Page 26 - The Game October 2006
P. 26

26 The Game, October 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The lazy, hazy days of summer at the racetrack in August soon gave way to much colder temperatures in September. Photo Michael Burns Sr.
Test Red
July 7, 1974—my date with destiny.
The tradition at Suffolk Downs was to
hold all races on the turf for the final day
of the meet. It was a thrill I was looking
forward to. Just three days before I’d had my first opportunity to work a horse on the turf. The soft green grass felt like a springy carpet under the horse’s hooves but the sharper turns and the spiky hedge which served as an inside rail presented new challenges. Neither the horse nor I knew quite what to do with it other than avoid it. We went wide, but this tactic didn’t make a favourable
impression on the trainer. I
didn’t get the mount but I soon
had another mount, Test Red.
I first set eyes on the flashy
chestnut filly in the saddling
paddock. She looked fit and
ready with her gleaming coat
and well muscled body. A few
days earlier my friend, Jackpot
Kelly had appeared in the
shedrow and announced that
he had put me on my first “w-
-” he stopped in mid-word,
remembering that the word
‘winner’ had become a jinx—“a good mount” he said. I wasn’t expected to gallop or work the filly, just show up in the saddling paddock. So here I was. I had to admit she looked like a “w—a good mount.”
Test Red had never run on the turf but neither had ten of the other twelve horses. I wasn’t sure how the other jockeys felt about the hedge but coming out of the five hole I could probably count on at least one horse between me and the prickly branches. The dis- tance was five furlongs, another first for both me and my mount. At 15-1 on the program, we were a long way from odds-on favourite but the odds board was the last thing on my mind as we jogged onto the turf and headed to the starting gate. The bright green underfoot was an unusual distraction as I sat in the narrow stall and I had to force myself to focus on the stretch ahead. For a moment, I felt I was in Ireland on the ancient grounds of The Curragh. The slamming of the latches and the warning call of last horse in the gate brought my wandering imagination firmly back to reality.
The gate opened and my filly had a clean, sharp break. We moved to the lead alongside the number 3 horse. The jockey seemed content on the inside though his horse left some berth between herself and the
strange hedge. I focused on my mare’s stride, easing her into a rhythm that would hopefully save her for the stretch, though I had been warned about being too cautious at such a short distance. She was running easily with the other horse and I didn’t think anyone behind was saving their horse for the final furlong. As we rounded the sharp turn, the inside horse helped to guide us smoothly around the turn and into the stretch.
Shouts and whistles from behind me warned of jockeys now going all out. I had plenty of horse left and wasn’t about to let anyone catch me.
A sharp crack from my whip let the mare know it was time to leave the pack. Her response was so quick it almost took my breath away. The inside horse disappeared from view as the shouts and whistles faded. Test Red ate up the ground, revelling in the feel of the soft green turf
Test Red, my first win
beneath. I heard only the wind rushing by as we glid- ed under the wire.
I shot straight up in the saddle the moment we passed under the wire. For some strange reason, I felt the need to let the other jockeys know that the race was over and it was too late for them to beat me. I allowed my horse to pull up gradually, as was my custom, much to the outrider’s chagrin. Henry yelled at me to hurry up and get off the turf, not exactly the congratulation that I expected. When I returned to the unsaddling area, the trainer Chris Hansen nodded as if the win were a forgone conclusion. He had a lot of confidence in his training.
The winner’s circle was definitely a magical place to be. Confident in her performance, the chestnut filly stood quietly as the camera flashed. After weighing in, I walked cautiously towards the jockey’s room entrance. No one was in sight. Maybe the jockeys didn’t realize that I’d just won my first race. Just when I assumed I was safe, a mob of barbarians appeared, buckets of water, shoe polish and shaving cream their weapons of choice. For the next five minutes I didn’t know what was up or down, the ice cold water taking my breath away and the shaving cream depriving me of sight or hearing. Hard to believe this was the moment I had long waited for!
A Head at the Wire
The ninth in a series of real life stories by Paddy Head majeek05@hotmail.com
A strong work force in horse racing
Tommy Wolski
Backstretch Briefs
Here at Hastings Racecourse, as is the case
with many racetracks, a majority of the licensed
work force is made up of women.
Many are involved with numerous jobs such as hot walking, training, grooming or exercising horses as well as their jobs off the track, being a wife and mother.
When to it comes multi-tasking one would be hard pressed to find individuals who handle so many jobs as well as this group.
At Hastings, two fine examples are Kathy Rycroft and Nancy Betts.
INTERNATIONAL ART:
Kathy, who grew up in Alberta with a love horses, is the wife of Kelly Rycroft, a successful trainer at Hastings.
These two along with children Nicole and Cody make up the work force that keeps their stable running. Kathy can also be found with her pony leading several horses the starting gate on race days.
Kathy Rycroft’s artist’s rendition of the great John Henry
“As a pony girl, our job is to try and settle the horses down on the way to the starting gate. You could say we also baby sit the jockeys. Actually we are there to help riders conserve their strength for their race.” said Rycroft.
On non-race days, she is an accomplished photographer and artist and her paintings have been on display at many major equine events country wide.
“Among the huge places I have sold paintings is Spruce Meadows and the Calgary Stampede. These are great events to meet new clients and sell a lot of paintings. So far my other career has been wonderful.” added Rycroft.
Within the last few years, Rycroft’s popularity has gone International and she has had requests for her paintings from across Canada and other countries.
“I now receive orders from seven different countries. What is also wonderful is the recent upswing of owners who are now commissioning me to paint their horses.” said Rycroft.
MAJOR LEAGUES:
A recent study conducted by major league baseball teams reveal that British Columbia is rapidly becoming a major destination for sending players to the majors. Two recent up and coming prospects have close horse racing connections.
Twelve years ago, Nancy Betts received her trainer’s license and this season her stable was off to its best start ever.
Aside from her training duties, Betts exercises and ponies horses as well as raising two children.
Her son Justin "J.R." Robinson, 18, is an all-star left-handed baseball pitcher with a 90 mph fastball for the Langley Blaze in the B.C. Premier League and is already attracting major league scouts.
Recently, Robinson received a baseball scholarship to attended Hobbs University in Albuquerque, N.M.
Another major league prospect is Cody Rycroft, 18, son of the aforementioned Kathy and Kelly Rycroft. Cody recently received a partial baseball scholarship to attended Douglas College in Surrey, B.C.
DOWNTHESTRETCH: STILLTALKINGABOUTLADIES
Last years’ Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Monashee, will miss the balance of the 2006 season at Hastings.
“She (Monashee) recently came down with a virus and we thought it would be best to do what is right for her and bring Monashee back to our farm.” said trainer Tracey McCarthy.
Also out for the season is Leif Nordahl’s, multiple stakes winner Excited Miss.
“We noticed after her last race, she wasn’t exactly right. And according to our veterinarian, the injury was not career ending.” said trainer Barb Heads. “After discussing this with her owner, a decision was made to let her have the rest of the year off.”
Did You Know....
That on September 14, Brazilian born jockey Jorge Ricardo (based in Buenos Aires) and jockey Russel Baze (based in Northern California), both rode their 9,443rd career winner. Both jockeys are less than 90 wins away from equaling Laffit Pincay Jr.’s all-time victory mark of 9,530. Both jockeys are in their 40’s and will likely battle for supremacy to the end of their careers. Laffit Pincay Jr. retired from racing in 2003.


































































































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