Page 26 - December 2008 The Game

26 The Game, December 2008
Cheatin Charlie - Continued from Page 25
He advanced to becoming a lm analyst in 1976 for
working in the booth next to him for years stated: “You could always hear old Charlie pushing for his opinion on any objections. He was quite a character.”
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
the B.C. Jockey Club in a time before the convenience of the videotape replays we enjoy today. As an analyst, he noted: “Jockeys today may be a little better, but they get away with more than we did.” His employment there was interrupted later that year when he noticed
He remained clerk of scales until mandatory retirement crept up on him in 1998.
a weakness in this left hand which proved to be a blockage in a main cardiac artery. “I had two choices: Take medication and go on thinking things would improve or undergo surgery. I picked surgery. I was operated on in October and went right back to curling last winter.”
Dennis Fraser reported his next chapter at the track in Vancouver Sun 1993: “Ulrich at 66 will leave the roof after an 11 year assertion steward to take over the clerk of scales for the B. C. Jockey Club. He mused “What would I do if I retired? I don’t play golf. I’m here
After having a long career in racing, Charlie Ulrich passed away on December 9, 2000. His ashes were dispersed on the grounds of the race track where he worked so many years. It is appropriate that something that was such a great part of him should be his nal resting place.
From that experience, it was a natural transfer to becoming a steward, a position he held for many seasons until 1992. A fellow camera operator, who was
every morning. I’ve spend my life on the race track.” This new post required his posting offered weights
and checking all the business affairs in the jockey’s room. Regarding the new position, Ulrich seemed to lament:”There is nothing really that ever took the place of riding. It was especially tough for me because I was one of the fortunate ones who never had to worry about weight.”
I am left with the perception that race track culture is not that much different than being part of an enlarged family. The closest parallel would be to the circus: itinerant practitioners competing, yet pulling together in order to succeed. Participants are required to wear differing “hats” on various days, but they know many jobs simultaneously. They may have their differences but like a family they pull together.
The Game December 2008.indd
26
11/27/08 2:58:51 AM
Season’s Greetings to all HBPA Members
& Industry Colleagues
Fromyour
Board of Directors &Administration Staff of the HBPAof Ontario
President, Sue Leslie
Vice President, William Diamant & Vice President, Nick Gonzalez Directors: Michael Barkowski, Conrad Cohen, Scott Fairlie, Stanley Fishman, Lynne Hindmarsh, Sam Lima,
Larry Regan, & Danny Vella
Administration Staff: Bill Eastwood, Lesley Barker, Corinne Phillips, Colleen Murphy & Lorrie Johnson
This search was more
than satisfying. I started out looking for someone called Cheatin’ Charlie yet found the near opposite: an honest, proud family man of many talents who loved what he did. One cannot ask for much better a life than that.
The writer wishes to thank D and her extended racing family who graciously supplied all of the photos and news articles used in researching this article.
*(Dr. William Quirin,
PhD, Winning at the Races, Computer Discoveries in Thoroughbred Handicapping, 1979, William Morrow.)
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