Page 12 - November 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight

Still Happy After All These Years
Best known for his Jooky Jam character in Jamaica, Mike Lewars arrived in Canada in 1993 hoping to expand his 17 year on stage acting career. Mike had friends and family in Canada and two short days after his arrival a voice on a friend’s answering machine captivated him.
relationship, Tischia and Heather along with three older brothers and a sister from Mike’s previous relationship; Rasheve, Nicholas and Michael Jr. in Jamaica and Tishanna who moved to Canada.
Returning to Woodbine this Spring the couple continued
to groom for Josie where Mike has been grooming multiple graded stakes winner, Ami’s Flatter (bred and owned by Ivan Dalos), traveling with the 4 year-old colt to compete at Belmont and Keeneland; 2 year-old Ivan Dalos homebred, Notion Sonet; as well as Donver Stable’s homebred
4 year-old stakes winner Decision Day; and Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc. 3 year-old homebred lly, Wind N Waves. Most recently Mike traveled with Greenwood Lodge
Farm’s Button Down (GB)
to the Keeneland November Sale where the mare sold for $850,000 as a broodmare prospect.
While in Florida Mike wrote the test for his trainer’s license and currently owns two horses, one with his brother Pixley Lewars Jr., 2 year-
old lly, Be Sea N Red, by Signature Red which Mike sends out to train after all his horses are done at Josie’s. The other is 3 year-old lly, Faith and Desire, owned by Velore. Mike will have to train horses in the United States for two years before his license
is recognized in Canada however the 49 year-old has
high hopes for his future as a trainer in Canada. “If you don’t continue to learn, its because you don’t want to learn.” said Mike, “I’m enjoying working for Josie. She gives me opportunities and wants me to continue to learn. She is supportive and I’m happy because I don’t feel stuck. I’m advancing and happy again to be grooming and learning.”
Velore Wright had left birthday wishes for her friend Peter who happened to playback that message while Mike was within earshot. The pair met brie y on the way to a show then talked all night long on the telephone afterwards and have been together ever since.
A fellow actor, Judy, introduced Mike to her boyfriend, a groom at Woodbine Racetrack. After visiting the track Mike began hotwalking for trainer Lou Cavalaris Jr. where Rocco (now longtime Assistant to Trainer Ralph Biamonte) showed him the ropes and taught him the skills to work with and around the horses.
Mike then brought Velore
to the backstretch and the couple were hired by trainer Josie Carroll to walk horses which is also when Mike began to groom horses under the guidance of Josie.
Mike & Velore Lewars
Velore & Mike wear matching purple shirts for Ivan Dalos’ Notion Sonic
Mike (left) with his brother Pixley Lewars Jr. & Denise Wallace visiting from Jamaica
Throughout the years the
couple have worked as a
pair for trainers Mike Doyle,
Steve Owens and Ian Black
the latter of which for close
to nine years before rejoining
Josie Carroll’s crew last
winter traveling with the horses to Payson Park in Florida.
“We are still the same. Still happy,” Mike smiled while talking about his wife of 22 years, “It’s like we just met.” Mike and Velore have one child together, Dana, with two older siblings from Velore’s previous
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 12 - November 2016