Page 10 - June 2009 The Game

10 The Game, June 2009
Cheering for the Wrong Reasons
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness have come and gone, but not without drama that no one could have predicted ve months ago. Old Fashioned, Midshipman (winter-book favourite), The Pamplemousse, Square Eddie, Quality Road, I Want Revenge (really wants revenge now), Stardom Bound all fell off the Derby trail. Have I missed any? Probably, but as the year progressed, I found myself rooting AGAINST horses as much as cheering for them after re ecting on scriptures of the bible and memories of my own career.
As we all know confession is good for the soul, (see James 5:16). The year is 1976 and I am eighteen, fresh-faced with a newly minted trainer’s license at Assiniboia Downs. We’ve reached the end of the year and I have a route horse who just equalled the track record for a mile and three eighths in a starter allowance race.
I am torn between running in the nale of the series, a mile and a half marathon, which would simply be a steer job for the rider, or a stakes race for a mile and three eighths. The kicker?
I confess now to two of the greatest sins committed by most trainers - greed and pride. First, the stake was worth fteen hundred more and secondly, I thought my horse, because I was such a great trainer, was stakes calibre. I’ll never forget the kind words of Assiniboia Downs’ all-time leading trainer who took the time to tell me, “keep yourself in the best of company and your horse in the worst.” Unfortunately, I was still overcome by pride and greed, and just happened to be the smartest trainer in the world!
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
and your horse in the worst”. I don’t know who coined it, but I think it’s a good one. I grew up when Drumtop beat the boys in the sixties and Dahlia whupped everybody in the seventies. Other llies (Winning Colors) have had success, but I’ll never forget the
sight of Ruf an breaking down in the match race with Foolish Pleasure, July 6, 1975. As much as Jacinto Vasquez believed she was the better horse, she’d
never run into a battle-hardened Derby winner like Foolish Pleasure. As I watched the race in Woodbine’s recreation room, the sound of silence was deafening and sickening as the picture of the helpless champion lled the television screen. As long as that image is burned into my memory, in most cases I see no reason for young llies to take on the boys. People do not go to bed at night thinking “you know, Stardom Bound is alright, but she won’t be great until she beats males!” Long story short, Stardom Bound barely won the Santa Anita Oaks, (“please don’t win impressively!”), which disturbed everybody but her connections who ran her in the Ashland, only to see her run third, beaten for the third time in eight races. Proverbs 16:18 First pride, then the crash- the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
Rachel Alexandra: As much as I am duly impressed with this young lly, I thought the original owner’s decision not to run in the Preakness was wise. What
is there to prove if she beats the boys? Rags to Riches beat Curlin, but never won again and only raced once more. Even Winning Colors only won two of seven races at four, a shadow of her former self. Is it worth the risk? I have to admit I watched the Preakness with bated breath, cheering for Mine That Bird, but hoping against hope Rachel Alexandra would come out alright. I sent a prayer heavenward when it was apparent that not only did she win, but she seemed to come out unscathed. Hopefully, she’ll buck the trend and race again, maybe even beat Zenyatta. Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Get Tied On
with Chaplain Shawn
Alright brothers and sisters, it’s confession time.
won the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland after four starts in England. Placing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, his year began with a second place nish in the San Rafael at Santa Anita. He left the race suffering a stress fracture to his left front cannon bone. Now,
if it looks like a fracture, smells like a fracture, walks like a fracture - it is a fracture! Trainer Doug O’Neill announced he would train the son of Smart Strike into the Derby, (please, no), then raced in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland where he made a monster move before stopping like he ran into a brick wall. I held
my breath during the Keeneland, (please don’t win, please don’t win), hoping the connections would prove me wrong, then exhaled a sigh of relief as it appeared Square Eddie would at least walk off the track under his own power.
Equalled the track record!
Now, I realize from my armchair it’s easy to second- guess trainers and owners, but does anyone consider the horse? I’ve had sore shins from my somewhat athletic days and I know how painful they can be. Could Square Eddie and his connections not have waited and aimed for the Queen’s Plate at a cool million, but with more prep (and healing) time and considerably less tough competition? Square Eddie ended his Derby run with an announcement that the shin injury, which is not life-threatening, has bounced him off the Derby trail inde nitely. Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
The stakes race had a purse of ve thousand dollars, the nale thirty ve hundred. Hmmm.
The horse ran third in the stake, and never won again. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Stardom Bound: Champion two year old lly Stardom Bound started her year in ne fashion, with a victory in the Las Virgenes, which prompted Michael Lavarone, who owns about 75 percent of Stardom Bound following a $5.7 million purchase in November, to announce they would “take on the boys” in the Santa Anita Derby. Not so fast, said trainer Robert Frankel, (and although I knew they couldn’t hear me), “please, no”, said I.
Let’s start with Square Eddie: a Canadian-bred, he
Listen, I have no problem with llies and mares competing with colts and geldings, but I do subscribe to the axiom “Keep yourself in the best of company
2000th Win for
Jimmy Mac!
Jockey Jim McAleney recorded his 2,000th career win on Sunday, May 3 at Woodbine nishing in a dead-heat with his mount Whiskeyontherocks and Tempesta Di Neve in the last race of the day.
Winning in Multiples!
trainer Robert Tiller and his partner on the horse Peter Vlitas; True Vindication (race 4) for trainer Malcolm Pierce
and Owner Live Oak Plantation; and Graceful Gracie (race 6) for trainer Scott Fairlie and Owners E. Bona and P. Stefaniak.
Trainer Robert Johnston had a natural hat trick on May 12 at Fort Erie winning races 3 thru 5 with Krz n’ Flashy for Sylon Stable & Partner; Cianabar for Six Brothers Stable; and March Trend for Bruno Schickedanz respectively.
“Spread the News” trainer John Simms had a “lucky day” on May 17 at Fort Erie winning like a “Fleet Storm”. John was the trainer of winners Fleet Storm (race 2) for wife Sharon; Lucky Day (race 3) for owner Elena De Luca; and Spread the News (race 7) for owner Thomas Grimes.
Woodbine’s current leading jockey, Patrick Husbands, is on course for another title if he continues to win like he did on May 15 at Woodbine. Patrick rode home the winners Sultry Approval (race 1) for Owner/Trainer Malcolm Pierce; B’cause B’cause (race 2) for
Interesting Name!
B’cause B’cause, a 3 year-old gelding by Whywhywhy owned by trainer Robert Tiller and Peter Vlitas was the winner for $49,000 Claiming on May 15 at Woodbine.
Training for Success
Olds College CERTIFIED TRAINING PROGRAMS
Exercise Rider & Jockey Race Horse Grooms Training Program Training Program
For Program Dates & Times visit:
www.oldscollege.ca/continuingeducation/animalscience or call 1-800-661-OLDS (6537), ext. 4767
Dry ColD • intermittent Compression
Preventative and Injury Therapy
Nancy Berman 416.994.6940 • nberman@sportsrecoverysystems.com • www.gamereadyequine.ca
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