Path To The Queen's Plate - Workout Day For Southdale

What follows is the second installment of my ongoing diary detailing the preparation and hard work that goes into training a contender for the Queen's Plate. While many racing fans only see the two minutes of action that occurs on the track, trainer Ian Black has graciously provided Triple Dead Heat with access to his barn as he conditions Southdale for North America's oldest thoroughbred graded stakes race. Over the coming weeks I will introduce you to the people behind the scenes, provide footage from workouts, and inside access to race day events. I'm thankful to Ian Black and his team for this opportunity and hope the resulting diary will be as much fun to read as it has been for me to experience.

Click here to read the May 9, 2009 Diary Entry which includes a Cast of Characters.

Wednesday May 13, 2009

There is a controlled chaos to the daily events of life on the backstretch. Pairs of 100lb people piloting 1200lb horses, each trying to move faster than the next pairing, makes for a lively atmosphere. I walked into this chaos at 7:45AM this morning and bumped into Ian Black as we both made our way towards his barn. Within seconds of our meeting a yell went out across the barns - a horse had unseated his rider in the lane leading to the track and the loose horse was now sprinting in between the shed rows. Moving so quietly that I barely realized he'd left me, Mr. Black moved towards the circling and frightened horse. Within seconds, the horse sensed the presence of the trainer and grooms who came to help and calmed down allowing himself to be caught. As quickly as it happened, it was over and Black was off again onto the next chore. I suspect that in the never-ending series of surprises that is horsemanship, having a trainer with Black's cool disposition is an extreme advantage.

Southdale, or Southie as he's known around the barn, was fiery this morning. Without question, Southie knew today was a work day and he was anxious to get at his training. Aline, Southie's groom, was busy getting Southdale equipped for the workout which gave me a chance to speak to exercise riders Val and Briar who have both worked the colt in the past. Val is the current rider responsible for galloping Southdale, while Briar was up on the colt a few times as a two year-old.

Briar plants one on Southie!


Southdale spends his day in Stall 13, which assistant trainer Skip Bowen claims is his lucky number. Queen's Plate winner Mike Fox once called Stall 13 home and there is certainly a magical connection here as Ian Black once again prepares a Queen's Plate horse to be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson. Southdale's neighbours Wollemi Pine and Rahy's Attorney make this area of the barn a classy joint. Southdale's little sister, Pinafores Lady, is so highly thought of she has been given a stall next to her brother. As the clock moves forward, the pace definitely picks up in the barn. Hot walkers are circling, grooms are bustling about. Everyone has somewhere to be and they should have been there ten minutes ago. I feel sheepish holding my camera when I could be busy with a brush or shovel.

Val and Pinnie Looking Pretty


Along to watch the workout this morning were Southdale's owners Rod and Margaret Ferguson, having made the long trek to Woodbine from St. Thomas to watch their prodigy work. The couple are longtime friends of Bob Anderson with whom they have bred and owned several horses and were quite excited to see young Southdale strut his stuff. Together, the three of us watched with interest as the workers went about their business.

Family Photo Time! - Owners Rod and Margaret Ferguson with Assistant Trainer Skip Bowen and Southdale


Southdale was looking especially sharp this morning thanks to Aline's hard work.

Aline Applies A Little Oil To Shine Up Southie's Coat


I knew it was getting close to workout time when jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson arrived along with exercise rider Tyler Gaskin. Today's workout would be a game of cat and mouse with Gaskin riding Bright Pick to a quick lead allowing Southdale to stalk and then pass him in the stretch. Before we could get to the workout though, the commotion woke up a resting Wollemi Pine who had to stand up and say hello to his regular rider. Wollemi Pine goes by the barn name of "Toogie." Aline came up with the name from his mum - Toogie Pine. It seems there are three things that Toogie loves.

1. Racing - The speedster is a lock to work a fast four furlongs and he's a monster on the track.
2. Sweets - Anytime someone gets near the mint container, Toogie hollers.
3. His tongue - A dog will scratch an itch. A cat wants a chin rub. Toogie demands that you pull his tongue.

It's pretty much impossible for me to keep a straight face while talking to someone when Toogie is in the background rolling up and then unravelling his gargantuan tongue.

Hey! Pull My Tongue! Wollemi Pine aka "Toogie" Is Always Up For A Game


Toogie Insists That Emma-Jayne Play The Game Too...


The time for game-playing was soon over and after a brief chat with Mr. Black both riders got ready to ride their horses. Southdale is a big colt and not the easiest to climb aboard. You can watch the video below and see for yourself.

Riders Up!


As we moved towards the track, I asked Bowen about the motives behind today's workout.

JB - It depends how far out you are. The majority of people work three, four or five furlongs but it all depends. If you have a route horse, working three eights does really nothing for him because they are used to going so much further. So you tend to work routers five eighths. Some work them even three quarters. We never work three quarters that's just personal training style. In our opinion, horses go to the pole so strong and gallop out so strong that they're really working three quarters, or even more, when you work five eighths.

TDH: Do you expect a fast workout from Southdale today?

JB: He's going to have a good work. When we work a horse in company we're looking for him to show something. With him being so time-pressed to go to the Plate we really have to get the most out of his works right now. We can't afford a lazy workout or an off day. Maybe closer to the race, maybe the last one before the Plate, we'll look for a little maintenance work to open up his lungs but right now he has to work.

TDH: Why have you chosen Bright Pick as a running mate?

JB: He's going to work with a nice older horse named Bright Pick. We know his pace well and we know what we'll get with Bright Pick pace wise and it benefits Bright Pick as well.

With that we were at the track and ready for the workout. Emma-Jayne took Southdale out to the finish line and let him stand and watch the other horses work for awhile. Bowen believes this experience of being around the other horses is valuable education that will help calm the horse on race day.

The workout went as expected. Gaskin moved Bright Pick to the lead and Southdale chased. When they made the turn for home, Southdale began to eat up the ground between the horses in long smooth strides and soon he was beyond Bright Pick and full of run opening up lengths. The result was a bullet work of five furlongs in 59.40, galloping out in 10.80. Fast fractions that made everyone involved very happy.

After The Workout - Southdale and Emma-Jayne Return


TDH: What did you think of the workout?

JB: He took on a nice older quality horse and pretty much did what he wanted with him there. He came to him on the turn and went right by him. He got his leads which is important. Overall we're happy.

TDH: What do you like about his leads?

JB: At certain points on the track horses are supposed to be on certain leads. You'll see horses run on the wrong lead all the time and it's just better if they get their leads properly. it helps with their overall performance. Usually when a horse switches leads they hit another gear and when Southdale switches leads he goes into them quite powerfully and usually accelerates quite a bit. It's the difference between having a fourth gear and fifth gear.


In just a few short minutes on the track Southdale's work for the day was done and it was time to be pampered.

Sudsy Southie Soaks Up The Sun!


Southdale Clearly Loving Bath Time!


Rinsed and Ready For A Little More Stretching


Bath Time Video Shows The Sheer Size of Southdale


I'll leave the last words regarding the workout to a mini-interview with jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson.

TDH: How was his work today?

EJW: He was great. Every breeze that he's done since hes been here, Ian has set it up with a horse to chase, to follow and relax in behind then kick on down the lane. You can see the affect in his race. He did the exact same thing.

TDH: Do you have to ask him to run?

EJW: He's always ready to go! He's always looking to kick on. He's still a little green, has a few things to learn, he's a little inexperienced but on sheer talent alone he's a good horse.

TDH: With Southdale's next race being a mile and an eighth, do you have any concerns about the distance?

EJW: I don't think it will even be a question. He's been training all winter so he's fit and he's shown he's good enough to go the distance. I have no doubt that with any distance, he'll handle it just fine.

Next up for Southdale: A workout in one weeks time. Until then, Southdale will be galloping with Val and hopefully treating Aline well. And somewhere, amidst all the rush and rigour of working a horse, Mr. Black is watching quietly, taking notes and pointing another young colt towards the Queen's Plate.