Page 7 - June 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game, June 2007 7
Tiger and his love of horses
One thing I’ve noticed about life at the racetrack, the majority of people who work closely with the horses are happy. They work hard, show pride in their work, and....they’re happy. Someone who is a true example of this is Tiger, whose formal name is Erskine Forde...but nobody calls him that.
He got the name Tiger years ago, too many years to remember the actual date, “I can’t remember, it must be 40 years ago. It had something to do with ‘put a tiger in your tank’.” says the somewhat shy groom who has worked for trainer Steve Attard at Woodbine for close to 8 years.
Tiger began working with racehorses in his native Barbados helping out his friend Neville at the racetrack. The pair travelled to Trinidad as grooms and while Neville stayed, Tiger felt he should expand his horizons. He moved to Canada in 1989 to work at Woodbine on contract with trainer Laurie Silvera.
“Iwasonmyown.IfeelIneededtoget experience for my own good.” he explained while stating that he likes his life in Canada.
Tiger has also worked with trainers Sean Hall and Mark Casse mentioning that he was the groom of Eclipse Stakes winner, Social Charter in 1999 while working for Sean.
“I love working with horses. I’m happy.” says the smiling Tiger which explains why when asked about his plans for the future he quickly replies, “I’ll be working with horses.”
Tiger lives in Mississauga and while he doesn’t have any children of his own, his wife of more than 10 years, Beverley, brought 3 children into the marriage, 2 girls and a boy.
When he’s not at the track Tiger enjoys his Reggae and Calypso music as well as watching basketball, mainly the Toronto Raptors.
During the winter months he stays
close to home while working at local farms to keep the bills paid. The past two winters he has worked at breeder Susan Foreman’s farm and Tiger is currently the groom of one of Susan’s racehorses, Hosta Rica.
Hosta Rica had had three starts this season and was a winner on April 14, the day that Tiger was also a winner, by being named Groom of the Day. The horse was second in his first start and third in his latest.
Tiger rubs a total of five horses for trainer Steve Attard who mentioned that Tiger is like part of the family now, “He’s a good guy and I know he likes his horses a lot.”
Tiger says that he gets along with everyone and he is not a trouble maker.
Which goes to prove that when you work hard and enjoy what you’re doing there simply is no room for trouble, only happiness. - Stacie Roberts
Did You Know...
Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year
and Champion Turf Mare, Arravale, has been slow returning to the races due to “popping a splint”.
Trained by Mac Benson and owned by Bob Costigan, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly, by Arch - Kalosca (FR)
will likely make her first start of the season in the G2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine on June 2.
Did You Know...
That 10-year-old gelding Lord Nelson is back in training at Hastings. His trainer, Dino Condilenios, had reportedly mentioned that owners/breeders Russell and Lois Bennett said the horse wasn’t happy at the farm. Lord Nelson had
been retired in 2006 after his last race when he finishing second by a nose to Notis Otis in the BC Cup Sprint in August. His career earning thus far exceed $660,000.
Tiger and Hosta Rica at Woodbine
LOVE
Standing at:
T.C. Westmeath Stud Farm 519-925-1445
Stasis, a state in which the normal flow of a body liquid stops.
Introducing
STASIS For Bleeders
Stasis was developed last year and was tested selectively by Canadian trainers that allowed us to monitor the results through their veterinarians. Stasis was tested on both Thoroughbred and Standardbred competitors with the results being significant. Some of the cases added Stasis to their medication program while others abandoned the traditional treatments to use only Stasis, in all cases the results were favorable in preventing bleeding in horses that otherwise bled through traditional medications.
TRY IT TODAY!
Herbal health products scientifically formulated by Dr. Gordon Chang, Ph. D.
MACLEOD EQUINE John MacLeod 1-888-395-0006 Patti Hanco 416-995-7940; Email: pattihanco@aol.com www.macleod-equine.com
Available through your Veterinarian, Feed Dealer & fine tack shops everywhere. Dealer inquiries welcome.