Page 22 - July 2007 The Game

22 The Game, July 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Hall of Fame Builders Panels Unveiled
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame unveiled the wall panels honouring Standardbred and Thoroughbred Builders in a special ceremony on June 6 at the Hall of Fame at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.
Photo Top - The family of Steve Stavro were present for the unveiling of the panel which included the late Steve Stavro who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Photo Right - From left to right: Son Dan Mooney, widow Bernice Mooney, daughter Maureen O’Hara, and son Pat Mooney, attended the ceremony and viewed the plaque of father and husband, John Mooney who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.
A Head at the Wire
A series of real life stories by Paddy Head majeek05@hotmail.com
No Smile for the Camera
The stocky little chestnut, Pat And Turn, was a course within a horse, intent on giving me years of experience in mere months. No matter who I worked him with, claimer or allowance, Pat kept his head in front, accelerating with ease. He would do a 1/2 mile in 50 or 47, whatever was needed.
Unlike many inexperienced horses, he wasn’t afraid of contact. One morning when Joan O’Shea was breezing in company with me, her horse brushed against us and Pat leaned into him with all his might, forcing him out. It took consid- erable strength on my part to pull him off.
I had plenty of time for re-schooling Pat, during and after my 5 day suspension. I galloped him behind horses, slipping through on the rail or in the middle of the pack. We spent a few mornings walking in and out of the gate before breaking in company. He went as straight as an arrow. Time to look for another race.
This time, we drew my lucky number, 7 (as opposed to my favourite post position, number 5). No worries about Pat reacting explosively to the starter’s flag this time. Such was my faith in this horse’s ability, I told all my friends to bet, something I’d never done before.
The track came up muddy the day of the race but that didn’t daunt me in the least—Pat worked flawlessly on any kind of surface. Denise Boudrot was on the favourite, Eddie Kelly’s mount had a good late run and Joan O’Shea was a threat on any horse she rode. In spite of the hot competition, my friends took me seriously and sent me to the post at 4-1.
Pat was nervous in the gate but I got his head in the right position and we broke well. I eased him to the lead and sat quietly, biding my time. With a horse on the outside and another on the inside, Pat ran as effortlessly as he did in a morning workout, his head in his favourite position, in front. When the outside horse vanished half way round the turn, another came up to take his place. Perfect!
At the 1/16th pole, the horse on the inside was making no progress in spite of heavy encouragement. I was still in front and had plenty of horse beneath me. I reached back with the whip and gave him a sharp crack to signal that it was time to move on. There was no response. This time, my whip went from his flank to his shoulder and back to his flank. Still no acceleration.
Eddie Kelly’s whistle and Denise’s holler erupted behind me. They were literally breathing down my neck. It was time for serious action. I hit Pat under the belly, on the flanks, on the shoulder, everywhere I could possibly reach. While my stick flew in all directions, I slapped him with the reins and screamed myself silly. We gained a quarter of a length.
The cacophony of screams and whips slashing against sweaty flanks assaulted my ears. I had no idea if Eddie was a length behind me or a nose. My face was buried in mane as I cracked Pat one more time and then swung my whip forward and tapped his chin, ready for a photo finish.
The Racing Form records our win as 1/2 a length—a perilously short 1/2 length as far as I was concerned.
“Hey girl, you looked like you had six arms!” Eddie called out to me after the wire.
If I’d been able to breath I’m sure I would have fired a comeback—probably an octopus joke—“Hey, I’m a ‘Head’ with arms!”
The crew that met me in the winner’s circle didn’t have the warm, happy smiles that I anticipated. Their faces resembled a gathering of storm clouds. Bobby Venezia accused me of trying to give him a heart attack. Everyone thought the close winning margin stemmed from my cockiness. Why didn’t you open up at the 1/16th pole, they demanded?
This time I was quick with a comeback. Eddie Arcaro’s famous quote came to my lips—“What, and leave the horse?”
New Registered Thoroughbred Class in Palgrave
Thirteen year old Maryland
bred Positive Returns was the
winner of the inaugural regis-
tered Thoroughbred Hunter
Classic held during the Summer
A Circuit Classic at Caledon
Equestrian Park in Palgrave on
June 16. The class which was
sponsored by LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement
Society was the first in the series
of three classes which are being
hosted to raise awareness of the thoroughbred breed in the show
ring. LongRun Director Martha
Scott presented the blank and
the ribbon to rider Sara Baillargeon who received the top prize money of $500 for horse owner Kathleen Ferguson.
Second - Matrix ridden and owned by Valerie Curtis $325
Third - Tuscany ridden and owned by Caren Morassutti $250
Fourth - One Sweet Lady ridden by Quincy Hayes for owner Nicole Walker $175
Fifth - Everlast ridden by Anne McKay for owner Courtney Walsh $150
Sixth - Spartacus ridden and owned by Debbie Weir $100
A total of nineteen thoroughbred competed in the class.
The next thoroughbred hunter division classic is July 29 in Palgrave and is sponsored by Adena Springs Retirement.
For more information on the new thor- oughbred hunter series you can call LongRun at 416-675-3993 ext. 3440 or visit their website at www.longrunretirement.com
A Lot to be Thankful For
I realize that Thanksgiving comes in October here in Canada, (November, if you’re from the United States), but I want to take this occasion to give thanks. The bible has a lot to say about giv- ing thanks, as in ALL THE TIME! Thinking of Canada Day, we somehow lose our perspective in all the hoopla, that we need to be thankful all the time for this great country that we live in. So here are just some of the things I am thankful about, (aboot), Canada:
1. Horse racing: Does it go without saying? Well, sometimes it does. We just can’t take horse racing for granted. Thoroughbred horse racing is conducted from B.C. to Ontario, and Standardbred racing is everywhere but the Northern Territories. (I think they could hold a meet somewhere in Nunavut, but it would be a short one and the shipping would be murder). I grew up in the Sport of Kings and remember the
glory days of the 70s when it was the number attendance sport in North America and we had a Triple Crown winner every three years- Secretariat made the front page of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in the same week. As its popularity dwindles, I can only appreciate it more. As tracks continue to lose days and racing loses prominence in the sporting news, as horses seem to become more fragile and dependent on drugs, I am grateful that we can not only participate in this sport, but we can make our living as well.
2. Race Track Chaplaincies: OK, I’m biased, but I should be. The longer I’m involved in this ministry, the more I love it. I still get a kick out of seeing the looks on people’s faces that are outside of the industry when I tell them what I do. The words race track and ministry still evoke images of oh, say, spinach and ice cream in many people and that’s OK. I will be going to Alberta in August
to help them launch their ministry and I’ll be vis- iting Assiniboia Downs in late June, where I served as a Chaplain for many years. We’re not as vast as the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, who just celebrated 35 years of ministry, but the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada has a good start and I plan to be around when we celebrate our 35th anniversary. (I’ll be 85 and may need some help with the cake.)
3. This country: For the past 2 years I’ve driv- en my daughter back to Winnipeg and it’s remind- ed me of just how beautiful this country is. If you haven’t driven along the shore of Lake Superior, you haven’t lived. Highway that has been slashed through rock and is seemingly going to drop you into the water on every turn, wildlife (bears!) meandering across the road and sunsets to die for - that is something I’d lost touch with. I know fly- ing is easier and sometimes more economical, but I encourage you to slow down and take a road
trip. Other things about Canada: health care, diversity, sameness, freedom, cold winters, our culture, our humility, I could go on and on. I love this land. This July 1st, I won’t be going to the “lake” or partying on Canada’s birthday. Like every other race tracker, I’ll be working on this holiday, because it’s a race day - and I’ll love it.
Just a reminder to all at Woodbine about two things: Chaplaincy Bar-B-Qs are on the last Tuesday of the month and our Chaplaincy will hold it’s Annual Golf Tournament at Glen Eagle Golf Course on July 23 at noon - golf, dinner, auc- tion, prizes, all for $150.00. You can contact me at 905-713-4783 for ticket and information.
Get Tied On
with Chaplain Shawn