Page 15 - May 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, May 2008 15 Passing of Plate Winner - Hopefuls in Gino’s Paddocks
It is probably a good bet that anyone involved with horse racing this current decade will
Derby winner,” announces Gino without hesitation, “I believe in this guy (Line of Departure) and I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”
became involved with horse racing.
remember the day that longshot TJ’s Lucky Moon battled on bravely to win the 2002 Queen’s Plate.
Gino admits that he knows more about pizza than he does about horses however if his success in the pizza crust business is any indication of what he can accomplish with his words then he may just be Kentucky bound.
“Lou had all of these win pictures on the wall of his of ce and I asked him how I could get involved.” says Gino who ex- plained that the pair later claimed their rst horse together, Hey Little Star, and formed a partner- ship which lasted only 2 years.
No one remembers that day more than owner Gino Molinaro who describes watching his homebred crossing the wire in the $1 million classic as, the biggest thrill of his life.
Born in Calabria, South Italy, Gino came to Canada with his family in 1956 at age 15.
Gino Molinaro (l), trainer Vito Armata (r) & his crew with TJ’s Lucky Moon at the 2002 Queen’s Plate BBQ
In his greenhouse Gino Molinaro displays his ‘other’ passion.... growing g, lemon and pomegranate trees.
“I didn’t know anything about horseracing.” explained Gino mentioning that he had never even been to the racetrack before meeting Lou, “Lou was claim- ing a lot of horses so I started to get worried. We had 12 horses and I asked him to stop claiming. When he claimed horse number thirteen I dissolved the partner- ship. I was just so worried.”
“It was so unexpected.” beams Gino as if it was only yesterday, “He had only one race before the big race. We knew the horse could go the distance, the only question was his speed.”
He attended school in the morning and worked afternoons and evenings at Dempsters
Bread as a labourer. After an apprenticeship as baker at his cousin’s bakery, Gino started as foreman at the Canadian Pizza Crust company in 1964. “There were 6 people working there
when I started.” explained Gino, “I was 24 years old and I guess they didn’t like taking orders from someone so young, so ve of them quit.”
“When I was rst starting out, I was asked by a reporter from the Mississauga News, ‘how far do you think making pizza crust is going to take you?’”
recalls Gino
with a laugh, “I
replied, ‘people
will be eating
pizza for break-
fast one day.’”
True to his
word, the Cana-
dian Pizza Crust
company even-
tually became
Molinaro’s
Fine Foods and
is now ll-
ing orders for
a ‘breakfast
pizza’ for a large
If you recall June 23, 2002 was
a sweltering hot summer day and Gino admits that it was the biggest race of his horse’s life and it was pure stamina that won him the race. “It was that horse running the best race of his life on that day.” says Gino, “It was the biggest thrill of my life, not getting married, not having children, winning the Plate was the biggest thrill.”
grocery store chain. Conveniently located 10 min-
The horses were split between the pair and among the 6 horses that Gino was left with was the ‘cheapest one of the claimers’ Moonland Princess.
TJ’s Lucky Moon had been retired at the end of that memorable year and was living a well deserved pampered life at the Molinaro Farm in Acton. Sadly in early April, 9 year-old TJ’s Lucky Moon was found deceased in his paddock after suffering a suspected heart attack. “He was like a pet.” said Gino with an obvious sadness explaining that the horse was buried near his pad- dock on the farm. “It is sad that he is gone but the memories will live on.”
It was while making a sales call to Lou Donato in 1993, that Gino
Desperate for help Gino brought in his wife, Anna, and his mother and father to help make pizza crust.
utes from Woodbine racetrack, Molinaro’s Fine Foods now has more than 150 employees and have expanded their products to include pasta and calzones.
Continued Page 16 - See Gino Molinaro
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Meanwhile steps away in the broodmare barn on his 50 acre farm is TJ’s Lucky Moon’s mare, Moonland Princess, who has a handsome colt by her side.
By the Molinaro owned stallion, Line of Departure (A.P. Indy), the colt is a half brother to Gino’s Plate winner. “I think I have a Kentucky
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The Game May 2008.indd 15
4/29/08 8:24:05 PM