Page 30 - April 2005 The Game

30 The Game, April 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Clearing the snow and ice from the barn was a chore on the first day of training
The main track at Fort Erie will remain closed until April. The frozen, snow covered track, will be given time to thaw before training can begin. Until then, the newly constructed sand ring, across Thompson road, is open for training.
Training at Fort Erie Race Track - March 21 ‘05
Photo Right:
Jockey David Picques is aboard 4-year-old filly, Mystery Girl, who is in training with Brian Ross for owner Dan Mooney. Brian shipped in on March 20 and will be training horses at Fort Erie in 2005 for Trainer Roger Attfield and Dan Mooney’s Huntington Stud Farm.
It looks
like this jockey had a good time over the winter!
Trainer Vern Fernandez and rider Jessie Vojin had the first horse on the sand ring training track for the 2005 season.
Outrider John Willick’s pony, Tonka Toy, was hanging out with fellow pony, Otis, and Paula Loescher at the gap of the sand ring.
Groom Drew Greening watches as Exercise Rider, Crash (aka Andrew Weymes) trots around the shedrow with Elly n’th horseman, owned by Bruno Schickedanz. Trainer John Dalton will be training for Bruno for the 2005 season at Fort Erie.
Trainer Roy Russell and his 8-yr-old gelding, Nearctic Ice. Nearctic Ice is a homebred who has earnings of more than $200,000. He was given a year off in 2004 & Roy says he looks ready to go for 2005.
Photo Right: Colebrook trainees, 5-year-old gelding Portofino Creek (front), ridden by Carl Ryan, and 4-year-old filly, Jades in Uproar, ridden by Robert Gates, make their way around the temporary track that Ralph and his staff have constructed to get the horses legged-up for the track.
Right:Trainer Ralph Quaranta will wait until April before shipping in to Fort Erie. He currently has 10 horses in training at a nearby farm for owner Colebrook Farms as well as two of his own horses.
Trainer Paula Loescher shares her tea with stable pony, Otis while blacksmith, Russell Dapp looks on. Paula plans to have 14 horses for the 2005 season.
Photo Above:
Trainer Alexander Patykewich with 3-year-old gelding, Executive Class, owned by Josh Robillard. Alexander shipped in early to Fort Erie to give the horses a bit of a break after a successful winter winning 21 races at Penn National and Thistledowns in the US. Alexander will have 15 horses for various owners for the 2005 Fort Erie season.