Page 26 - May 2007 The Game

26 The Game, May 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Work, Work, Work
We’ve started a
series at our
Chapel services
here at Woodbine,
(Tuesdays at 6:30-
shameless plug),
on work. I was inspired to do so by what I felt was the lead- ing of God, but also by my nephew, who phoned me on the Thursday before Easter weekend:
“I’ve got 4 days off- what are you doing this weekend?” “Umm, work, work, my
day off and, well, work.” Pause- “Is that all you guys
do?”
I find it interesting when I
go to the bank or a store and people wish me a nice week- end, long weekend or holiday. I must have an empty look on my face when I reply thank you, because the tellers or cashiers response is truly dis- appointing, as if they’ve just wished me a happy bypass operation. Most of society doesn’t have a clue what goes on at race track on a daily basis. We’re to blame because we haven’t done a good job communicating what we do. Most people think we only show up to work on days that racing occurs, not unlike most people who aren’t in the know think that ministers only work on Sundays - wrong on both counts.
Working on the back stretch has come a long way since I first came to Woodbine, back in 1975. Back then, a day off was unheard of, and the only time you’d get staked was if the owner or the jockey was in a good mood. Work was seven days a week, period. Many workers today now get a day off, although I know some that don’t take one - they’d prefer to get extra money for an extra day’s work. A percentage stake is often included in a salary and we have the small comfort of WSIB. But have we really come that far? The rest of the world operates on a
basis of reward for ability and experience. You make more money because you’re worth more. But take the case of freelance exercise riders: here at Woodbine the going rate is $15 a horse. However, the reward if you’re good is you get to do more work, to make more money, not get more money for the quality of your work. Almost everyone gets $15 a horse, but if you’re a really good rider, you get to gallop more horses and make more money. Lucky you.
The same is true of grooms. Supply and demand dictates the world outside of Woodbines walls: if some- thing is in high demand, (gasoline), the cost or value is high. The lower the demand, (Chia pets), the lower the cost or value. In the supply and demand world, a person with a valuable ability can name their price. For grooms, however, the going rate is pretty much the same. Grooms in success- ful stables can make a pretty penny on stakes alone, but rare is the case when a good groom can entertain several offers and take the highest one, (think free agents in any sport). I constantly hear from trainers that there is a shortage of good reliable help on the back stretch - but I have never heard a trainer say they would pay more for a good hand.
Work was God’s good idea. After all, one of the first things He did was roll up His sleeves and go to work, creating the world and everything in it. For the most part, He’s done a pretty fair job, except for a few people I’m aware of and mos- quitoes. But even He took a day off. Oh, by the way, did I mention my nephew got paid for both Good Friday and Easter Monday?
Get Tied On
with Chaplain Shawn
Eastern Canadian Thoroughbred Association Annual Banquet & Awards Night
The ECTA hosted their annual Banquet and 2006 Awards Night at the Irish Hills Golf & Country Club in Carp, Ontario on April 21. The banquet was well attended and enjoyed by all. Awards for the 2006 season were presented in both the racing and the performance divisions as well as our annual special awards section. All proceeds from a silent auction were in support of the ECTA and LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.
ECTA 2006 AWARD WINNERS
RACING DIVISION
(Awards based on 2006 earnings reported by the
Jockey Club)
TOP RACE EARNER: The Windfields Farm
Trophy
March Valley Girl (Welbred Fred – Gold
Trimmings ). March Valley Girl was bred and raced by Raymond Smith at Woodbine in 2006 with earn- ings of $79,152.
TOP RACE EARNER RESERVE:
Six Jiggles (Saratoga Six – Java Girl). Owned and raced at Woodbine by Box Arrow Farm, Six Jiggles won $78,873 in 2006.
TOP 2 YEAR OLD EARNER: The Manistee Farm Trophy
Bellicose Belle (War Deputy – Valid’s Best Lady), Bellicose Belle was bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack and raced at Woodbine, earning $48,000.
TOP 2 YEAR OLD EARNER RESERVE:
One Dreamy Cat (Cat’s at Home – Built on Dreams). Bred by MaryEllen Kennedy, One Dreamy Cat raced at Woodbine earning $13,662.
TOP B TRACK EARNER: The Diamond Hill Farm Trophy
Ashton’s Dreams (Storm Boot – Built on Dreams) Ashton’s Dreams was bred by MaryEllen Kennedy and Oakhurst Farm and raced at Thistledown raceway.
TOP B TRACK EARNER RESERVE:
Sheatown (Crown Attorney – Illusion Planter). Sheatown was bred by MaryJane and Tony Lamb and raced at Fort Erie and Penn National race course in 2006.
PERFORMANCE DIVISION
HUNTER CHAMPION: The Bradford Trophy
Two Timming Queen ( Two Time Bruce – Royal Parent). Two Timming Queen was bred by George Dudas and owned by Kimberly Conn, Jericho Stud. Two Timming Queen was shown very successfully in the Schooling Show series throughout the Ottawa Valley in 2006.
RESERVE CHAMPION HUNTER;
Witch’s Rule (Nias – Wamija) Witch’s Rule is owned and was ridden by Amanda Bradford in the Ottawa Valley Schooling Show series as well as Dressage and Jumper competitions. Amanda attend- ed 9 shows during the 2006 season winning 3 Championships and one Reserve Champion.
JUMPER CHAMPION: The Fair Dance Trophy
Witch’s Rule ( Nias – Wamija). Witch’s Rule is owned and was ridden by Amanda Bradford and showed in the Hopeful Jumper series in the Ottawa Valley Schooling Show Series
RESERVE JUMPER CHAMPION:
Late Excelarator ( Orderofexcellence – Late Rose). Shown by Colleen Capello, Late Excelarator was shown successfully in the Hopeful Jumper Divison of the Ottawa Valley Schooling Show series.
DRESSAGE CHAMPION: The Paddocks Plus Trophy
Witch’s Rule ( Nias – Wamija) was shown by Amanda Bradford in the Dressage shows at Heroncrest, Starlit and Dewmont Farms.
EVENTING CHAMPION: The Oakhurst Farm Trophy
Conflict of Interest (Springhill Billy by Ringside ex Better Bet Binky). Owned by Jocelyne and Ron Cambell of C5 Farm, Conflict of Interest was evented successfully by Mark Nelson at the Training and Preliminary level in 2006.
EVENTING CHAMPION RESERVE:
Oh Chez ( Inspired Prospect – Chez Chez). Oh Chez is owned by Oakhurst Farm and was evented by Margaux Smith and Cheryl Denault in the Entry and Pre-Training level in 2006.
2006 SPECIAL AWARDS
STALLION OF THE YEAR; The Longview Farm Trophy
CAT’S AT HOME ( Tabasco Cat – Homewrecker). Multiple Graded Stakes winner from 3 to 6 , $708,575. Leading Freshman Sire in Canada, 2006. Sire of several Maiden Special Weight winners and Stakes winner, Spread the News winner of $134,985 in his first crop to race. Owned by Windfields Farm and Edward P. Evans.
RESERVE STALLION OF THE YEAR:
BEST OF THE BESTS (Machiavellian – Sueboog). Group 1 Winner and Multiple Group SW. Sire of 16 juvenile winners including three stakes performers in his first crop. Third leading freshman sire in Canada by money won in 2006. Ranked among the top ten 2006 North American freshman sires by numbers of winners. Owned by Windfields Farm and a syndicate.
BROODMARE OF THE YEAR: The Lamb Trophy
(Based on 2006 progeny earnings reported by the Jockey Club)
Imperial Miss (Imperial Falcon – Arch Miss). Imperial Miss was bred by Windfields Farm Oshawa and is owned by MaryEllen Kennedy. She is now the dam of 7 foals to race, 6 winners, including stakes winner (ESTONIA) and stakes placed (Imperial Alydeed). Her progeny earnings from 7 foals to race are $1,267,642. Her 2006 progeny earnings were $122,982.
RESERVE BROOMARE OF THE YEAR:
Gold Trimmings (Ten Gold Pots – Sharper Than Ever). Bred by Marlandy Stables and owned by Raymond Smith, Gold Trimmings is the dam of 5 starters, 3 winners including March Valley Girl, ECTA Top ECTA earner for 2006, and winner of $79,152. Gold Trimmings progeny earnings for 2006 were $117,730.
OWNER/BREEDER OF THE YEAR: The Windsong Memorial Trophy
Box Arrow Farm, Portland Ontario. Owned and operated by Shirley Prosser and family, Box Arrow Farm has been successful breeders of race and per- formance horses for many years in the Ottawa Valley. They breed mares in Ontario, Kentucky and New York state and are active in the sales ring both in Ontario, Kentucky and the eastern USA. They cur- rently race at Woodbine with trainer Gord Colbourne and have been long time supporters of ECTA.
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