez with 4-yr-old Gardiner Farms’ owned filly, Clearly In Charge
By Brian R. Johnston
We all are too familiar with the expression, ‘timing is everything’, and this year may very well end up having all the stars aligned in Sandra Dominguez’s favour.
After all, when you take into account the years of experience she has amassed as a horsewoman the timing couldn’t be better.
Her father Joe “Da Barber” Russo was a leading trainer in Winnipeg and introduced her to the Sport of Kings at the early age of 9, where she became enthralled with the thoroughbred industry.
Her tenure has seen her work in many aspects of the industry where she learned various life lessons in the field she loves.
Whether it was walking hots, grooming horses, or just plain old hard work around the barn, she has developed an uncanny knack for reading the needs of the horses she works with.
She freely gives credit to both her Dad and fellow trainer, Sandy MacPherson for the knowledge base she possesses.
Sandra says, “It was my Dad that taught me to have patience, to work both hard and smart in my quest to realize my dreams of one day becoming a trainer,” and “Sandy gave me the opportunity of running his shed row where I learned the
business end of the industry.
“My time with Sandy was most
reassuring, reinforcing the lessons I had learned about hard work and perseverance from my father. Under his tutelage, he opened my eyes about how to deal with people. My co-workers are much more than just employees, they are valuable assets that are essential to a team.
“Further to that, he instilled in me the necessity of being straight forward with owners, which is serving me well today. I currently have half a dozen owners that have shown faith in my abilities by supporting the day to day operations and decisions that I make for all of our welfare.”
Sandra has 12 stalls at Woodbine and is actively involved with the care, upbring- ing and development of 30 plus horses. Her job is one that she relishes, but it would be a lot less complicated if she was given the chance to have her stable all under one roof at the track.
She maintains her stable with a team philosophy that happen to be family, as her Mom (Janette) is her go to Hot Walker, her two sons (Javier & Ramon Jr. ) are her grooms and last but certainly not least is her husband Ramon who is her main exercise rider.
Hard work is paramount to her success
and the entire crew arrives daily by 5:00 a.m. to get the ball rolling. The team work in her stable is evident, everyone has a vested interest in the success of her horses and her business. In Sandra’s barn, there is no room for egos and everyone is of the same mindset, which fits right in with her plan for success.
“We have horses outside of those stabled at Woodbine, which move in and out to train or work and I am fortunate to have Sherry MacLean as a friend and co-hart, as we work very well together and are on the same page when it comes to what is in the best interest of our horses.
“Sherry is the Farm Manager for Gardiner Farms and through my association with them; I have had the opportunity of gaining better stock, year after year.
“I currently have a number of unproven two and three year olds, but there are some serious runners with great potential awaiting their chance to excel, as time moves on. My job is to gain an understanding of each one of them, as individuals and train them accordingly, so that they can reach their full potential.
“I am from the old school, which is more in tune to giving them the time they
need to develop. The little aches and pains that any real athletes are going to experience can be overcome with the right diet, daily exercise and rest as required at the farm and that is the train of thought I employ, in getting them to the races in good order,” states Sandra.
“Proper conditioning, an athletic horse, the right conditions (running them where they belong), a quality rider that tries hard all the time, good owners and a little bit of racing luck is what it takes to be competitive and to win races,” she lamented. “Timing is everything and we work diligently toward ensuring that we cover all the details possible to have the stars aligned, so that everyone prospers.” she said in closing.
A Look Back At Past Champions
By Jackie Humber
So, have you ever wondered what became of all those amazing horses that claimed victory in British Columbia’s biggest race; The B.C. Derby?
During a recent look back I was amazed to realize that some of the champions are no longer with us. Their lives cut short by tragedy. While some have gone on to become productive sires in the stud barn.
After telephone interviews with trainers in Calgary, Alberta and as far away as Seattle and Onalaska, Washington I have pieced together some interesting stories. Some gave me tears of sorrow but others gave me tears of joy.
The 2007 Grade 3 B.C. Derby is scheduled for September 23 and right now we can only imagine the interesting story that will follow this year’s winner.
1996 - Newdigs (Sire: Katowice, Dam: Depositor)
Winner of the 1996 B.C. Derby, Newdigs at that time was trained by Hastings trainer, Terry Jordan. Newdigs went on to capture the Province Handicap the following spring. In July 1997, a trainer change to the owner’s daughter, Toni Jacobson. Newdigs was victorious one more time during his next three seasons of racing. According to Toni, Newdigs is enjoying his retirement on the family farm in Langley, B.C., “He’s just our pet now. He really seems to enjoy himself on the farm,” she exclaims. Newdigs retired in July 1999 with career earnings of $211,232 from 21 starts with 7 victories, 2 seconds and 3 thirds.
1997 - Bobbin For Stars (Sire: Morning Bob, Dam: Star Like Tara)
1997 Derby winner, Bobbin For Stars, had a short racing career. During the running of the Johnny Longden 6000 the following spring, Bobbin For Stars stumbled and was euthanized following the race. His trainer, Lance Giesbrecht, who was recently voted into the Hall Of Fame, remembers the champion horse well. “He was really nice to be around and he had a good disposition. He was a sound horse and I guess he just
took a wrong step at the wrong time,” said Giesbrecht. Bobbin For Stars career earnings stand at $221,623
from 19 starts with 5 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds.
1998 - Vernon Invader (Sire: Ringside, Dam: Pacific Invader)
Following his win in the 1998 B.C. Derby, Vernon Invader had seven more wins over his career that spanned the next 6 seasons.
Hastings trainer, Alex Murray trained Vernon Invader during his B.C. Derby victory. Owner, William
Smith retired soon after and decided to train his star himself. Smith had always wanted to travel to tracks across North America and embarked on a journey with Vernon Invader. “I did race all over the place with Vernon Invader and we had quite a time. It was a great time.” recalled Smith. Following a race at Hastings in July 2004, Vernon Invader was taken back to the Smith Farm in Vernon, B.C. where he was euthanized soon after due to laminitis. “He was a really great horse. We’ve been looking for another one like him but still haven’t found him yet,” said Smith.
Vernon Invaders career earnings were $612,572 from 61 starts with 19 wins, 9 seconds and 5 thirds.
1999 - Wandering (Sire: Harlan, Dam: Gypsy Sweetheart)
Trained by Hastings trainer, Steve Bryant, Wandering won the B.C. Derby in 1999. Wandering raced one more time with a victory in the Burnaby Handicap before retiring in October 1999.
Breeder, Ralph Jesiak, purchased him out of the 2006 dispersal sale of the late owner Kim Hart. “Well I had bred to Wandering in the past because I really liked his bloodline,” said Jesiak.
According to Jesiak, Wandering is being
syndicated and is standing stud at Country West Farms in Langley, B.C. His stud fee is $2000 for live foal. “Wandering will have 26 foals this year. He has already bred 15 good mares this season,” said Jesiak.
Wanderings lifetime earnings are $236,786 from 15 starts with 4 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds.
Continued Page 22 - See Past Champions
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