Page 16 - November 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight

Trainer John LeBlanc Jr. & the Stories Behind the Names
When it came to naming a rambunctious and somewhat foolish yearling, a French expression came to the mind of the owners which
according to trainer John LeBlanc Jr. loosely translated to Notaloneinhishead. While overall a kind horse, John says that he suits his name in that he can be somewhat unpredictable as though he does indeed have many different characters in his head.
The now four year-old by Old Forester - Bold Stranger, by Bold Executive was bred by Dr. Moira Gunn’s Paradox Farm who owns the gelding with her newly wed husband Marv Chantler’s Mardon Stable.
Moira and Marv, in partnership with Hugh Sutherland (brother of jockey Chantal Sutherland) also own a 3 year-old colt, simply named, Mike.
John explained that the foal, a full brother to retired Champion, Pender Harbour (Philanthropist - Uproar, by Hail the Ruckus) was born on the one year anniversary of Dr. Mike Colterjohn’s passing. “From the moment the foal was born he was given the name Mike,” explained John, “It was a very sentimental name that followed him when he came to my farm to be broke as a yearling and eventually Mike became his of cial name.”
Mike broke his maiden in his rst start at two and was pointed to this year’s Queen’s Plate where unfortunately he sustained an injury in the classic race. Mike was sent to John’s family farm in Rosemont, Ontario and while he has already fully recovered from his injury he won’t be back racing until 2017. “He’s a cool horse with a lot of class and we’re going to start fresh with him next year,” noted John.
John LeBlanc Jr. has been a public trainer at Woodbine since taking out his license in 1992. The son of John LeBlanc Sr., a leading jockey in the
late 1960’s for more than a decade, John Jr. began coming to work with his Dad at the track during the school summer holidays when he was seven. By age nine, John Jr. was a regular helper at trainer Joseph (Yonnie) Starr’s barn at Fort Erie Race Track and
he would often sneak out onto the track aboard the stable pony.
It was around this time that John’s mother Vivienne enrolled him in classical dance which he pursued while continuing to work at the racetrack during the summer months and on weekends.
(Check out Steve Buffery’s article - A True Northern Dancer)
Photo: Trainer John LeBlanc Jr. & Groom Greg Howell (Left) with Notaloneinhishead a.k.a. Bartholomew at Woodbine. Notaloneinhishead is being offered at auction, Hip No. 94, at the CTHS Winter Mixed Sale November 26
By age 14, John was being paid to shed-row and hotwalk horses for trainer Mort Hardy and after a couple of summers he then went to work for trainer Rodney Wright for two more years before becoming an exercise rider for Jake Nemett and Jacques Dumas.
In 1987 John went to college for aviation training in pursuit of being a commercial airline pilot. During this time he had a job offer to go to Japan with a horse
for a year where he worked for a Japanese Trainer. Upon his return home John spent his money on ying lessons despite him knowing that his colour blindness would limit his job opportunities as a pilot.
Breaking yearlings at Kingsbrook Farm in Kettleby, Ontario would ultimately lead John to a career in training. The farm’s owner William (Bill) Hodgson pushed John to train and gave him his start training his horses at Woodbine.
“I loved dancing, I loved ying but it was the horses that I loved more,” said John, “Riding and horses are in my blood.”
John met Maggie née Wakely through a horse named for her father, Doug’s Legacy. A son of Great Gladiator - Festiva, by Majestic Light, the handsome grey was showing a lot of bad signs and was dif cult while being broke as a yearling and it was strongly suggested to Maggie that she have John work with him. A year after their son Douglas was born, the couple got married in 2001. Continued next page
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 16 - November 2016