Page 19 - November 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Remembering Howie Porter The Game, November 2007 19
By Jim Reynolds
Howie Porter was the original ‘Horse Wisperer’. When Monty Roberts became famous for communi- cating with horses Howie was way ahead of him, he had been relating to our four footed friends that way for years. I first met Howie in the early 70’s while he was the outrider at Exhibition Park and I worked for Bunny Johnson. Over the years we worked to- gether at various jobs and Howie was good to work with, always pleasant and a good horseman. After work we occasionally shared a few jars and a good laugh. One of Howie’s endearing traits was that, in all the time I knew him, he never had a bad word to say about anyone and I was always glad of the time spent with him, whether on the track, at the farm, or standing with heads bowed beside him at Jack Diamond’s funeral. He was a good man with a horse and with people.
2007 CTHS BC Division Board of Directors
L. to r. Scott Ksionzyk, Reg Peat, Shane Gumprich, Terry Black, Doug Hoggard, Dixie Jacobson (Pres.), Ralph Jesiak (Vice Pres.), Leif Nordahl (Vice Pres.), Mike Anderson, Suzanne Anderson, (Jim Aldendal absent)
Dixie Jocaboson (beside the ghost - boo!), was the host of a Halloween party for the David Foster Foundation’s annual picnic at their farm in Langley, BC. The David Foster foundation provides financial and emotional support to families of children who are in need of life saving organ transplants. www.davidfosterfoundation.org
“Easy, Benny,” I crooned, careful not to grab at the lines and give him a reason to really grab the bit and go. Instead I raised myself up in my stirrups ever so slightly, increasing my lever- age at the exact same moment I felt my stirrup leather slip.
The 15-year-old son of Mr. Pros- pector has 556 foals of racing age, of which there are 51 stakes winners and 23 graded stakes winners.
In an article on the Thoroughbred Times Today website, Highfield Stock Farm manager, Cal Britton, was quoted as saying, “This purchase was made in anticipation of the new track opening at Balzac, Alberta.”
Yikes, I thought. Bennie picked up the pace as I held tough and tried to remain as still as possible. By now we’d closed the distance between us and other horse and rider and Bennie was starting to suspect he was in a horse race. I knew if I kicked my pedals or moved my hands Bennie was going to run off, no question. My stirrup hadn’t moved again but I needed to check so I risked a quick glance down where the buckle seemed to have settled into the next hole on the leather. By this time we’d covered at least a furlong since it first slipped and it hadn’t moved since. I decided the stirrup wasn’t going anywhere. Other riders have told me sometimes you’ll think you feel your saddle slipping and it’s just your imagination playing with you. I decided I might as well stop playing head games. That stirrup isn’t going anywhere, I told myself, So just sit tight and relax and finish galloping your horse.
He has progeny earnings of more than $45 million.
Cape Canaveral has sired 94 winners from 141 starters in four crops of racing age.
I remember that terrible day when Howie galloped his last horse. He was about 66 years old at the time but still got on a few horses when he was asked. I had a couple of horses at a training centre in Langley and Howie was galloping a few for another trainer in the barn. Leaning on the rail watching my own horse Howie came by on a green two year old. He had this unique way of riding with pedals long and using the ‘Howie Porter Safety Harness’, a piece of baling twine that he would run
It was obvious that to do so wasn’t possible. Touching the boot caused great pain. “The boot is the only thing holding your leg together,” we told him.
Did You Know.....
Cape Canaveral to Highfield Stock Farm
under the stirrup leath- ers and hold in his hands with the reins, “It helps keep their head down,” he would explain.
This morning the filly
was green and rank and
all of a sudden she flipped
over, hitting the rail and landing on the ground with Howie underneath. She got up and ran off. Howie didn’t. He had broken his leg in several places.
When we got to him he was hurt pretty bad. His face was white as a sheet but gritting his teeth was the only acknowledgement he would give to the pain. Crying out wasn’t in Howie’s nature.
“Get my boot off, quick,” he pleaded.
“Get it off,” he said through gritted teeth. “My leg’ll swell and if they take me to the hospital they’ll cut ‘em off. And that’s a good pair of boots.”
Howie had his own set of priorities.
He had other priorities in his life though. More serious priorities. His family and his friends, and to them he will be remembered.
evenSteven continued from page 18
Owned by Sam-Son Farm, Smart Strike, out of Canadian Champion 3yo filly Classy’n Smart, is a half sister to Canadian Horse of the Year, the late, Dance Smartly.
Cape Canaveral stood for $7,500 in 2007.
That the stud fee for current leading sire of 2007, Smart Strike, has been doubled for the 2008 season.
Highfield Stock Farm in Okotoks, Alberta has purchased the 11-year-old Mr. Prospector stallion, Cape Canaveral, from Overbrook Farm in Lexington, KY.
Smart Strike is the sire of two of 2007 Breeders’ Cup winners; Classic winner Curlin and Turf winner English Channel.
He has ten stakes winners including G2 winner Magnolia Jackson, who is his leading runner with more than $500,000 in earnings.
He will stand for $150,000 at Lane’s End in Versailles, KY.
Cape Canaveral, winner of the G3 San Miguel S. (1999) at Santa Anita, is the full brother to 1995 champion 2-year-old filly Golden Attraction and 1/2 brother to G1 winner and sire Cape Town.
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No sooner had this thought occurred than the stirrup gave way completely.
Benny immediately leaped ahead in furious pursuit of his perceived competition. As we galloped by the clocker’s stand I found myself riding beside rather than astride my horse. For maybe a dozen strides we galloped along like this, Benny pick- ing up steam and me clinging to his side like a giant cockroach. When it quickly became apparent the chances of regaining my seat were slim and growing slimmer, I abandoned ship with as much dignity as I could muster under the circumstances. By the time I quit rolling Benny was a furlong away and picking up speed. I picked myself up and walked back to the clocker’s stand and waited for the outrider to catch my horse. It could worse, I decided. I was unhurt, my horse - when they finally caught up to himwas happy as a lark, and I had only six more days of riding with a three month vacation...oh yeah, and now I had something to write about.
The Game November 2007.indd 19
10/30/07
10:47:05 AM