Page 8 - The Game March 2006

8 The Game, March 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
It's all in the delivery for Dino Luciani
Jockey Dino Luciani and wife Gayle
By Chris Lomon
The biggest challenge for jockey Dino Luciani in 2006 won't come on the racetrack.
When you navigate a 1,100-pound thoroughbred racehorse (that can reach speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour) for nine months of the year, there's not much, if anything, that you tend to fear.
Or is there?
"Going to the delivery room I think is going to be the toughest part of my year," says Luciani, who, along with his wife, Gayle, are expecting their first child in mid-March. "I get a little queasy when it comes to needles and all the stuff associated with childbirth."
Even so, it's not enough to rattle the nerves of the 33-year-old rider who first started galloping for trainers Dan Vella and Gil Rowntree.
"But I am looking forward to it, without really knowing what to expect," admits Luciani, who won a total of 138 races as an apprentice, including his first career triumph aboard Mr. Wooler on April 29, 1993 at Woodbine.
The same could also be applied to what he does for a living.
A racing fan during his teenage years, Luciani, who regularly accompanied his father to the track on weekends, completed the Equine Studies course at Humber College in 1992.
Now, with 13 years of race-riding experience and closing in on 700 lifetime
wins, the North York, Ontario native has, like most of his contemporaries, gone through several ups and downs throughout his career.
Still, the opportunity to compete in one of the world's most demanding sports is just as thrilling now as it was when he first started out.
"I just want to do well," says Luciani, who teamed with Cocney Lass for five stakes wins in 1997 and 1998. "I've been fortunate enough to ride at Woodbine for nearly 15 years and hopefully I can ride here for another 15 more."
The ultimate goal for the man who ranked in the top 10 at the Toronto oval from 2001-04 is no different than any other Canadian-based jockey.
"Ideally, I'd love to win a Queen's Plate," says Luciani, who'll get his shot in late June at the Toronto oval. "Year after year, you search for that horse. As soon as the race goes by, not a day goes by where you aren't looking for the one that could win the race for you the next year. You just cross your fingers."
Keeping things in perspective even when trips to the winner's circle seem hard to come by might be tough to deal with, but it's also a necessity in horse racing.
The 2005 Woodbine season is certainly a prime example.
"It was a so-so year for a lot of us," notes Luciani, of a campaign in which apprentice stars Emma-Jayne Wilson, who won the Woodbine meet, along with
Sovereign and Eclipse Award honors, as well as 2004 Sovereign winner Corey Fraser, dominated in the standings. "But you just have to learn to be patient."
You also learn to enjoy the first-place finishes a little bit more.
"Of course, you'd like to
win a lot more often,
especially in the stakes
races," says Luciani, whose
victories aboard Kissed By
A Prince and Judiths Wild Rush in the 2003 Eternal Search and Display Stakes, respectively, were by a combined 24 1/2 lengths. "When they're few and far between, you tend to appreciate them that much more."
With the 2006 Woodbine campaign about to get underway (April 1 is opening day), Luciani, who excelled at soccer as a kid, is hoping to get his kicks throughout the year.
The bottom line, though, is relatively simple for the rider who now calls Caledon (just north of the racetrack) home.
"I don't sit back and say that I want to win 200 races, but I want to do well," says Luciani, who recorded five stakes victories in both 1997 and 2001. "I don't set specific goals for myself. To me, it doesn't matter what kind of race it is - you just look to win. It generates more business for you,
but it also does a lot for your confidence. Confidence is a big thing."
So, too is remaining realistic when it comes to the rollercoaster nature of thoroughbred racing.
"I think you have to be - that's just the way the sport is," offers Luciani. "We're all going to go through rough patches in our career. Sometimes it's a bad day and sometimes you go through a period when you just can't seem to win. You just have to deal with it and keep positive."
Which also happens to be sound advice when it comes to his role in the delivery room.
"I'll be fine," says Luciani. "Once I'm in there, I'll be able to handle it."
And who could really argue with that? If it's true what they say, father really does know best.
Request For Nominations
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Nominating Committee is seeking public participation in the nomination of candidates to be considered for induction in 2006 to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The classification of Inductees are - Horses, Builders, Jockeys and Trainers.
Submissions must include as much detail as possible concerning the record and/or merits of the candidates nominated.
The submissions, if mailed, must be post-marked, or delivered by hand, or faxed no later than April 1st, 2006 to:
Chair of the Thoroughbred Nominating Committee Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Woodbine Racetrack
555 Rexdale Blvd., Rexdale, ON M9W 5L2 416-675-3993 ext. 2399 Fax:416-213-2126
Submissions will be considered carefully by the Thoroughbred Nominating Committee and, if approved, will be presented to the Election Committee which will vote by secret ballot on the nominees. A candidate must receive 75% of the votes cast to be declared.
For further information regarding eligibility contact: Louis Cauz at 416-239-6009 or 416-675-3993 ext. 2399
Did You Know....
That Sovereign Award and Eclipse Award winning Apprentice Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson participated in a Live Discussion on the Bloodhorse’s Talkin’ Horses on February 15.
The following was taken from the transcript:
Marco Island, Florida
It has often been said the one attribute a woman jockey lacks is strength
.What is the truth to such a notion and how much significance does it have in big time race riding? Thanks and the best of luck in your career.
Emma-Jayne:
Men and women are made differently. What each is able to do naturally, may take the other time, practice, and hard work to master. Some people are given talent in different areas; what one person is a natural at, others have to work for, be it strength in riding or communication with the horse. What makes a top rider is to appreciate your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
To view the entire transcription go to www.bloodhorse.com and click on Talkin’ Horses.