Page 20 - December 2006 The Game

20 The Game, December 2006 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
November 7: HBPA Woodbine Backstretch Awards Banquet
About 125 backstretch employees escaped the rain on the evening of November 7 to attend the HPBA Awards Banquet. It was a chance to kick back, relax and enjoy a terrific buffet at the ornate Le Jardin Event Centre, a few kilometres north of Woodbine racetrack. HPBA Executive Director Nick Coukos couldn’t think of a group of people who deserved it more.
“They work hard seven days a week, 48 weeks a year,” he pointed out, “ The industry couldn’t survive without them.”
As befits a collection of people as down to earth as you could possibly find, there was nothing in the way of self- serving oratory, unnecessary introductions or embarrassing thank-you speeches. Following a very brisk announcement of the two award winners, there was a lucky draw for some terrific prizes and then the assembled horse-people were free to chow down on chicken, roast beef, salads, sides and desserts.
Forty year-old Leroy Trotman was named the assistant trainer of the year and considered his prize the culmination of a terrific first year of working with Reade Baker who’s in a dogfight with Mark Casse and Sid Attard for most training wins this year.
“It means the world to me to be able to come and work for Reade Baker,” said Trotman, flashing a smile about a furlong wide, “To have the opportunity to train the kind of horses he has, knowing the guy won the Sovereign Award.”
When asked which horse had given him the biggest thrill in 2006, Trotman had an instant response,
“Atlas Shrugs - he was the first winner I was able to have a big hand in training for the first stakes of the year for Reade.”
A beaming Jocelyn Edwards won the award as best groom. She’s been at Woodbine for four years after starting her career at Assiniboia Downs. Edwards credits trainer Sandy McPherson for her memorable year.
“I’ve learned a lot,” she said, “Sandy’s a good guy to work for. He’s patient and he’s willing to work with you. He’s not going to shut you out of the process.”
Edwards referred to Hassayampa and Saffi as two horses she loved being associated with. Even though they didn’t win any stakes races, they were her kind of runners.
“They’re real hard knocking horses with lots of heart. They try hard.”
Perhaps the most elegant guest at the party was jockey Patrick Husbands. In his wide brimmed off-white fedora and matching suit, he looked ready for just about anything but jumping on the back of a racehorse. Just three days earlier at Churchill Downs, Husbands had experienced a less than perfect trip on Mark Casse’s Skip Code in the Juvenile Colts race at the Breeder’s Cup.
“He was post 14 and at a mile and 16th , the turn is right there,” said Husbands, “I tried getting across and I got a lash from the horse next to me that nearly sent me to the outside fence. His horse hit mine and Skip Code lost all his coordination. I just tried to get him back into the race and dirt started hitting him. He never really got a chance to run.”
At odds of 60-1, Skip Code finished 9th.
Nick Coukos spent most of the evening going from table to table, making sure everyone had a good time. Coukos emphasized that the needs of the backstretch employees are paramount.
“It’s been the mandate of the HPBA that all the back- stretch workers have health insurance, have dental plans and are covered in any way possible,” said Coukos, “And we’re there to meet their needs, their housing needs or any other requirements.”
One requirement of anyone who works in the backstretch is a few hours sleep before morning rises. Understanding that, all the awards and prize-giving were finished by 9PM, leaving a little time for dancing before these early risers headed home.
Assistant trainer of the year Leroy Trotman is flanked by groom (LS) Melanie Minshull and his assistant (RS) Ruth Schmidt
Kismet Darwish (second from right), a hot walker for Ralph Biamonte was thrilled to win a $50 gift certificate at Walmart from The Game. She posed with Shawn Drakes (far left) Shana Bridges, an exercise rider for Gil Rowntree, Dave Griffith (middle in the back) and Ricky Brown who exercises
for Laurie Silvera.
HPBA Executive Director Nick Coukos and jockey Martin Ramirez were among the first to hit the buffet
Unidentified Dancers having a Good Time!
Jocelyn Edwards (second from right) won the award for best groom, on her left is her boyfriend Paul Seymour. To her far right is trainer Sandy McPherson and beside her is Sandy's wife Allison
(l to r) HBPA Director Conrad Cohen and his wife Susan, Frances Lima and HBPA Director Sam Lima and HBPA President Sue Leslie.
Patrick Husbands looking very debonair
2 year-old Isabelle Deluca was contemplating her best move on the dance floor