Page 6 - October 2007 The Game

6 The Game, October 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Wind Blew Them Back to Fort Erie
Francois & Yolande Seremba had decided to retire from horseracing. They purchased a modest home in Oldsmar, Florida in 2005 and had dwindled their breeding stock down to one mare which they board nearby at Best of Luck Farm in Ocala.
The Seremba’s had every intention of retiring until their mare started producing runners.
“We may never get out!” joked the charming trainer, “We had thought that we were finished with racing.”
And now, after a lifetime in racing, it may be impossible for the Seremba’s to ever completely retire.
Both Francois (known on the racetrack as Frank) and Yolande were both born in Montreal, Quebec. They had very different backgrounds however a common thread would bring them together in what they describe as a true love story.
Frank’s grandfather was a thoroughbred trainer and his father, Frank Sr., was his jockey. Both US citizens, the father-son pair would travel a circuit which included racing in New Orleans for the winter and New York, Montreal and Ottawa in the summer months. “I was born in June,” commented Frank, “which meant my father was in
Montreal.” Frank’s mother worked at the racetrack and lived in Montreal, which is where Frank spent most of his childhood.
However it was his love of hockey that would introduce him to Yolande.
Frank played hockey and Yolande had an uncle who played for the Montreal Canadiens, their paths first crossed at age six at a hockey related gathering and “they fell in love” when they met again at age seven.
Although his mother had sent him to some of the best schools in Canada, Frank admits that he never used his education, instead opting to follow his father and
grandfather in racing. In 1950, Frank’s mother gave him the money to claim his first horse, a filly
named Wateree for $700, who made enough money to keep him in the business.
Frank and Yolande married on September 18, 1954, when they were both twenty-three.
At that time Yolande was modeling for a major depart- ment store in Quebec which was owned by horse-owner, Mr.Jean-Louis Levesque. Johnny Star was Mr. Levesque’s main trainer, however Frank also received a few horses from
Mr. Levesque which opened up a few doors for the young trainer.
Early on in their marriage the couple learned that they could not have children, “I couldn’t have children, “ said Yolande, “so we got heavily involved in horse breeding and that is when we hit the jackpot.”
In 1957 the Seremba’s raced at Fort Erie and had success with horses, First Aid and Lady Yolande, however the best horses that they had ever owned were the ones they had raised them- selves.
Continued Next Page
Yolande and Francois (Frank) Seremba
Taken from a scrapbook of memories was this photo of the horse First Aid winning a race in 1957 at Fort Erie. Jockey Alex Wick was in the irons with (left to right) groom/exercise rider Gules Boucher,Yolande and Frank Seremba and Uncle Eddie Seremba.
First Aid made more than $200,000 in 1957.
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
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Tickets $25
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Admission is by Ticket Only contact the HBPA 905-871-3200, ext 3249 for more information
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