Page 13 - The Game November 2006

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, November 2006 13
"I like owning my own horses," added Vern. "The most we've ever had was six or seven, but the last few years just four or five. We've never had one like Cold War before, he's just been exceptional. This is our best year, definitely."
While Fernandes was bit by the "racing bug" at an
early age, it was
completely differ-
"My first recognized win came at Portland Meadows in Oregon, and I still ride there most winters," Dionne continued. "When I came to the Fort, Vern put me on my first winner." After being the Fort's leading apprentice, Dionne saw her rides decrease, as they do
ent for Dionne:
"I was born in Toronto and was a typical city girl, involved in dancing and gymnastics while my sister Robyn took riding lessons. I watched the big races on TV and admired Julie Krone. I
Hotwalker Bob Asselin (left) and Trainer Vern Fernandes with Fort Erie’s Horse of the Year, Cold War
always liked horses and when I saw an ad for workers at Woodbine I thought it could be an interesting job."
Small and weighing only 98 pounds, Dionne soon was galloping Thoroughbreds and then went out to Montana to start her riding career "in the bushes." There was no apprentice allowance at those tracks, sometimes no race office. Trainers paid jockeys directly. Purses were around $800; stakes were $3,000.
for nearly every champion apprentice. This year, her success in the Fort's biggest races have given her entry to several new stables and she is enjoying the attention. "Things change but you have to have faith in your ability," she said. "Every race is a learning experience and you just try to get better and learn from each race you ride. Vern and Pat are awesome people to ride for. It's nice to be
part of a winning team."
Weather Wreaks Havoc in October
A freak winter storm is what people are calling the unexpected arrival of winter on October 12, 2006 in the Fort Erie area. Racing was forced to be cancelled for the weekend after a foot of heavy wet snow fell overnight causing extensive damage and power outages in the Fort Erie area and into the US. Live racing was cancelled for the weekend on October 14 & 15 as the track worked to get power restored and the track and paddock areas cleared of fallen branches and snow. The horsemen at Fort Erie did a terrific job of cleaning up the backstretch and racing resumed the following Monday and Tuesday.
Mother Nature was not done yet however. Heavy rains the following week forced the cancellation of the entire card on Tuesday, October 23 and racing was cancelled yet again on October 29 due to high winds.
Woodbine has also had their share of bad weather. Remnants of the October 12 storm forced the jockeys to cancel racing on October 13 after wind gusts of up to 60km/hour were reported. The severe winds were also the factor in the cancellation of the entire race card on October 29 along with Fort Erie and Aqueduct racing being cancelled.
Branches were strewn throughout the backstretch at Fort Erie after a freak winter storm hit the area overnight on October 12. Photos by Daryl Wells Jr. and Sue Milligan
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