Page 33 - The Game August 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, August 2006 33
AlbertVarga:50Years atWoodbine
Albert Varga
Gord Huntley was so fond of Albert that he named a horse after him. Here is Albert posing with Varga after a win on May 2nd, 1979. (Michael Burns Photo)
Richard Moylan, Agent
Is proud to be CONSIGNING the following YEARLINGS in the 2006 CTHS (Ontario) Sales
Hip 50 Bay Colt by SULTRY SONG
Czipra, by No Louder
Hip 69 Chestnut Filly by PAYNES BAY
Esprit Fabuleux, by Dauphin Fabuleux
Hip 82 Bay Filly by INDIAN CHARLIE
Glory’s Story, by Defensive Play
Hip 96 Dark Bay Colt by BOLD N’ FLASHY
Jazzy Twist, by Sovereign Dancer
Hip 175 Chestnut Filly by BROKEN VOW
Regent’s Fancy, by Vice Regent
Hip 211 Bay Colt by GO FOR GIN
Tempolassie, by Pleasant Tap
Hip 227 Chestnut Colt by A FLEETS DANCER
Absolute Reward, by Ghazi
Hip 236 Chestnut Filly by A FLEETS DANCER
Aphrodite’s Crown, by Regal Classic
Hip 316 Bay Colt by NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Flashy Lil, by Bold N’ Flashy
Hip 326 Bay Colt by PRIVATE TERMS
Gieger Tune, by Geiger Counter
Hip 350 Chestnut Colt by A FLEETS DANCER
Indian Silk, by Indian Groom
Hip 409 Chestnut Filly by WITH APPROVAL
Racey Episode, by Sky Classic
Hip 454 Bay Filly by NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Tobie Ascot, by Alydeed
To Make an Appointment to view Yearlings Please call
RICHARD MOYLAN Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agent
Hunterview Farm
North off Hwy #9, Between Airport Rd. & Hwy #50 993445 Mono-Adjala Townline, Orangeville
Join a Syndicate
Contact the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society for more information on our New Owner Investment Program
www.cthsont.com
A Thoroughbred racing syndicate is like a sports club where you can enjoy the privilege of Thoroughbred ownership with others just like you.
With the new program being launched by the CTHS, you can become a shareholder in a
Big League Stable with a moderate upfront investment and share the risks and rewards with an energetic and excited group of partners.
This opportunity puts new, entry level owners into a partnership managed by experienced and enthusiastic syndicate managers.
Share the cost
Enjoy ALL the thrills.
Contact Julie Coulter at
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario Division at
416.675.3602 or email cthsont@idirect.com today for more information on our program.
Farm: 519-940-0319 Cell: 416-999-1249
By Peter Gross
Albert Varga talks about his early years without bitterness or self-pity, but the details are almost heart- breaking. Varga, a fixture at Woodbine Racetrack since 1956, never knew his parents and was brought up in Hungary in a foster home, where, clearly, he was not the favourite child.
“The government would send me things, like shoes,” says Varga, now 69, “But my foster parents had a daughter about my age and they would give everything to her. Sometimes I
cried.”
As a teenager,
Varga rode horses in Budapest, but in
the fall of 1956, push came to shove.
“In Hungary, when you turned 20, you automatically
had to spend two years in the service,” he recalls grimly. “Also, we had a little problem with the Russian
Revolution.”
There were buses, probably acting illegal-
ly, that drove paying customers to the Austrian border. Varga took a bus to freedom. And freedom to him meant Canada.
“I heard that in Canada the race horse business was very good and there was a good climate for the horses.”
In a matter of weeks, Varga hooked up with trainer William Thurner
“My first day at Woodbine was November 28, 1956,” recalls Varga, “Two days before my 20th birthday.”
Varga found his employment at Woodbine much more satisfying than a stint in the army. “I started out as an exercise boy. I had been galloping steeplechase horses and jumpers in
Hungary. I was about 120 pounds.”
But as his weight rose, Varga found a more permanent job as a groom of the thorough-
bred stars.
“William had a very good horse preparing
for the Queen’s Plate,” says Varga, relishing the memory, “He was named Ali’s Pride and I worked on it as a groom. The horse ran in the plate and finished fourth.”
With a self-deprecating laugh, Varga mentions that a little backstretch newspaper called the Guineas Gazette declared him to be the best groom of 1959.
After six years with William Thurner, Varga fond employment with Art Warner.
“I rubbed the plate contender, Axeman,” he says, “He ran in the Plate Trial, but bucked his shins. He only got beat a nose, but he didn’t run in the Plate.”
In 1962, Varga would begin the most fruitful relationship of his life.
I heard that Gord Huntley was looking for a groom,” he says, “He always bought a lot of two-year-olds every year, 25 or 30.”
Huntley knew a good groom when he saw one and Varga spent the next 36 years helping the successful trainer.
“He had a nice horse called Ramblin Road. I started rubbing him and he won some stakes races, running here and in Chicago and New York.”
Huntley, at which point he took out his assistant trainer’s licence. In that capacity he worked under Huntley for a further 11 years.
Apparently, Huntley was so fond of young Albert that he named a two-year-old colt after him. On at least one occasion, Varga the horseman posed in the winner’s circle with Varga the horse.
In the early 80’s however, Huntley met a woman and soon, she was the assistant trainer and Varga was not.
To most this would have been a grave blow to the ego. Not to Varga though.
“I wasn’t upset at all,” he says, “I saw it coming. I knew Gordie wanted her to be the assistant.” Then with a laugh he says, “Well, she wore a skirt!”
Although Varga’s duties were reduced mostly to oper- ating the automatic horse walker, his partnership with Huntley still continued.
He and I had three horses. I owned 15% or 20%. We didn’t make any money, but I was a partner with him.”
Varga can rhyme off the names of horses that gave him a few thrills.
“The best horse I partnered in was named Store for Gold. I did very well with that one until he was claimed from us. Ramblin Road, Royal Course,
Bay Phantom was a very good horse. Monarch Park was a great horse. We had a very nice filly called Bed Knob. She raced twice in Saratoga and got a third and a fourth. Ronny Turcotte rode her both times.”
Varga admits that as a younger man, he gambled with enthusiasm.
CONTINUED PAGE 34 - SEE VARGA
For nine years, Varga rubbed horses for
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