Page 18 - The Game June 2006

18 The Game, June 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Patrick and Mark’s Unforgettable Day at the Derby
By Peter Gross
The Kentucky Derby is one of the few events that actually transcends the sport it features. Millions of people who have only the vaguest understanding of horse racing will make sure they watch The Derby. The name alone has an iconic vibration to it.
The Derby. Only a miniscule number of people are fortunate enough to experience it first hand. The Game had to settle for one degree of separation as we talked with jockey Patrick Husbands and trainer Mark Casse about their inspirational and exhausting weekend at Churchill Downs. For Casse, it was complete wish fulfillment to have a horse in the Derby. For Husbands, it was a weekend full of emotion, excitement, danger, and in the hours after the big race, a bizarre twist that tested his sense of humour.
Husbands, a Canadian citizen, is from Barbados and has put together a lengthy and prosperous career at Woodbine, challenging yearly for the riders’ championship. As a regular rider at the Toronto track, Husbands became the first Woodbine based jock since Jeffrey Fell in 1978 to have a mount in the Derby.
Casse chose Husbands to ride Seaside Retreat in the 132nd renewal of the Run For the Roses. However, Seaside Retreat’s eligibility was somewhat in doubt. It appeared that more than 20 horses would attempt to run this year, and Casse wanted to be sure his horse had sufficient earnings to qualify; a maximum 20 starters are allowed and if more are entered, earnings in graded races determine who gets in. Casse had little confidence that the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland was a good situation for Seaside Retreat.
“I knew he couldn’t handle the race track,” says Casse, “We felt we needed to pick up earnings to assure getting into the Derby. I knew he liked Churchill, and the only way to get into the Derby, or so we thought, was to come at least fourth in the Blue Grass.”
Casse was right and wrong. Seaside Retreat had no interest in the Keeneland going, finishing an eased up 32 lengths behind winner Sinister Minister. Fortunately, the horse’s earnings up to then were sufficient to make the Derby. The question then became - was the horse fit and willing?
“I told Patrick to fly down to Churchill and work the horse and if he didn’t feel good about it we wouldn’t run in the Derby,” says Casse
Husbands came down to Kentucky on the Wednesday, ten days before Derby Day. The next day he worked the horse at five furlongs.
“Seaside Retreat ran beside a horse named Engineer,” recalls Casse, “They went the first 3/8th in 34.4 and at the top of the lane Seaside Retreat blew by Engineer and was timed in 59.2 which was the fastest work of the day. Engineer came back a few days later and won a three other than allowance race.”
The night before, Husbands had been very frank with Casse about the horse’s status.
“Boss, I don’t want you to be upset with me,” he told Casse, “if I tell you we shouldn’t run him in the Derby.”
After the sharp workout, which Casse watched from the grandstand, the trainer
“The 15 post was great because there’s a gap where the two gates come together,” explains Casse, “From the time we got to Louisville, my son Norman said, “we’ve got to have 15.”
Husbands arrived in Louisville on Thursday and will carry forever the memories of the pre-race events.
“They had a big gathering for all the riders,” says Husbands, “Ron Turcotte, Steve Cauthen, Laffit Pincay, even Miss World and Miss Kentucky were there. I took pictures of both of them.”
Husbands is a pretty well-known celebrity in his own circles, but, during Derby Week, he was in awe of the
Brampton Hall of Fame.
On Friday, Casse sent out Top Notch
Lady in the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks for fillies.
Top Notch Lady was a 32-1 longshot and finished 8th.
“Top Notch Lady had a troubled trip in the Oaks, which hindered her performance,” reports Casse.
“I got knocked around with her,” adds Husbands, “She made a big move down the backside and then she flattened out.”
It was in the Oaks that Husbands experienced first-hand just how tough race riding can be in an important American race.
“I find as a rider, all the big races in the USA, the stewards don’t get involved,” he says earnestly, “These guys really ride for the money. In the Oaks I was sitting behind five of them down the backside. They were all going head to head and they practically threw Kent Desormeaux over the fence. They don’t give an inch.” There’s definitely a hint of respect in Husbands’ voice,
Longshot Lemons Forever had a much better race experience, flying up late on the outside to win The Oaks at odds of 47-1. In her previous race, Lemons Forever had been beaten a length at Turfway in the Bourbonette-G3, which was won by Top Notch Lady.
Suddenly it was the first Saturday in May. On a bright, warm day at Churchill, a throng of more than 157,000 jammed the historic track. Casse had taken special pains to make sure his jockey’s day at the Kentucky Derby was special.
“Mark had six seats right by the tunnel for me,” says a grateful Husbands, “I got six of the best. I had my own booth. I was right where the horses came out.”
For the first six races, Husbands took in Derby day from his perfect track location, entertaining some great friends who had flown up from the Barbados to enjoy his experience. Then it was time for his Derby ride.
Any trainer or jockey will tell you about that moment of intense emotion that occurs as the horses make that walk through the tunnel onto the track. Casse and Husbands are no different. Casse admits he was in a trance of some sort.
“It’s just like you’re in lala land,” he laughs, “As soon as the first horse comes on to the track, the crowd goes wild, but I never heard anything. I guess I was kind of in a dreamlike state. It was surreal. It’s what I had dreamed about since I was a little boy.”
Patrick Husbands may not be an overly emotional sort. But sitting on a Kentucky Derby horse about to walk to the starting
gate was an experience he found overwhelming.
“Just as I was entering the main track, I got some goose-bumps and I was like in shock,” says Husbands, “Then I hear the bugle and then after that I hear My Old Kentucky Home. And then the tears started falling. Fortunately I had on my goggles.”
Husbands lost his father, Walter 17 years ago. Walter had always been a huge influence and supporter of his son’s career, so it was natural that Husbands was thinking of his old man.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE - SEE PATRICK & MARK
Canadian jockey, Patrick Husbands (back left) was one of 20 jockeys in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Photo - Linda Foushee
Photo Right - Patrick Husbands & Mark Casse at Woodbine - The Game file photo 2004
was anxious to hear from his jockey.
“I told him I would trust his judgement and as I was driving back to the barn to see Patrick, he called me from the horse and
said, “We‚re going to the Derby boss!” Having a horse in the Kentucky Derby would, of course, be a career high for both trainer and jockey. Casse started his career as a teenager, training horses in Keeneland, then graduating to Churchill Downs. In 1988, Casse was leading trainer at
Churchill.
“I saw my first Derby when I was 12,”
says Casse, “I’ve probably been to about 25 of them.”
In the Wednesday draw, Casse was awarded 12th pick. For the Derby, the trainers’ names are drawn and, according to the order, each picks the best available post position. Post 15 hardly sounds like a cushy spot, but in fact it was the slot the Casse camp had hoped for all week.
company he got to keep.
“From the time I was a kid, me and Jono
Jones, Steve Cauthen was our idol,” he says with reverence, “He was a great person to speak to.”
While Husbands was thrilled to be in the presence of other great jockeys, his homeland of Barbados was thrilled to have a native son in the most important horse race of all.
“I never knew I had so many important friends,” says Husbands, “Barbados was backing me. Everybody from Barbados was calling me - all the reporters.
The racetrack in Barbados was full, even though they had no live racing. The sports bar in Barbados called The Bubble; it was full too.
Husbands is a legend in Barbados, which has bestowed on him the Barbados Service Star Award (BSS). He’s hot stuff in Ontario as well, already inducted into the
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