Page 13 - May 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game, May 2008 13
RWemembering Richard Chretien - July 30, 1957 - February 7, 2008
hen speaking with people on the Woodbine “He helped a lot of people in his life too. It was backstretch, the one resounding comment devastating to lose him.”
you will hear about Ricky Chretien was about his kindness and generosity.
After giving up training Ricky began working on the starting gate, a position he has held for close to 20 years.
“He was a guy that was all heart.” said former jockey Jack Lauzon, “He did everything for every- body. If you had a problem with Richard, then you were the problem.”
“We were running mates for a while,” said Starter Drew Brown, “He was a lovable guy who would help you do anything. You didn’t have to ask twice.
Richard was born and lived in Toronto until the age of ten when he moved to Montreal with his fam- ily. Richard nished up his school in Quebec before returning to Toronto at the age of 17 to live with his Uncle and Aunt, Fern and Bunny Chretien.
“We used to ‘raz’ him all the time about his hair and he would ‘raz’ you right back. He loved comb- ing his hair and whenever you messed it up he’d get mad. We were pals and it was guy stuff.”
Fern secured a job for Richard at the racetrack walking hots for trainer Carl Chapman and then for trainer Dave Brown.
“He was kind of like the father gure for the gate
crew.” said Woodbine’s Director of Racing, Tom
Cosgrove, “If there was ever a concern, he’d bring
it forward, he’d be the spokesperson. He was a
kind hearted guy and he had their (gate crew) best
interest at heart. He has left a big void with all theBASE.Vqxicptor4F/1ra0/ss2o0n08 11:00 AM Page 1 experience he had. He was well respected.”
Richard was ambitious and always seemed to have a few jobs on the go at one time. After working in the morning he took on another job as a jockey valet in the afternoons which he eventually gave up when he started training on his own for a couple of years.
times and he couldn’t do enough for everyone.” -
“He was a great guy to be around,” said Woodbine Veterinarian Dr. Greg Taylor,
“He was always happy and a good worker.
He was always here. He was a Montreal Canadiens fan through and through. He had a great interest in veterinarian medicine and was always asking questions.”
Continued Page 14 - see Richard Chretien
Richard Chretien leading the Janet Bedford trained, Gladiatoratdawn, out on to the main track at Woodbine with Matt Moore in the irons. Michael Burns Photo
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“I knew Richard since he was a valet,” said Woodbine’s Clerk of the Scales, Robert Bertrand, “He was a great guy, a good worker and a good friend of mine.”
Richard was the trainer for FNR Stable, the stable which was named for Fern, Nick and Richard, his uncle, a partner, and Ricky’s father Richard.
More comments from the Woodbine gate crew:
Sadly Rick’s father passed away at the age of 50 from a sudden heart attack in September 1985 and his mother passed away two months later from a blood clot.
“There isn’t enough you can say. He was a great guy with a heart of gold. He’d do any- thing for anybody.” - Bob Beck
Richard was well known on the backstretch for helping veterinarian John Chris in the mornings.
“He was a very nice guy, a great guy to work with. He would get along with anyone and if you needed a favour he was always there to give you a helping hand. We’re gonna miss him.” - Brian Alleyne
“He asked me one day if he could help out.” said Dr. Chris, “He was with me for 22 years. It was like a marriage, he helped me and I helped him when
I could. I used to give him heck about a couple of things and he’d give it right back.”
“He hit it off pretty good with my 12-year- old son Noah, they used to trade hockey cards and hang out between races taking him to the grandstand. He’s going to be missed.” - Bob Fierheller
“I helped him get involved in AA. He was a young guy who had lost both his parents and he was drinking too much. Years later he decided to do something about it. He celebrated his 12 year “AA” birthday on December 16, 2007.”
“I’ve known him since he rst came to the racetrack. He was a very likable person and a good friend. He always got along with every- one. We miss him a lot. The whole back- stretch misses him. He was one of a kind.”
“I’m gonna miss him. I think about him all the time, 5 or 6 times a day when I am doing all the things he used to do for me. He was a good hearted person and he loved to help people.”said Dr. Chris.
- Rudy Kehlbreier
“He was an all around good guy. He had
Trainer Robert Tiller used to talk with Ricky everyday while he was working for Dr.
Chris.
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“I miss Richard every day.” said Robert, “He used to come to this of ce everyday. We consulted with each other about our daily lives. He was a very good human being who has left us with a hole in our hearts.
“He was a great guy. He died so suddenly. I don’t understand it.
“He was hard working, had three jobs, an amazing guy. He cared about horses, he cared about people. I
miss the guy a lot. It was completely unexpected, completely shocking.”
“He was wonderful with horses at the gate,” said trainer Janet Bedford who had known Richard for 32 years from when he rst started on the race- track, “He would make suggestions with fractious horses. He was very knowledgeable and would try to help the horses at the gate.
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