Page 20 - The Game July 2006

20 The Game, July 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Family Area a Hit at Woodbine
The System Equine Solutions Family Area at Woodbine has been moved to the grandstand area this year due to the scheduled installation of the Polytrack surface.
The Family area, which is free of charge, is now located to the west side of the walking ring and offers so much more this season.
The family area is a way to get children actively engaged with the horses and a day at the races.
Once again Woodbine has partnered with Equine Guelph to set up set up an educational area where visitors can learn many different things about horses, such as a horse’s body language, the shoes they wear and the food they eat.
There is also many interactive things to do in the tent such as braiding a horse’s tail, riding in a standardbred sulky as well as a petting zoo and demonstrations from people in the industry.
Kids can also dress up like a jockey and have their picture taken with a real, live horse. There are also special guests and demonstrations throughout each weekend along
with backstretch tours which provide a glimpse into the industry and how the horses get to the races.
The System Equine Solutions Family Area is open on the weekends in July and August from 11am to 6pm.
Paul Lachance and his wife Julie along with David and baby Matthew enjoy the interactive play area. “We came last year and saw on Breakfast television how it had advanced.” said Julie, “There is a lot more stuff to do this year.”
BOB TOPLEY - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
Bob kept on top of changes and provided up to date information from every racetrack in North America which resulted in saving his clients hours of their time and sometimes thousands of dollars in nomination fees.
One example was a comment from Brad MacDonald, assistant trainer to Neil Drysdale at the time, who said that if they did not have Topley Services they would not have known, nor nominated, the horse Prized, to the Molson Million at Woodbine. Prized won the Molson Million as well as the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup in Florida that year.
Bob travelled to Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York, Chicago and California visiting the barns of not only the big players on the scene but also the smaller trainers at each track.
“A lot of racetracks will advertise or have a representative to promote stakes races however they generally only talk to the big names in the industry.” explains Bob, “I would talk to everybody and would have knowledge of nearly every live horse.”
That is how Bob met trainer John Sheriffs, who signed up for Topley’s services 7 years ago. “I called on him when nobody else did.” says Bob who went on to say that John was a mentor in developing the program in an Excel format.
Now at age 69 after providing his services to an impressive list of trainers and owners from across North America as well as overseas, Bob is ready for retirement, “At this point I would hate to have a ‘senior moment’ and make a mistake.” he laughs, “I have been successful because I knew and understood the racing business. My service caused the owners and trainers to look at all opportunities that best suited the horse.
“It has been a thrill to have been able to serve these people. I appreciate good trainers and owners who give the best chances for their horses. All the people at the top were inquisitive and progressive and wanted to know as much as possible. They were not complainers because they were too busy enjoying themselves.”
Bob is currently in the process of winding down his company and while he will hold on to the Topley Thoroughbred Services name and his client list, his data base of stakes information is available for sale to those interested in creating their own stakes closing reports or service.
For more information you can email Bob Topley at bob@topley.com
Owners 5 ✩ Appreciation 5Day ✩
Woodbine
Woodbine
Date: Sunday,
Date: Sunday
August 13, 2006
August 8, 2004
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Place: Media Tents at
Place: Media Tents at
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Compliments of HBPA of Ontario
Compliments of HBPA of Ontario
& Woodbine Entertainment Group
and Woodbine Entertainment Group
Fort Erie Date: Sunday
Date: Sunday,
August 1, 2004
July 30, 2006
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Place: Tent In Front
Place: Tents In Front
of Jockey’s Room
of Jockey’s Room
Compliments of HBPA of Ontario
Compliments of HBPA of Ontario
& Nordic Gaming Corporation
and Nordic Gaming Corp.
✩ * You must hold a valid 2006 ORC license as Owner and/or Trainer to attend
5Free Refreshments and Barbeque
✩
Rain or Shine Limited Seating
MARKMYAORUKRYOCUARLECANLDEANDRASRFSOFRORTTHHIIS YEARSSBBAACKCSKTRSETTRCEHTPCICHNIPCISCNICS
5
Please RSVP to Catherine at 416-747-5252
to arrange for your ticket to be mailed. (No entrance without ticket)
Woodbine - postponed due to construction • Fort Erie, August 17, 2006
Woodbine, July 5th, 2004 Fort Erie, August 4th, 2004
Topley Thoroughbred Services client list represents leading earners and award winners including:
35 Eclipse Awards - incl. 4 Horse of the Year 31 Breeders’ Cup Winners
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame -
Trainers - Mr. Leroy Jolley (1987); Mr. Flint Schulhofer (1992); Mr. Robert Frankel (1995); Mr. Neil Drysdale (2000); and Mr. Richard Mandella (2001).
Hall of Fame Horses - A.P. Indy (2000) and Dance Smartly (2003)
Kentucky Derby: Go For Gin - Mr. Wm, J. Condren and Fusaichi Pegasus - Mr. Neil Drysdale.
N.A. Earnings Record Setter - Sam-Son Farm (1991)
Topley Thoroughbred Services Most Successful Canadian Clients include owners Sam-Son Farms with Dance Smartly and Trainer Roger Attfield who (from 1972 to March 2006) has total US earnings of $65,518,658; winning 290 stakes races with 123 stakes horses.