Page 16 - March 2007 The Game

16 The Game, March 2007
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Backstretch Busy as Main Track Opens
On a typically frigid morning in the absolute dead of winter, it might be hard for many to fathom how enthusiastically most horsemen welcomed the opening of Woodbine’s main track. Well before any- one might have been to church on Sunday February 11, dozens of riders, trainers and horses were going through the paces that hopefully will prepare them all for opening day March 31.
We found trainer Bill Tharrenos surprisingly eager.
“We’ve got 16 on the grounds right now and we can’t wait to get at it,” he says, a huge smile unwrapping itself from under his friendly moustache. “We’re hoping to race on opening day. We’ve got a three year old filly named Fortunate Heart and there’s a race opening day we might get her in.”
With the wind chill registering about - 20, the weather seems hardly fit for human consumption, but Therranos believes the horses handle it well.
“Believe it or not, the horses like it when it’s a little chilly. It’s healthy for them,” he says. “We don’t get too many sick horses with this kind of weather as long as you watch their temperatures. I think all the horses are happy to get back. We’re going to have a big year and we’re ready to get at it.”
One of Therranos’ owners, Cosmos Monopoli, was having a good time watching his four year old filly, Keeping Da Faith, moving easily on the sand track under rider Laura Kris.
“She’s already won two allowance races,” says Monopoli, hands buried in his jacket pockets for warmth. “We’re going out to see what happens. If she goes well, we will be ready to race.”
When asked why he’s out before dawn on one of the coldest mornings of winter, Monopoli has an answer that kicks the thermometer up a couple degrees.
“I like to come and watch my horse. I love horses and I love the game”
The rider, Kris, cheeks shiny red after her workout, couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Kris is only 23, but already into her 8th year as an exercise rider.
“I’m happy to be back,” she says, practically laughing at the Arctic conditions. “This the best time of the year.”
Trainer Tommy O’Keefe was another who defied the sting of the elements to work his horses.
“For the first day of training, the weather’s not too cold,” he insisted as the interviewer’s hand shook trying to keep his tape machine steady. “To get to train on the polytrack where you don’t have any pebbles, it’s ideal.”
Positive energy like that should be bottled and sold. O’Keefe was monitoring the progress of several of his charges.
“I got a few here today,” he says. “We’ve got Hours Apart, Credence Lady, Montana Rose, Ashington, Northern
Bounty and Fiddler’s Green. It’s great. This is the quietest I’ve ever seen it for the first day to train. It’s like having a private track to yourself. There’s very few horses out.”
In barn seven, the Walls family offers a slightly dissenting opinion on the cold weather. Trainer Joe has eight horses up north, with some babies still down in Kentucky. His wife Carol owns a few, including Northern Prospect, a five year old mare who liked the attention of our camera.
You can’t accomplish very much in the middle of February,” says Joe, who would prefer to talk English soccer at this time of year. “In the middle of February you don’t really train; you just survive. It takes 90 days to get a horse ready. People around here don’t believe that. The track’s ok, but it’s cold. That’s why all the New York guys go to Florida and Carolina.”
Walls figures his horses will be ready to roll around the first week of May.
“I don’t have a lot of five furlong horses and I’m hoping three or four will be good on the grass,” he says. “After Kentucky Derby time, that’s when I’m ready. Some of these guys have equisizers on the farm and can get 30 days in there on them. I have to wait until this opens up and start from scratch.”
Joe’s son Mickey works the horses out in the mornings. The Game finds him in a tiny tack room cradling a bowl of hot soup, trying to unfreeze his inner self after working his first four horses.
“I left Miami where it was 85 to come over to this,” he laughs. “I hear you had a nice winter, until we had to ship in. Typical.”
Walls is a good guy to ask about the polytrack. This is the coldest weather the synthetic surface has yet to experience.
“The polytrack is good. I’m very surprised how good it is,” he says. “You wouldn’t want to run over it right now, but to train on it, it’s in pretty good shape. On a day like today, they just barely go around once to get their legs underneath them and see where they’re at. Nothing too serious.”
Walls’ advice for other riders has very much to do with sensible handwear.
“Buy the best gloves you can for this weather,” he states rubbing his hands together.
It’s suggested that being out, even in the deep freeze, once again feeling the power of a thoroughbred underneath, would surely inspire anyone to shout to the four winds just how much they love their job.
“Oh no, not at all,” replies Walls with mischief in his eyes. “If it wasn’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be here at all. Trust me!”
Cosmo Monopoli, his horse Keeping Da Faith and exercise rider Laura Kris
Photos by Peter Gross - The Game
Northern Prospect, owned by Carol Walls, likes the camera
Trainer Joe Walls
Horses were feeling good as they training on a frosty morning in February.
Michael Burns courtesy of WEG
Woodbine’s 2004, ‘05 and ‘06 Leading Trainer Sid Attard is get- ting his horses ready for what he hopes will be another terrific year!
Photo Above: Trainer Tommy O'Keefe keeping an eye on his horses
Above Right:
Rider Mickey Walls encouraging the blood to return to his fingers Photo Right: New laundry & washroom facilities at the sales barn area will be opening soon.