Page 20 - May 2007 The Game

20 The Game, May 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
This game can last a man a lifetime. In a corner of the cookshack betting parlour sat retired riding legend Jim Dailey and his former agent John Lawrence reading the Form, talking about the good days and betting on logical horses for illogical reasons. They have been around a long time those two, a couple of racetrack characters and good friends who have seen better days and worse days and there’s something almost poignant about it. Jim was a hell of a rider and John, well John was the best agent that ever hustled book on this or any other racetrack.
John ‘Blackie’ Lawrence was born a few blocks from the track and grew up hanging around the grandstand "looking for ducats, trying to make a quarter," turning over discarded tickets.
He was a jock’s agent for 46 years and talking to him is always interesting. He tells great stories but cautions in his nasally voice "you can’t print most of them; some people might still be alive."
In 1940 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served for almost six years aboard corvettes and destroyers. He saw action in North Atlantic convoy duty and later in the South Pacific serving aboard the armed cruiser Prince Robert and the destroyer Qu’appelle. Upon leaving the
navy he worked on log booms on the Fraser River for about ten years before deciding that he wanted to become a jockey’s agent. It was a conscious decision he says.
"It was the profession I chose," he explains. "I could have worked in the logging camps or the boom yards but I chose to do this. And I could make a living from it because I was never in love with horses. I just wanted a cut."
for success for younger agents who would ask him.
"I didn’t bother my riders,"
he explains. "I never once called
a rider at home. Heck, I didn’t
even have their phone numbers.
And if I said to a trainer that I’d
ride his horse next Tuesday,
then we’d ride his horse. I didn’t need to give him a slip. I wrote it in my book and that was that. My word was good and the
visit his wife of 50 years. Sadly Mickey Lawrence died last fall and John no longer plays cards because, "my mind isn’t that sharp anymore and if you can’t remember [buried] cards you shouldn’t be playing.
"I don’t gamble much either," he says. "The times I bet twenty dollars on a horse are rare so I just bet two dollars here and there. If you don’t need the money don’t gamble because if you gamble too much you’ll lose your money. And then where will you be?"
Now, at 87 years he still comes to the track.
“I’m as healthy as a horse," he says. "I’ll be around for a long time yet."
After all there are more stories to tell and friends to share them and, well, a lifelong love of this game really can last a man a lifetime.
In 1953 jockey Al Ventrella gave him his start and over the years he has handled book for some 65 riders.
"At least that’s the ones I can remember," he says. "We counted them up one day."
Former Jockey Agent, John Lawrence
riders trusted me. They let me do my job."
"Johnny was a good agent because everybody liked him," says Dailey. "And he gave you good advice. He kept you cool. When you were mad at a trainer he’d tell you to calm
The list of success-
ful riders John has managed is impressive, among them most of the best and leading riders for over forty-five years; Jim Dailey, Jim Broomfield, Ken Skinner, Basil Frasier, Chris Loseth, and Sam Krasner to name a few.
As for his longevity in a difficult and stressful profession? Well, there’s a secret
down, don’t bite your nose to spite your face. He had integrity, his word was good, he never back-stabbed anyone and was always quite clear."
John retired as an agent in 1999 but still came to the track in the morning to play cards before going to the hospital to
A Look at Racing in British Columbia
By Jim Reynolds
Photos clockwise from top left:
Agent Wayne Snow with last years leading apprentice Mario Gutierrez
Toni Jacobson Cloutier has a lot to smile about with 2006 2 year old champion Ookashada
Joe Gray, trainers John Snow and Robbie Anderson share a moment with Barb Heads at 'The Gap'
Training hours with the most beautiful backdrop in racing
Hastings Racecourse
Live Thoroughbred Racing returns to Hastings in Vancouver, BC on Saturday, April 28 through to Sunday, November 4, 2007.
Racing is scheduled Saturday, Sundays & Holidays with first raceposttimeat1:25pmlocaltime. Fridayracingwillbeaddedto the card for the months of July & August with a post time of 2:25pm.
Hastings’ feature races, the $125,000 BC Breeders’ Cup Oaks and the $250,000 BC Breeders’ Cup Derby are scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 22 & 23.
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