The Ballad of Emma-Jayne Wilson and Belle Gully

When leading a horse from the paddock to the track, Emma-Jayne Wilson’s face is a picture of concentration. Few can match the intensity of the Bramalea-born jock. Belle Gully, an eight-year-old gelding of modest talents, recently benefitted from Wilson’s dogged determination when the jock tracked down her old friend in a $5K claiming race at Mountaineer.

Emma-Jayne Wilson with Belle Gully aka "Gus"



Wilson first partnered up with Belle Gully, aka Gus, at Woodbine back in 2005 when the horse was under the care of trainer Julia Carey. “Gus, he wasn't a Stakes horse by any means,” drawled Wilson. “He was just a character. He's a cool dude and I had a good connection with him. He was my buddy and I enjoyed hanging out with him.”

Unfortunately, Wilson learned in the spring of 2008 that Gus was not enjoying being a racehorse anymore.


“He was at Delaware Park running for bottoms there, which is five thousand,” explained Wilson. “I pulled up his races and watched a few. He ran a good race for five thousand finishing third in a decent start. Ten days after that they ran him back again and he ran no good. Ten days after that they ran him again and he ran last. Within four starts, ten days apart, it was like beaten thirty lengths, thirty lengths, and thirty lengths. That bothered me. You never want to see a horse running that low and not being competitive. So, that's when I got the idea of seeing what I could do to help retire him.”



In the spring of 2008, a friend of Wilson went to Delaware Park and stopped in to see the listed trainer of Belle Gully to inquire about retiring the animal. The friend was advised that Gus had been retired.

"From what I could tell he was retired and gone to a good home,” said Wilson. “Julia (Carey) and I talked about it, thought it was a good thing, and we left it alone."

After ten months of inactivity, Belle Gully’s name popped up on the Equibase watch list of a Woodbine groom well known locally as Big John. The groom, one of many with a soft spot for Gus, immediately alerted Wilson.

“I was so disappointed,” stated Wilson. “This time he was at Mountaineer and a lot of the trainers there will work off a farm and then ship in for a workout to make them eligible for racing. Who knows how long he had been training. He breezed half a mile and was entered in a race."

As expected, the race did not go well and Gus finished last.

"He ran two or three times until I was able to get him,” said Wilson. “I was on a mission, where before I was casually looking into it. But now I saw this horse back in training and I really wanted to get a hold of him. It was urgent for me."

Wilson blurs down the backstretch


Wilson got in touch with Bobby Pion, a Woodbine trainer who was in Virginia racing horses at Mountaineer. Pion attempted to buy Belle Gully from his new trainer but was turned down flat.

“She said she wasn't interested,” said Wilson incredulously. “That the horse was just unfit. After being beaten thirty lengths for five thousand dollars at Mountaineer and that he would win next time.”

Gus raced once more but never threatened finishing well back. It was the first time Belle Gully had beaten a horse in five races as one horse finished behind him.

“I wasn't worried about Belle Gully because I knew his personality and figured that was just Gus,” laughed Wilson. “He was just running a little bit and then pulling up cause he was smarter than the average bear.”

At Wilson’s urging, Pion was able to get in contact with Belle Gully’s owner and arranged to purchase Wilson’s fortunate friend.

“We got him for a price well more than he was truly worth as a racehorse, but to me it wasn’t a matter of how much money it was, it was a matter of getting a hold of him,” admitted Wilson. “Bobby (Pion) made a deal with the stewards and then he sold the horse to me.”

Wilson was quick to point out that she received the horse in good order.

“The people had taken good care of him. He had a good coat, good weight on him, his feet were taken care of and he looked happy still,” said Wilson. “I can understand why they thought he still wanted to be a racehorse. He's an active little dude, always on the march.

Emma-Jayne checking out the turf pedigree of D's Wando


The son of Maria’s Mon, out of Belle Dancer, retired with a record of 43-4-6-6 and earnings of $98,653 – nearly $40K more than he was originally purchased for as a yearling. Belle Gully now happily marches about the fields of his new home on Wilson’s farm, far from the rigors of the racetrack.

“I've thrown the tack on him a few times just to bebop around and go on a walkabout or a little trail ride,” laughed Wilson. “You know, just walking about eating grass. I have a funny feeling he'll find another job whether it's as a lead pony at Woodbine or maybe a trail horse. He just needs to be re-educated. For now, I'm just letting him be a horse up at the farm.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson and D's Wando hangin' out


For Wilson, the beat goes on and the successful journeywoman looks forward to making new equine friends.

“It's always good to be around good horses, and when I say good horses, I mean horses that try hard whether it’s claimers or million-dollar Stakes horses,’ clarified Wilson. “The million-dollar Stakes horses are nice to be around because they're true competitors with lots of ability and heart but there’s also those cheaper horses that may not have been blessed with as much ability but they have just as much heart. I just want to ride good horses be around good competitive animals and just keep trucking.”

*As published in the current edition of Down The Stretch newspaper