Page 20 - The Game May 2006

20 The Game, May 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Gertrude Stevenson:Age No Hindrance to Handicapping
COFFEE JOHN - CONT. FROM PAGE 18 This occurred during the era of Bill
Marko who enjoyed his time as one of Woodbine’s leading trainers. The fact that the stable had great horses didn’t hurt either as Lloyd was aboard Horse of the Year Deputy Minister (1981) and Frost King (1982) to name just a couple from the Marko barn. The horses thrilled racing fans on numerous occasions with their tremendous athletic abilities and significant race records.
Another top rider that formed an alliance with Coffee John was Dave Penna, which was beneficial to both members of the team. Penna ruled turf racing at Woodbine for many years and was also extremely successful in the overall riders standings during his time associated with John.
Coffee John’s philosophy with regards to being a successful agent is relatively simple:
“First of all, the fit between riders and their agent has to be one that is natural.
When they share graciousness, good manners and respect for everyone they deal with, it is the first step. Humbleness in victory certainly is a plus as well.
Over the years, I have discovered that a successful agent is also akin to being a good politician. The reality is that there is a need to find the way to effectively not offend owners and trainers due to the difficult choices that you are forced to make.
Building a foundation that is solid and sound is essential and the only possible way for your rider to become the leading rider in Canada. That is especially true here at Woodbine as my peers are second to none when it comes to seeking the same objectives that I pursue.”
Effective April 21, 2006 Coffee John has stepped out of semi-retirement and has accepted an offer that was made by Jockey Patrick Husbands. This newly formed combination have one thing in mind and that is to return Patrick to his former position as leading rider at Woodbine and to escalate his stature for selection as the 2006 Sovereign Award as the Top Rider in Canada.
“I have absolutely no regrets with the decision I made and always-enjoyed great satisfaction in my chosen profession.
With two quality journeyman riders, Robert King Jr. and Patrick Husbands I have the opportunity to discover further personal fulfillment, as I continue in my chosen career and pursuit of happiness in my Home Away From Home!”
By Peter Gross
To say the least, it was a wonderful and inspiring afternoon I had the pleasure of spending Saturday, April 22, at the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care. Several of us with horse racing interests had come to meet Gertrude Stevenson. The Woodbine Entertainment Group had discovered that Gertrude, who
turned 105 last February, was a life-long horse racing fan. And well into her second century, Gertrude still loves to bet.
Glenn Crouter, Woodbine’s VP of Media Marketing was, apparently quite blown away by Gertrude’s history of horse- playing. Crouter not only had the Woodbine chefs serve up several platters of fresh sandwiches, but he also had a chocolate cake produced to thank Gertrude for her many decades of enjoying the ponies.
Joining Crouter was legendary jockey Sandy Hawley and Gertrude’s face lit up as she instantly recognized him.
Actually it got much better than that. When all of us realized that taking her across town to Woodbine would simply be too taxing on Gertrude, Crouter arranged for a Horseplayer Interactive account to be opened in her name and Woodbine generously staked her to $105.
I advise.
“A couple of pounds won’t make much
difference,” she interrupts. When my opinion is asked, I tell her I’ve narrowed it down to three horses - numbers three, five and six.
“Well, the three is the best post,” she observes and the decision is made.
Loiselle.
“There we are!” declares Gertrude as
the gate springs open.
Renga’s Girl reaping the benefit of a
wily ride from Constant Montpellier, is allowed to sit along the rail, within a length of the front-runner. But as the horses turn into the stretch, Montpellier skims the
Gertrude Stevenson explains the importance of weight and post position to Sandy Hawley
Gross absorbing the voice of experience from Gertrude Stevenson
fence and the three horse takes over the lead. As Renga’s Girl increases her advantage with every stride through the sloppy conditions of the Woodbine stretch, everyone in the room begins to shout. At 105, Gertrude Stevenson has just cashed on a 5-1 shot!
Not only is she the oldest person in the world to bet on a horse race, she is now the oldest to make a winning wager.
The excitement in the room had barely died down, when Woodbine’s Renee Keirans, also working the live broad- cast, passes on the information (fed to her from Crouter) of Gertrude’s winning bet. With the sound turned up full in the recreation room, Gertrude seems almost shocked that everyone is talking about her.
She gets back $22.30 for her winning bet and starts to tell me how, as a younger woman, she would plan her day around a visit to the track.
“I lived at home in my own house. I lived way up north on Yonge St. I had to have the potatoes all peeled and in the pot to start supper and the table set,” she says. “I had a car. I had a Pontiac, a blue one.”
And with her family’s dinner mostly ready, Gertrude would take off to Greenwood
The Tony Stacey Centre is
unique in Canada is the only long-term care facility for veter-
ans that also provides for the
spouse of the veteran. Gertrude’s husband Harry, who passed away
many years ago, was a veteran of
both World War 1 and World War
11, assuring her that the comfort
of her later life was guaranteed.
Now in her 20th year at the home, Gertrude Stevenson has lived there longer than any other resident.
And even at 105, the lady still can pick them. I asked her what criteria she applies to her pari-mutuel selections.
“The rider and the weight of the rider,” she says, the voice of extraordinary experience wavering not the least, “And the post position, that’s it.”
On a beautiful, widescreen plasma television taking up a significant portion of the Tony Stacey Recreation Room, Gertrude and about a dozen other residents enjoyed an afternoon at the races thanks to the live coverage by Sun TV.
Announcer Jeff Bratt’s smiling face addresses the crowd as he breaks down the third race at Woodbine.
“There’s a very cute young kid,” declares Gertrude to approving laughter in the room.
Gertrude does not have perfect hearing, but incredibly, she has never needed glass- es, although she did ask me to read the weights of the jockeys in the third.
“Corey Fraser is 121, Patrick Husbands is 121 but Ray Sabourin is only 118,”
105 year-old Gertrude Stevenson watches as her pick Renga's Girl (5-1) wins the 3rd at Woodbine.
For the very long time that Gertrude has been enjoying the races, her wagering strategy has rarely wavered. She has always budgeted herself to $18 per racing day. And no triactors or superfectas for this girl.
“It’s two dollars across the board if it looks good,” she tells me.
And the number three Rengas Girl looked good to us in the third at Woodbine, so we set about making a little history. Using her newly minted Horseplayer Interactive Code, a bet is phoned in and the recorded prompt says,
“To buy this wager press one.”
When Gertrude presses the number one to lock in the bet, a huge smile crosses the face of Mr. Crouter.
In front of the whole room he announces triumphantly,
“Gertrude Stevenson has just become the oldest person in the world to place a bet on a horse race!”
The room rocks with applause, but a few minutes later, this history will be even more impressive.
“They’re at the post!” announces Dan
or Woodbine, though in the earlier years, as she recalls, she also went to Thorncliffe, Long Branch and Dufferin Park.
“Oh Dufferin Park!” she exclaims with disgust, “That’s an old mill! It was loaded. You had to stand there waiting for the door to get in.”
Gertrude was thrilled that Sandy Hawley was one of her visitors and she was quite grateful when he signed for her his autobiography Ride of a Lifetime.
“You can tell he’s a jockey,” she told me, “Just look at his skinny legs!”
In recent years it’s become much harder for Gertrude to attend the live races and she was quite amused at the technology that allowed her to bet while watching in the comfort of her home. She made two more across the board wagers, but was not able to match the success of her first bet. Still, at that point, she declared her betting over, not at all inclined to deviate from a strategy that has served her well for so many decades.
As a result Gertrude did what many of us fail to do most times at the track.
She ended the day with a profit.
Furlongs to Host “Country Idol”
Every Sunday, starting in May, Furlongs Bar & Grill in Fort Erie will be hosting their own version of “Country Idol”. Furlongs invites you to come out and sing with the band which features Elton Lammy, winner of the Bathroom Diva contest on Bravo TV.
“Country Idol” will be held every Sunday from 4 to 8 pm.
Also mark your calendars for Prince of Wales day at Furlongs, July 16, when the popular band, More Bad News & The Horns of Hell, will be the feature of the evening.