Page 26 - The Game November 2006

26 The Game, November 2006 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Gala September 29, 2006 at Woodbine
Hastings trainer Felimon Alvarado grew
up in a family of eight brothers and two sisters in Mexico City, Mexico. One of his brothers, Pedro, will soon win his fourth riding title at Hastings.
At age eleven, Felimon Alvarado began boxing classes at a local school.
Two years later, realizing his love for horses, he enrolled and was accepted into the Jockey School of Mexico.
After completing riding school, his dream of being a jockey became reality, but only briefly as he found it difficult to make riding weight.
“I decided to go back to my other love and began boxing in Tijuana, Mexico.” said Alvarado.
He boxed over sixty fights as an amateur and began fighting profes- sionally in 1992.
“After five fights profes- sionally, I decided to get back into horse racing. But I always hoped of getting involved in boxing one day,” said Alvarado.
In 2003,
following the
advice of his
brother Pedro,
he arrived at Hastings with a small stable.
“The last two years my stable has grown to nine horses. I must admit, there has been good times and tough times. But I love doing it,” adds Alvarado.
Oddly enough, it was one of those tough times in his life that changed his life forever.
“Because of an infraction with a racing rule, we called Felimon into the steward’s office,” said Wayne Russell, Chief Steward at Hastings.
“I suggested, knowing how well he was liked and his love for boxing, he should use some of his idle time maybe working with former Golden Gloves champion Manny Sobral at his boxing gym.”
The next afternoon, while looking for an apartment Alvarado looked across the street and there it was: Sobral’s NBBC Gym.
“It was like something surreal. Here my wife Barb was helping Felimon look for an apartment and they were standing across from Manny’s gym,” said a smiling Russell.
Alvarado entered the gym
and noticed all these kids were fighting and having fun. He introduced himself to Sobral and the former champ asked if he wanted to box.
“I told him no. I want to help around the gym doing anything. Perhaps working with some of the kids,” said Alvardo.
The next day, he began volunteering and has been a regular since. Whenever he does not have a horse racing at Hastings, he can be seen at the gym
“Felimon has been fantastic. Because he was a legitimate fighter and seen a lot of life, our kids really respect what he tells them,” said Manny Sobral. Within weeks, Sobral gave Alvarado the opportuni- ty to manage his first fighter, Marte Arreola, a ten-year-old youngster with a promising
future.
On Friday
October 6, Alvarado’s dream of getting back into the boxing ring finally became reality. He was in the corner managing young
Arreola.
“I was kind of nervous
working with Marte, which was funny since I make my living with my horses,” said Alvarado.
As for the difference between training youngsters to box and horses to run, he admits horses listen a lot better then kids
Unfortunately their first fight proved unsuccessful. Arreola suffered a loss in a split decision.
“Marte had a tough first round. When the other young- ster came out swinging right from the bell, it changed all of his strategy of just boxing instead of battling in a free for all,” said Alvarado.
Despite the loss, they real- ize there will be another day. Arreola is now back in school, while Alvarado has returned to barn M to train his horses.
As far as the future, both will be finding their way to their respective winner’s circles. You can bet on that.
Tommy Wolski
Backstretch Briefs
Dr. Elaine Stavro (left) and Connie Stavro Giamos accepted the new LongRun Volterra Award, on behalf of their father, the late Steve Stavro, for his generous contributions to LongRun over the years. The Volterra Award, which means “higher ground” will be presented each year as a way of recognizing and honouring the spirit of giving which Mr. Stavro possessed.
Greeting guests at the door were (from left to right) LongRun Directors, Christine Krohn and Martha Scott, LongRun President, Vicki Pappas, LongRun office administrator Marina Garrett and Director Jennifer Morrison.
Photo Right - Couple, Wendy McLaren of WEG Property Services and Bill Robinson with WEG Security pose with the old model car which was part of the 50’s theme of the Gala evening.
Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe look-a-likes posed for pictures with guests and entertained on stage later in the evening
Broadcasters Jeff Bratt (left) and Jason Portuondo were looking “gangster sharp” in 50’s style clothing. The pair were once again the MC’s for the evening events.
Photo Left:
Jean Milligan and 11-year-old retired millionaire thoroughbred racehorse, Mr. Epperson, perform outside of the tent in an example of how a retired racehorse can excel in a second career as a riding horse.