Page 16 - October 2005 The Game
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16 The Game, October 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Jean Milligan and stable pony, Kemp Road Cavalier
Career happened by Fluke
By Pauline Block
Jean Milligan (29 yrs old) - Assistant trainer for Scott Fairlie for 6yrs
As a youngster her family moved from Mount Forest, Ontario and relocated in Orangeville where she grew up.
The first time she was ever on a horse was at age of 2 while visiting her aunt in Fergus which peaked her interest in horses.
Her career with horses began around the age of six, when she started schooling quarter horses and at age 9 she started showing them. She won many events throughout the years in fact her team was the leader in Ontario for reigning. They ranked the highest placed Canadian in Quarter Maine. She owned her first horse at 9 and nickname him “Sweetie”.
Never in her wildest dreams, did she think she would be
working at Woodbine. This job happened by fluke. While she was employed at a bar in Mississauga she happened to go along with a friend to Woodbine Racetrack which is when she was introduced to a trainer who offered her a job.
For the past six years she has worked as an assistant trainer to Scott Fairlie.
Her responsibilities consist of overseeing a staff of approximately 20, training new staff and dealing with the veterinarians and administering medication to the horses (same idea as a parent does to a child). She prepares the horses on race days and assists with any other hands on work required at any given time.
Jean especially emphasized how much she enjoys dealing with the veterinarians because she has learned a lot from them. Ted Coker, in particular has explained and taught her so much
that she is very grateful to him. The knowledge she has gained is not only educational, it gives her a better insight on working with the horses and she becomes more valuable to her boss where she is able to free up some of his time. Another part of her job that gives her great pleasure is working with the green staff (new staff). They are a lot of fun!
Working with horses is a real delight as well as a challenge as they vary in personalities much like humans. Some are good natured, some are hyper, some aren’t so nice and some will even try to nip you. She is pretty fond of the stable pony nicknamed “Kempy” short for Kemp Road Cavalier, but her all time favourite horse is Mr. Epperson, a 9 year old who may soon be retired. Jean says that they have developed a very special relationship.
The only real downfall of this job is that the hours are so hectic and time off is scarce. Jean gets approximately one day off every other week Her regular day begins around 4 to 4:30 am and ends somewhere around 4pm. She lives near the track so if paged she can get there in a flash.
Working on the backstretch is nothing like working in a regular workplace. In this industry over-time pay is unheard of. She receives a salary regardless of the hours she puts in.
Jean admits to being a workaholic so, the one day off is sufficient enough, otherwise, she would go mad. As it is, she has been known to sneak back to work on her days off to check up on her babies.
Jean has about six weeks off in the winter when the racetrack closes and says that she gets really bored so this year she plans to work on a horse farm in Ontario until her trainer returns to Woodbine with the horses.
As hectic as her job at the race- track may be, the results are reward enough. The more time that is spent on the horses shows in their attitudes, their overall performances, and the horses becoming more sociable. Most horses love attention and because they spend so much time in their stalls that Jean likes to make sure they get lots of it because they really need it. “The more TLC they get, the better they are.” Says Jean who’s dream is to own a horse on her own one day.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario Division
The CTHS aims to ensure a viable future for its members by providing assistance and representation within the Thoroughbred breeding industry.
It’s New and Improved
The CTHS (Ontario Division) recently unveiled its new web site, redesigned for more user-friendly interaction and ease of reading.
Through the assistance of their web development team, the revamped website will include updated information, additional features and improvements – including a FAQ, stud book, member message board, sales information pages and a director message board. Site visitors will also be able to sign up for frequent email updates, as well as regular updates from the dynamic news page, photo gallery, and events calendar.
The CTHS also has plans to produce a regular newsletter for their members, which will also be made available online. To view the new website, please visit www.cthsont.com or contact us at (416) 675-3602.
CTHS Winter Mixed Sale
The 2005 CTHS Winter Mixed Sale will take place December 3rd and 4th, 2005 at the Woodbine Racetrack Sales Pavilion in Rexdale, Ontario. Entries for the sale will close September 30th, 2005. Please check our website for more information.
All Members Meeting
The Board of Directors for the CTHS (Ontario Division) have announced that an Information Meeting of the Membership has been set for Tuesday, October 11th, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the Woodbine Racetrack Sales Pavilion. The CTHS urges all members to attend, as the meeting will focus on the direction being investigated regarding the location of futures sales in Ontario.
Members are asked to confirm their attendance by Friday, October 7th by contacting the CTHS by phone, fax or email to cthsont@idirect.com.
Members Please Note
Horse medication information sheets (2005 edition) are now available online at the following websites: www.ontarioracingcommission.ca; www.oaep.on.ca; www.ohha.ca.
CTHS Yearling Sale Results
The 2005 CTHS Canadian-Bred Yearling Sale took place the week of September 6th with a total of 151 horses sold in the Select session and 154 sold in the two-day Preferred Sessions.
A Perigee Moon – Katebyrne colt and a Bold n’ Flashy – Belle Affair filly took the top Select Sale price at $190,000 each, both being sold to Morgan Firestone. The chestnut colt was consigned by Woodlands (Gail Wood) agent, and the bay filly consigned by Michael C. Byrne, agent for Park Stud.
This year’s sales’ averages indicated a healthy increase from last year, with 217 horses catalogued for the Select Sale compared to 287 in 2004, along with a decrease in RNA’s from 37% in 2004 to 25% in 2005.
The Preferred Sessions’ total average this year was $9,701.00 for a total sales amount of $1,494,000, compared to an average of $7,322 and a total of $937,200 in 2004.
Full results of the CTHS Yearling Sale are now available online at www.cthsont.com/yearsale.html.
Fort Erie Sales Credit Program
Through the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP), the CTHS is offering a Sales Credit Program at Fort Erie Racetrack’s top end claiming levels. A $3,000 sales credit will be issued to the owner of any Ontario-Bred winner of an $18,000 Claiming race, as well as a $1,500 sales credit issued to the owner of any Ontario-Bred winner of a $12,500 Claiming race.
Sales credits can be cumulative, and are required to be used within one sales’ calendar year after earned and may be applied to our upcoming Winter Sale.
2005
CTHS Yearling Sale
P.O. Box 172 Phone: (416) 675-3602 cthsont@idirect.com Rexdale, Ontario M9W5L1 Fax: (416) 675-9405 www.cthsont.com


































































































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