Julia Brimo's Visit With Eibar Coa And The Fight Against Gravity

A year ago, I wrote a story about a little bolt of energy named Julia Brimo. When I visited Brimo at Toronto Rehab's Lyndhurst Centre, she was just six weeks removed from surgery to fuse together vertebrae damaged when she fell from Golden Stride, who had clipped heels during a race at Keeneland.

Brimo was battered, bruised and broken...but only physically. Her spirit could not have been stronger. As we spoke in the atrium of the rehab facility with her sister Alicia and friend Sean Hall, I was overwhelmed by her will and determination to get better. She was generous in sharing her story and positivity with me and recently she imparted some of that good spirit to her fellow jockey Eibar Coa who is recovering from a terrible accident in a February 18th race at Gulfstream Park.

Julia Brimo visits with Eibar Coa

(Photo courtesy of the Julia Brimo Facebook Page)

"It was great to see him," said Brimo over the phone from Kentucky. "He’s going through some stuff that I went through. I can relate to what he’s going through and he could ask me questions and I’m just so glad that I went."

Brimo, who was once a Woodbine regular and won a Sovereign Award as the nation's top apprentice in 2003, warms up recalling her meeting with Coa.

"The look on his face when he saw me...that was pricless," said Brimo. "I’ve known Coa since 2003 and I remember when I came to Canada in June, I went to the track, to the jock’s room...and he actually came in and rode a horse that day. He said, 'here’s my number, if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to call me'."

It was a goodwill gesture from a veteran rider to reach out to a younger colleague and the sincerity of the effort resonated with Brimo.

"When I heard he got hurt, I was in the Caymans. I located his agent and told him I wanted to come and see him. He didn’t know I was coming but when I walked into his room the look on his face was wow…," whooshed Brimo with a laugh.

Brimo spending her winter in the Cayman Islands sounds restful, but it was a working vacation.

"I did some more water therapy," said Brimo."I did a lot of running in the ocean and all that fun stuff."

When I last spoke with Brimo, she was busy inspiring her fellow patients in the less exotic locale of the Lyndhurst Centre in chilly Toronto. In my story, I wrote of her determination to learn to walk again.

"At first I would take about five steps and my legs would shake and I’d have to sit down,” says Brimo. “They put a belt around me real tight and someone behind me would hold the belt and so if I go to fall they have me. I just kept on walking. I pushed myself a lot harder than they wanted me to.”

Brimo kept pushing and now she leads a daily post parade of inpatients.

"I inspired people here,” laughs Brimo.

“I’m walking around every night and do laps around the ward and so many people now want to do it too. They’re going to their therapist saying they want to walk as well. I’m setting up my own walking or wheeling club. People come up to me and say, ‘I stood up today’.”

Julia with her sister Alicia at Lyndhurst Centre


(Photo courtesy of the Julia Brimo Facebook Page)

I asked Brimo if Coa shared her determination for recovery.

"Yes, he’s hard headed," laughs Brimo. "It’s funny, we went to one of his physio classes and they said to me, 'can you tell him to have more patience and relax'. And I was like, 'you buy that here?' I said 'No, that’s what got me where I am so I can't tell him that'."

And where Brimo is at is pretty good. She continues to work hard at her therapy every day. Her 'Julia Brimo Get Well Card' Facebook page includes smiling photos with friends and even a video of her new and improved golf swing. She is stronger and healthier than when we last met. However, a lack of mobility in her right arm means she is not quite at the end of her recovery just yet, so she has to keep working.

"This part is hard. It’s the longest stretch I’ve ever had to ride," said Brimo. "I still can’t raise my right arm above my head but I can do a lot of things easier now than I could two months ago. There’s always a little bit of improvement and it’s that last little bit that I need."

It is incredible that Brimo, who a little more than a year ago could not sit up for more than three minutes at a time, is now approaching a full recovery. She is so determined to meet her goal that she is currently in Kentucky weighing the option of a nerve transplant.

"It could give me full mobility. That’s what I’m hoping for," said Brimo. "I can raise my right arm above my head with the help of my other arm, but I can’t do it on my own. If I’m standing up I can’t do it, but laying down I can. Against gravity certain parts are working and certain parts are missing so I’m seeing if this surgeon can help me."

That Brimo is battling gravity fills me with sympathy for the force of attraction between all masses in the universe. There's just no quit in this jock.

"I think it will be a little bit intense as I’m going to have go back to where I was," she said, realizing yet another rehabilitation to come. "But in the long run if I get 80% back I’m for it. I just look at the positives and, hey, you regret the things you don’t do."

In the meantime, Brimo continues to live her life to the fullest, which includes getting back on a horse.

"I rode Friday at Ocala," said Brimo. "I was on (Woodbine trainer) Ricky Griffith’s pony in Ocala at Classic Mile. I’m glad I went too. At first my body was like ‘what’s this’ but the more I went riding the better it got."

Getting back on the horse


(Photo courtesy of the Julia Brimo Facebook Page)

And as for that visit with her 'hard headed' friend?

"I think it was pretty helpful for both of us," said Brimo. "I have no doubt that he will have full recovery."

* * *

For a look at Coa's incredible recovery, check out this video compiled by a local news station showing Coa working out and at a golfing fundraiser.

My original piece on Julia is nominated as Outstanding Feature Story at Friday's Sovereign Awards gala which will be broadcast live via streaming video at 8:30PM EST. I hope I win or I'll have Julia to answer to!

For a full listing of the 2010 Sovereign Award nominees, I invite you to review my earlier post, Photo Essay: The 2010 Sovereign Award Nominees.

I will be Tweeting results for all categories live from the event, so if you haven't already, click this link to follow me on Twitter. As always, you can keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page.

Video Overload: Rahy's Attorney, Black Caviar, Kentucky Derby Preps and the Dubai World Cup

Rahy's Attorney topped a trio of Canadian-bred horses competing in stakes races south of the border this weekend when he captured the twelve furlong Pan American Stakes in runaway fashion under jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson. In other races, Elite Alex and Inglorious finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby and Fair Ground Oaks respectively.

Rahy's Attorney wins the 2011 Pan American at Gulfstream Park


The Pan American had no shortage of Canadian content as second place finisher, Musketier (GER), is trained by Woodbine-based Roger Attfield and the third-place finisher, Prince Will I Am, is conditioned by Canadian-born Michelle Niehi. Pool Play, another Woodbine-based animal for trainer Mark Casse, finished fifth.

The seven-year-old Rahy's Attorney came into the race off a strong second-place showing in the Mac Diarmida and was comfortable stalking the early pace of Beckham Bend. Emma-Jayne Wilson, riding Rahy's Attorney for the first time, was composed in her familiar aerodynamic crouch as she guided the Crown Attorney gelding through relatively quick fractions of :24.41, :48.12, 1:12.12, and 1:37.17 as the rest of the field followed several lengths behind. Turning into the stretch, the field caught up to the leaders only for Rahy's Attorney to find another gear accelerating away from the pack in grand style. The Blood-Horse reported, Veteran Rahy's Attorney Takes Pan American:

“I’ve watched this horse run many times at Woodbine and was very confident in him today,” Wilson said. “One thing Ian Black told me that was really profound to me was he said ‘Rahy runs the entire stretch at Woodbine.’ That’s a three-eighths-mile stretch. I knew the horses were going to have to do some running to get by us and they didn’t.”

...

"He’s been a good horse at middle distances throughout his career, including a grade I win at Woodbine (Woodbine Mile in 2008),” Black said. “He’s seven years old and we thought we’d try him in the longer races this season. “He’ll spend the spring at Keeneland. I don’t know whether we’ll run him in that race at the end of the meet (Sycamore Stakes), but there will be plenty of opportunities for him up north during the season (Woodbine).”

The Ellen Boje Farm home bred, who is also owned in part by Read Peters, and Jean and Jim MacLellan, has set the bar high for the rest of the turf stars congregating in trainer Ian Black's barn. Black will certainly be relishing the upcoming Woodbine turf schedule when he can turn loose his other turf monsters, Fifty Proof and Stormy Lord.

Rahy's Attorney just keeps on winning

* * *

Canadian-bred Elite Alex struggled through a terrible trip in the Louisiana Derby rallying to a fourth-place finish in a race won by Pants On Fire. The favoured Mucho Macho Man was edged out by Nehro for place.

Mucho Macho Man has his excuses for not winning the event having lost a shoe leaving the starting gate. Elite Alex also suffered a difficult trip racing dead last throughout along the rail under jockey Calvin Borel. While the pace was quick enough, there was simply too much work to be done and rather than take the Bo-rail to the wire, Elite Alex was fanned into the middle of the track turning for home losing plenty of ground. The Afleet Alex colt is not yet nominated for the Queen's Plate but he would be the race favourite off of this effort.

It was announced on Sunday that both Pants On Fire and Mucho Macho Man are headed to the Kentucky Derby.

Pants On Fire burns to victory in the Louisiana Derby

* * *

Ontario-bred filly Inglorious, trained by Josie Carrol for the Donver Stable, went to post as the 6-5 favourite in the Fair Ground Oaks but failed to fire under regular rider Chantal Sutherland finishing fourth in a race won by Daisy Devine. The Blood-Horse reports Daisy Devine Plucks Fair Ground Oaks:

Inglorious, the 6-5 favorite, was away last from the far outside as Grandacious, gunning from the rail, took the early lead over Daisy Devine. The pace -- :24.21 for the opening quarter-mile, :48.50 for the half and 1:13.14 for six furlongs -- was a slow one as Grandacious showed the way into a strong head wind on the backstretch with Daisy Devine drafting behind her. Midway on the final bend, Daisy Devine ranged up on the outside to get control at the top of the lane and opened up a two-length advantage by mid-stretch. Under enthusiastic handling from Graham, she dug down to hold off the late-running St. John's River and Kent Desormeaux in the final furlong by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:44.25 on a fast track.

Daisy Devine wins the Fair Grounds Oaks. Inglorious finishes fourth

* * *
Sneaking under the radar last Wednesday was a sharp second place finish by BC-bred Ladner Lad in the $50K Portland Mile Handicap won by Deacon Speakin'. Ladner Lad was bred by Ralph Jesiak and is owned and trained by Philip Hall. To watch the race, click into this Blood-Horse results link.

* * *

For readers who haven't been paying attention to the southern hemisphere, a five year-old mare named Black Caviar is the centre of attention in
Australia having recently won her eleventh consecutive race. The Herald Sun says, We love her, but Black Caviar bound for a bigger stage:

Now it is time for Sydney to take a look. Then Brisbane. Then back to Melbourne for the spring and then, just maybe, the world starting with Hong Kong in December. That's the way it should be. Soon enough she will be the Australian Horse of the Year and the world's highest rated galloper. Soon enough she will have a rest after (most likely) seven Group 1 and two Group 2 wins. The world deserves to see her. She is simply too good for sprinters on these shores. She is scaring off opposition - or beating the same horses with ruthless arrogance - and she is no longer a betting proposition.

The gorgeous mare is drawing a huge crowd to the track with each start and she has developed a fan base on Twitter where folks from all over the world stay up late, or get up early, to watch her race. Enjoy the below races that demonstrate the speed and grace of Black Caviar.

Black Caviar makes it 11 for 11 in the William Reid Stakes

Black Caviar winning the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington

* * *

This was a frantic weekend of horse racing on all fronts. Not only were there a plethora of Kentucky Derby prep races, but Saturday morning offered racing fans the majesty of the Dubai World Cup. Needless to say, the Twitterverse was the place to be as racing fans across the continents congregated to commentate on the celebrations. With deadlines rapidly approaching for this writer for a variety of publications, I'll let the following race videos do the work!!

Twice The Appeal wins the 2011 Sunland Derby


Animal Kingdom wins the 2011 Vinery Spiral


Victoire Pisa wins the 2011 Dubai World Cup


Presvis wins the 2011 Dubai Duty Free


Rewilding wins the 2011 Dubai Sheema Classic


Rocketman wins the Dubai Golden Shaheen


Khawlah (Ire) becomes the first filly to win the UAE Derby


Skysurfers wins the 2011 Godolphin Mile


J J The Jet Plane wins the Al Quoz Sprint


* * *

There are plenty of Woodbine trainers keeping busy in the off season so why not click into my Entries/Results page.

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

Photo Essay: Woodbine Backstretch Warming Up

With only ten days remaining until the start of the Woodbine meet, I enjoyed an early Tuesday morning on the backstretch getting caught up with some of the returning athletes and their handlers. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was shining - - which means these photos will likely be in stark contrast to the snowy weather expected to hit Woodbine on Wednesday.

(As always, you can double-left click on the image to enlarge it to full size and then use your "Back" button" to return to the photo essay.)

A brisk, but sunny, Woodbine backstretch shortly after 7AM


Gather 'round everyone...


Just another beautiful backstretch morning


A close shave!


It's a Kevin Attard stable exactor by a neck...


I got your back...


I feel a growing distance between us


Here's Kara's Orientation - one of the top claims of 2010 he went on to finish second in the Canadian Derby and Toronto Cup


The chase is on...


Outrider Rob Love and the speedy Grouch oversee the action


Time to head inside and make some new friends


And also say hello to old friends like Skippy


Say hello to Incredicat!


He's by Discreet Cat from the same dam (Lady Auchamore) as Toronto Cup winner Stormy Lord. See the resemblance?


Here's a shot of Stormy Lord aka Chihuahua in his stall last year


Tall in the saddle on a half to Twisted Wit


Are you ready to rock? Here's a Rockport Harbour two-year-old to be named Rockmebaby


It was an abbreviated mid-week visit but a much needed day around the horses. With only ten days remaining until the Woodbine meet begins, you can keep track of all the latest workouts by clicking this link.

* * *

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter. Check out the latest Tweets in the top right corner of this blog. The Tweets often link to breaking stories.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

News and Notes: Chantal, Hastings and Irish Eyes Not Smiling

Chantal Sutherland announced on Thursday that she would be riding full time at Santa Anita this season.

Good luck Chantal!


The decision is not surprising following Sutherland's breakthrough victory in the Big Cap aboard Game On Dude. Steve Anderson filed a report for the Daily Racing Form:

Sutherland, 35, said on Thursday that the win in the Big Cap was a contributing factor in her decision, which she reached after consulting with her agent, Brian Beach. In past seasons, Sutherland has ridden in Southern California from mid-December to late March before returning to her native Canada.

“It’s exciting,” Sutherland said. “It’s been a personal goal to ride here year-round. The opportunity, in my heart, says this is the year to try it.”

Sutherland won 136 races at Woodbine in 2010, good for third in the standings behind Eurico Rosa da Silva (190) and Patrick Husbands (172), including a meet-leading 18 stakes victories. Her final stakes victory at Woodbine was aboard Inglorious in the Ontario Lassie Stakes on closing day. Sutherland will ride Inglorious in the Fair Ground Oaks on March 26th, a race that sees the pair get a second crack at Kathmanblu who beat them to the wire in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in February. A date in the Kentucky Oaks awaits further down the road.

Will Luis Contreras take over where Chantal left off?


The absence of Sutherland at Woodbine opens up a lot of mounts for the strong Woodbine colony and it will be interesting to watch the agents get busy working the phones as a number of jocks are more than capable of stepping up. Luis Contreras made a name for himself in 2010 winning 127 races from 675 starts, while Justin Stein (58 wins) had a strong campaign steering the Ian Black charge Fifty Proof through a variety of graded events including a second place finish in the Northern Dancer. Emma-Jayne Wilson won 70 races in an injury shortened campaign and has worked hard over the winter at Parx and Gulfstream to be back in peak shape for the new season. Eclipse Award winning apprentice Omar Moreno (126 wins) will also be looking to prove himself as a journeyman as the 2011 campaign begins.

Emma-Jayne Wilson is always happiest in the winners circle


Consideration must also be given to new jockeys that might decide to follow the influx of American trainers to the valuable slots-infused purses at Woodbine. Click on this link to see the stats for Leading Jockeys at Woodbine in 2010.

* * *

Hastings Racecourse in B.C is making a big play for the consumer dollar by lowering takeout to just 15% for win, place, show, pick four and pick five wagers in an inspired move by General Manager Raj Mutti. The new pick five wager, which has been a success at Gulfstream Park this winter, will also feature a carryover component. Bill Finley penned the following piece for ESPN, At Hastings, The Player Is King:

Whether it's with on-track or simulcast bettors, Mutti wants people to know that Hastings is doing something different and trying to offer the customer a better value than he or she could get most anywhere else. He knows that a small track like Hastings can easily get lost among the glut of simulcasting signals. This year, he hopes to make his track stand out from the crowd.

"Our ideal goal is a 10 percent increase in handle at the meet," he said. "We are hopeful for 10, but are realistically thinking we will have, maybe, a 5 percent bump. We are going to do a lot of work promoting and advertising the takeout decrease to the players, so players are more aware of the Hastings product. It's not a product that has been promoted much throughout North America over the last few years so we're trying to get it back on the horseplayer's radar screen. We want them to know it is a good product with good-sized fields and good value."

Those looking for a refresher on Hastings jocks as they plan their wagers might want to check out their recent press release that booms, RICHARD HAMEL WILL HAVE HIS WORK CUT OUT IN DEFENDING LAST YEAR’S LEADING RIDER TITLE:

In the past five seasons at Hastings Racecourse there have been four jockeys capture the leading rider title. Richard Hamel is the defending 2010 champ; Fernando Perez won it in 2009; Mario Gutierrez was on top of the heap in 2008 and 2007; Pedro Alvarado laid claim to the championship in 2006.

All four are back with a vengeance...

The Hastings meet begins on April 16th.

* * *

While many raised a glass on Thursday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the BBC chose to post a depressing, and distressing, video/article on the effect that the recession in Ireland is having on their thoroughbred industry. It's well worth clicking on this link to watch the video interview with trainer Terry Hogan who speaks candidly about the changes he has witnessed first hand. Rebecca Morelle's piece is entitled, Irish racehorses led to slaughter as recession bites:

To keep up with this new demand, thoroughbreds - a breed of horse used specifically for racing - were being produced at an unprecedented rate: between 2000 and 2007, the number of registered foals increased from 8,793 to 12,633.

But these horses are expensive, costing approximately 17,000 euros (£15,000) a year to keep.

And when Ireland plunged into one of the deepest recessions to hit the eurozone, they became a luxury very few could afford.

Mr Hogan, who is based in Nenagh, County Tipperary, explains: "Quite a lot of those horses would have been owned by syndicates - basically blocklayers, carpenters, electricians - people involved in the big property boom. And they just disappeared overnight."

Suddenly he was left with horses, but with no money coming in from their owners to pay for them.

It has been a very difficult time, he says. Some of these horses have had to be exported, others retrained, and a few he has kept on himself. Some, though, have had to be put down.

It should be this easy


The video is heartbreaking as Hogan essentially suggests that it's more humane to euthanize the animals than see them go to homes that might mistreat them. It's not even close to the first story of its kind to come out of Ireland in the past few months. A New York Times piece in December screamed, Hardships of a Nation Push Horses Out to Die which depicts the plight of the horse in a weakened economy. The story of the downfall of the Celtic Tiger is best told in this Michael Lewis piece for Vanity Fair, When Irish Eyes Are Crying.

Times are tough


Stories like this remind me how important it is that the industry give back to their retired equine stars and that we should support the success of organizations like the Woodbine-based LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society. Those readers that have cashed a bet recently and are feeling a bit generous can donate to LongRun via the PayPal widget in the right-hand margin of this blog.

Be generous to our retired stars


* * *

I cannot possibly end this post on such a dour note so I'll sign off with a link to the best horse racing story I've read thus far in 2011. After reading the above pieces about the horses of Ireland, you'll be moved from tears of heartache to tears of joy with the following words by Steve Haskin who takes readers on a trip down memory lane with Alysheba in a piece named, Sheba, Joe, and J P:

I can remember the image like it was yesterday. And why not? I saw it enough times. The handsome bay colt, his regally arched neck so low you could swear he was looking between his legs. And those strides: smooth and effortless, always reaching out for more ground. Before the term “in the zone” became popular, Alysheba was in the zone every day of his racing life. When he moved, he was sheer poetry, like a Richard Stone Reeves painting come to life. When he broke off into a gallop and began arching that neck he captured the essence of the Thoroughbred in motion in all its beauty and grandeur.

On his back, in perfect harmony with the magnificent steed beneath him, was 38-year-old Joe Petalino, the right-hand man of Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg. Petalino, on the surface, was the quiet type, with not a heck of a lot to say. He left the verbal tapestry to Van Berg, who had a bag full of aphorisms about every aspect of life, and applied almost every one of them to racing. Van Berg was the first person I ever heard use the expression “Time only matters when you’re in jail.”

Alysheba wins the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic in the dusk


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There are plenty of Woodbine trainers keeping busy in the off season so why not click into my Entries/Results page. (Good luck to Scott Fairlie and Milwaukee Appeal in the Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday!)

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter. (Honestly, if you're not on Twitter, you're missing out...by the time a news story is linked in a blog it's old news!)

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

Gentleman Mac Benson Takes An Early Retirement

Mac Benson retired from the world of horse racing at just 80 years of age following the end of the 2010 Woodbine campaign. In the early 1940s, while fighter planes circled the skies in Europe, a younger Mac dreamed of speeding in circles on the back of feisty thoroughbreds.

“We had a few old horses when I was a kid and the bug just really bit me hard,” recalls Benson of his childhood in Wilmington, Delaware. “I galloped horses in the morning before I went to school. When I was 12 or 13 the war was on, so I got chances that maybe I wouldn’t have gotten because there was such a shortage of help. I was just a kid with a bike and I’d ride five miles to get to someplace that I could ride a horse.”

Arravale, conditioned by Mac Benson, wins the G1 Del Mar Oaks

Embedded via the Arravale Racing YouTube Channel

He quickly graduated from riding on two wheels to four legs and before his twentieth birthday had dipped a toe in both oceans.

“I exercised horses. I went from one coast to the other for Foxcatcher Farms, which was owned by Willie DuPont for many years,” explains Benson.

When you’ve been in racing for fifty plus years, it’s safe to say you’ve seen a fair bit of history.

“I galloped a horse years ago for Willie DuPont named Rose Beam who was a real nice horse. He was by Blenheim II out of Roseretter,” recalls Benson of the durable sort who won 23 races in 107 starts and more than $100K in a lengthy career that spanned from 1947 to 1955. “I even galloped a son of Man O’ War. He was an older horse used as a stallion but we kept him under tack to keep him fit.”

Benson would take out his trainer's permit in 1958 and after initially working for Foxcatcher, he would branch out on his own with a public stable racing in Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. Benson not only lived through history, he would eventually help create it as head trainer for prolific Windfields Farm. However, Benson would be the first to admit that he was struggling in 1976 when Taylor's chief executive, Joe Thomas, asked him if he was interested in taking some horses for Windfields.

“No use kiddin’ about it, I wasn’t raising heck in the states!” exclaimed Benson.

Benson arrived in Canada in 1978, fourteen years after Windfields had won the Queen’s Plate with the legendary Northern Dancer. With the help of his partner and assistant, Barb Przedrzymirska, the American-born trainer with the Scottish sounding name helped the famous Canadian outfit to another handful of Guineas as Regal Embrace, under jockey Sandy Hawley, shocked the favoured Overskate. The big horse was fondly known as ‘Moose’.

“He was big, but he was a runner,” recalls Benson.

Moose proved to have a lot of speed, making his first start as a three year-old in a rather short race considering the long-term goal of winning the Plate. It was a debut that shocked E.P Taylor’s farm manager Joe Thomas.

“When I ran him four and a half furlongs at Greenwood, Joe said, ‘you’re crazy’, but he won,” laughs Benson. “Joe couldn’t believe he could win that and he did so in an exceptionally fast time.”

Regal Embrace raced his way through three more allowance starts at Woodbine. In his final prep for the Queen’s Plate, Regal Embrace would race a mile and an eighth just one week before the big event. This time it was Thomas who concocted the unorthodox plan.

“Joe liked the idea of running a week before the plate,” says Benson. “He felt if you ran two or three weeks before the Plate then you’d have to do something major with your horse before the Plate. Whereas if you run him a week before, you can practically walk him to the Plate.”

Intent on knocking off the heavy favourite, Benson and Thomas made note of an unusually speedy Woodbine surface on the day of the Plate and cornered their young jockey.

“Joe and I went to see Sandy in the jock’s room. We came up with the idea that there wasn’t much speed in there,” drawls Benson. “He had an outside post and if he made the front easy, Sandy could use his own judgment. Sandy was an exceptionally good rider and with the horses inside of him he could see what was going on. We told him, ‘if you’re on the front fine, just use the horse as you see comfortable’.

Sandy Hawley was a winner for Mac Benson


Hawley could not have been more comfortable.

“They came out of there and this horse just galloped on to the front and Sandy rated him real well and when everybody started to make their move, he made his move a good bit earlier and had the jump on them,” states Benson. “And it turned out right. Overskate was the horse to beat and he was coming on like gangbusters but he just couldn’t get to us.”


Seven years later, Benson would return to the Queen’s Plate with another horse of gigantic proportions - - the filly La Lorgnette who, at 17.1 hands, towered over her competition.

“Even as a two year-old she showed tremendous talent. She was a big gangly two year-old and I’ve got pictures of her winning the Natalma and if you look at it head on it looks like two horses running at you her legs were running in such directions,” laughs Benson.

La Lorgnette was prone to colic and struggled with her health over the winter. But as the 1985 season commenced, the Val De L’orne miss was soon back in training with Benson and her perfect partner, gentle jockey David Clark. The journeyman jock had earned a reputation as a nurturing type with two year-olds and he meshed well with the hot filly.

Even after winning the Oaks, La Lorgnette was not expected to prevail in the Plate over an intimidating 3-to-5 entry – a daunting triple-team of Sam-Son Farms horses – Imperial Choice, Dauphin Fabuleux and In My Cap. But the big filly took the lead along the backstretch under an astute read by Clark. The jockey, sitting high aboard the big filly, held on for dear life as La Lorgnette rumbled down the stretch to earn the honours.

Ice Bear in the Woodbine walking ring under the watchful eye of Benson and Chantal Sutherland


As Windfields faded from the racing picture in the 1990s, Benson branched out to work with other owners including George Strawbridge and Robert Costigan. It soon became apparent that the trainer had a way with the ladies as Benson made headlines overseeing a pair of Costigan runners, Inish Glora and Arravale.

“It was fortuitous on my part,” recalls Costigan of his association with Benson. “I had some horses at Windfields and Mac was E.P. Taylor’s trainer. I had a nice mare that had run a couple of times in Vancouver and moved to race in Toronto.”

That nice mare was Inish Glora who, as a five year-old, was transferred to Benson’s care at Woodbine in 2003 where she would flourish despite a tumultuous beginning.

“Most people did not realize that in February of that year she had fractured her pelvis in an unfortunate paddock incident, but he was able to get her back on track and this was reflective of his skill as a horseman and a hall of fame horseman,” states Costigan.

Under patient handling, Inish Glora was nursed back to health and won three races highlighted by the G2 Canadian Handicap. The mare was honoured as Canada’s Champion Female Turf horse for her efforts. The mare maintained her match fitness under Benson and would capture the same Sovereign Award a year later thanks to victories in the G2 Nassau and Victoriana Stakes. She remains the only repeat winner of the award.

Benson continued his winning ways with the Costigan filly Arravale. Just like La Lorgnette did years earlier, Arravale would capture the Natalma. However, it was as a three year-old that the filly would flourish into a turf prodigy winning a pair of Grade 1 events, the Del Mar Oaks and the prestigious E.P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.

“The greatest race to win though was the E.P Taylor Stakes,” recalls Benson. “Judy Mappin, who is the daughter of E.P Taylor, presented the trophy and it was the last year she was there to present and that was quite a thrill.”

Arravale wins the E.P Taylor Stakes

Embedded via the Arravale Racing YouTube Channel

Arravale would win double honours in 2006 as Canada’s Champion Turf Female and notably as Horse of the Year and Benson’s part in the process is not forgotten by Arravale’s owner.

“His reputation is beyond reproach and I think it has been a wonderful career,” says Costigan. “If the horse had the ability and the will to win, Mac would get them there and to a level of fitness they would achieve to their utmost potential. It was an honour and a privilege to have horses in his barn.”

Inish Glora wins the Canadian Stakes

Embedded via the Arravale Racing YouTube Channel

Benson would end his career winning one final stakes event with the Strawbridge filly Sugar Again, but for many it is his work in the turquoise and gold colours of Windfields Farm for which he will be remembered. It seems to be the way Benson will remember his career as well.

“We have a great picture that hangs in our house of Barbara in the morning aboard La Lorgnette that the late Michael Burns took of her coming down the path at Woodbine with the sun in the background and it’s really a stunning picture. Noreen Taylor has the same picture hanging up in one of her rooms. It almost looks like a painting.”

It is a fitting work of art for a trainer who painted such broad strokes on the canvas of Canadian racing.

* * *

While Mac has retired from training, his beloved Barb will continue to train horses at Woodbine including one they own together by the name of Magical View. Mac, who obviously has an eye for good horses, might even try his luck at picking some horses for owners as well. I wish them both the best of luck.

For more on Regal Embrace, I highly recommend this Jim Coleman piece printed June 19, 1978 in the Calgary Herald entitled, Taylor has midas touch with rejects.

In the build up to the 1985 Queen's Plate, Sam-Son seem assured of winning the big one with their trio of runners Dauphin Fabuleux, Imperial Choice and In My Cap. Jack Lakey's July 15, 1985 piece for the Montreal Gazette declared Sam Son Farm should take Plate.

However, it was La Lorgnette who would win the Queen's Plate on a tragic day for Sam-Son as Dauphin Fabuleux broke a cannon bone in his right leg. The Toronto Sun filed a report on July 15, 1985 entitled, Filly prevails at Queen's Plate

In depth infomation for both Arravale and Inish Glora can be found on Carolyn Costigan's Arravale Racing website: A tribute to Inish Glora and A tribute to Arravale.

For more on Mac Benson, I point you to his trainer profile in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

2010 Queen's Plate Contenders Return To Action

With the 2011 Queen's Plate Winterbook recently released and a new Woodbine campaign set to get underway in a few short weeks, I'll soon be updating my own list of Queen's Plate contenders and providing in-depth profiles. However, it was a pair of 2010 Canadian Triple Crown runners that caught my eye in the Gulfstream entries this evening - - Brian Lynch's Prince of Wales winner Golden Moka and Roger Attfield's Mobilizer.

Mobilizer enjoying the sunshine at Woodbine


Golden Moka is entered in a one mile dirt allowance facing just five other entrants. Mike Welsch penned the following piece for the Daily Racing Form:

Golden Moka won Fort Erie’s Prince of Wales Stakes by nearly three lengths in his 3-year-old and North American debut before being a bit overmatched and finishing fifth in both the Grade 2 Super Derby and Grade 3 Discovery Handicap during the fall. Trainer Bryan Lynch had Golden Moka pointed to Calder’s Grade 3 Fred Hooper in December, only to have the son of Golden Missile fall seriously ill several weeks before the race.

“At first, we thought he was having a colic attack, but it turned out to be a perforated ulcer that had flared up,” Lynch said. “He was terribly sick but fortunately did not require surgery, although it cost us the entire month of December.”

Golden Moka has had a half-dozen works at Palm Meadows, five at five furlongs and the last at six panels, since being able to return to serious training. Lynch is eager to get his season off to a good start Wednesday.

“He’s been breezing well, and it’s time to get him back on track,” Lynch said. “If he shows in this race he’s heading in the right direction, then we’ll point toward the Alysheba.”

The race will also feature a fellow Adena Springs bred horse - Hunters Bay - who is trained by Reade Baker.

Golden Moka chillin' in his Woodbine stall


Mobilizer, yet another Adena Springs bred colt, is taking a different approach on his return to the track by switching to the turf. The son of Motivator will take on a field of twelve traveling a mile under jockey Javier Castellano. Mike Welsch must be enjoying his Canadian focus this week, having penned yet another piece for the Daily Racing Form on the Attfield trainee who failed to perform in the Queen's Plate:

“He did some muscle damage over his quarters over his back during the race and we had to put him away for quite a while,” said trainer Roger Attfield.

Mobilizer, who had finished second, beaten just a half-length, by eventual Queen’s Plate winner Big Red Mike in the Plate Trial, made all five previous starts over synthetic tracks, the last four at Woodbine. But Attfield is confident he will like the turf even better.

“I always thought he’d be a better turf horse and his pedigree suggests that as well,” said Attfield. “He’s been training extremely well up here at Payson on the grass.”

Attfield will also remove the blinkers he put on Mobilizer for the Queen’s Plate when he opens his 2011 campaign on Thursday.

“He’d run a couple of races where it looked like he would win and hung a little including the Trial, and he seemed to be a bit more aggressive, upside a horse when we worked him in blinkers before the Queens Plate,” explained Attfield. “But he’s been working so much better this year without them I see no reason to start off with them, especially since we’re really not sure in the first place whether they’ll actually help or not. I think he’s matured into a stronger, better horse than last year but you’re never really sure until the gate opens.”

Hollinger, another Attfield Plate contender from the 2010 campaign, is back working having recorded three turf works at Payson Park. The most recent effort saw the son of BLACK MINNALOUSHE breeze four furlongs in 49 flat.

Hollinger is getting back to business


A pair of Mike Keogh trainees, Artic Fern and Mobil Unit, who were factors on the 2010 Canadian Triple Crown trail are working at Aiken. The duo put up carbon copy works of four furlongs in 51 flat on March 3rd and appear to be working steadily for the 2011 campaign.

I'll keep an eye on these top horses as they make their return to Woodbine later in the meet.

I hope Artic Fern will be cleaning up at Woodbine in 2011


* * *

Chantal Sutherland is featured in the Thoroughbred Times


The Thoroughbred Times posted a quick interview with jockey Chantal Sutherland in their regular feature, Five Minutes With ...sponsored by Pin Oak Stud:

What do you think is the best racing movie?
So far, Secretariat. I think “Luck,” the new TV show that is coming out, people are really going to like it because they are trying really hard to be very accurate. I think David Milch is just brilliant

What’s on your iPod?
Right now, my two favorite songs are Adele, from her new CD 21, it’s “He Won’t Go,” and I like the new song from Bon Iver, “Skinny Love.”

What is the last book you read?
I’m reading a book right now about the cosmos and the universe; I have this weird fascination with the universe and the galaxy

What is your favorite TV show?
It’s crazy, but I kind of like “Two and a Half Men”

Did you enjoy your experience on the show ‘Jockeys’?
Yes, I did. It kind of sped up my relationship with Mike [Smith] and myself. It was hard at times, but I was very proud of the show. I think all of us jockeys worked very hard to show a beautiful side of racing that exists.

Did you feel like that show was an accurate portrayal of life as a jockey?
I think everyone was pretty real. That’s how it is and that’s how we are.

What are your best attributes as a rider?
I think I have a strong mind, I think every race well. … I work out at the gym really hard and it’s helped me be a better finisher. And I’m quiet. I try to stay out of the horse’s way and go with the flow.

Click the link above to read the quirky interview.

* * *

BC-based New Stride Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation recently hosted a successful open house and were featured in a recent edition of The Surrey Now who spoke with New Stride volunteer Kalyn Chalupa:

Chalupa currently has two horses -- Regal Isolation (aka Johnny), and Glo. Chalupa has a prospective adopter for Glo, but she's keeping Johnny, who has "paid his way," having won several races in his time.

"He just lost interest in racing," Chalupa explained. "He wasn't too old, he's only five, he just lost interest in racing and now I'm going to keep him. I think he'll be a really great show horse."

Chalupa's into jumping.

"So Johnny's going to go on to do that."

Glo is a three-year-old who came into New Stride as a yearling, after her owners weren't able to care for her.

"Many of the trainers at the racetrack, they put the well-being of the horse ahead of financial gain for themselves and will often give them to good homes," Chalupa noted.

"When they put them into the New Stride program they don't receive any money for them."

She said trainers try very hard to find new homes for these horses.

"It's a top priority for them.

New Stride Director Kim Inglis with Yoodaman


* * *

Congratulations are in order to Woodbine Entertainment Group who have won a Gold Business Award:

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) was honoured today for its commitment to corporate achievement and social responsibility with the prestigious Century International Quality ERA Gold Award for QC100 Total Quality Management. This award is presented by "Business Initiative Directions" (BID), the leader in worldwide quality culture recognition by business leaders from 49 countries representing some of the 500 most successful companies in the world.

The QC100 Total Quality Management model is a quality-centered, customer focused, team-driven, senior management-led process to achieve an organization's strategic imperatives through continuous improvement. The model allows companies to improve capability, efficiency and maximize results which lead to better decisions and reduced costs.

The award, which was presented in Geneva, Switzerland, was accepted on WEG's behalf by Jane Holmes, the company's Vice-President of Corporate Affairs.

"WEG is honoured to receive this international recognition of our business practices and corporate social responsibility ideals," said Nick Eaves, WEG's President and Chief Executive Officer. "It is a well deserved tribute to the commitment of our management team and staff to improving all aspects of our business operations."

This prestigious award, given to leaders by leaders, is sponsored by 26 media publications, all oriented towards change and market trends. These publications are focused on innovation, growing brand, technology, new products as well as business news and finance.

* * *

An important press release from Hastings Racecourse announces that they will be raising purses and LOWERING TAKEOUT for the 2011 campaign. Their press release states:

Overnight purses are increasing by 19% and stakes horses will compete for 23% more with the retooled 41-race stakes schedule. An unprecedented 15 per cent takeout for followers of Hastings racing; resulting in increased payoffs for Win, Place and Show wagering. Added to the lower WPS takeouts are the Pick 4 Wager and the newly added Pick 5 Wager which will be a jackpot-type bet. Both will feature a low 15% takeout.

That's good news for handicappers and horsemen alike.

* * *

There are plenty of Woodbine trainers keeping busy in the off season so why not click into my Entries/Results page.

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

Chantal Wins The Big 'Cap

Chantal Sutherland became the first female jockey to win the G1 Santa Anita Handicap when she steered Game On Dude through a controversial stretch run to reach the wire a nose in front of a determined Setsuko. The Bob Baffert trainee captured the ten furlong event in 1:59.47, but it took the stewards a further twelve minutes to confirm the result.

Chantal Sutherland fights to the finish along the rail

(Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

Game On Dude, favoured Twirling Candy and Setsuko turned into the stretch in close proximity and a rank Twirling Candy, between horses, clipped the hind end of Game On Dude who faltered and then recovered bumping hard into the favourite who pushed Setsuko wider. Twirling Candy who did not appear to have his usual energy on this day finished fifth.

In the videos below, you can watch the replay of the race and come to your own decision. Needless to say, there was plenty of chatter on Twitter while the stewards reviewed the tape and the great majority of Tweets said Game On Dude was coming down. When the ruling was announced that no changes would be made, The Twitterverse cried foul and the Santa Anita grandstand booed as Game On Dude entered the winners enclosure.

Chantal Sutherland and Game On Dude win the Big Cap


Santa Anita posted an interesting video (see below) of the connections on track following the race as they waited for the announcement. Candid interviews with Baffert, Sutherland and others make for compelling viewing.

Sutherland and trainer Bob Baffert post-race interview


Interesting video indeed as Blood-Horse reports that Setsuko Hurt in Rough Big 'Cap, Mandella Says:

“I said yesterday that I had no comment and I don’t want to drag the game down by saying anything now about the decision the stewards made,” Mandella said.

Mandella was critical of winning trainer Bob Baffert for "trying to talk to the other jockeys and to the stewards" during the deliberation.

“I was trying to be a gentleman and unless the trainer is claiming foul, I just don’t think it’s right that he is trying to talk to the jocks and to the stewards,” he explained.

While I might be Woodbine biased, I believe Sutherland rode an incredible race to stay on the horse when the contact occurred and showed great strength and determination to gather her mount and get to the wire first. That Game On Dude had that much left to give following the altercation was impressive.

Game On Dude paid $31.60 to win; the exactor paid $506.60; the $1 tri paid $10,325.60; and the $1 super returned $48,248.

* * *

Controversy also reigned in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados where Zoom was elevated in place of Show Me The Money. The favoured Safety Zone, ridden by Patrick Husbands for owner Eugene Melnyk, finished fifth. Jennifer Morrison was in Barbados and filed a report for the DRF:

In a rarity for the 30-year-old event, the biggest race in the Caribbean, the Barbados-based Show Me the Money, who crossed the wire first at 10-1 odds, was ruled guilty of interfering with another local, 7-2 third choice Apostle, in the early stretch of the race and was demoted to 11th place.

A pair of extreme longshot Barbados runners Bird Watch (50-1) and Charge It (45-1) filled in the second and third spots in the Garrison Savannah's premier race.

The victory by Zoom, a 12-1 shot trained by Eddie Walcott Jr., re-claimed possession of the Gold Cup by a Barbados-based horse, one year after Eugene Melnyk's Canadian-bred Sterwins won the race over American runner Bribon.

Zoom wins the 2011 Sandy Lane Gold Cup


* * *

The Wake At Noon story continues to make headlines as Bill Tallon reports that Bruno Schickedanz's suspension has been put on hold by Ontario court:

Owner Bruno Schickedanz has had an Ontario Racing Commission suspension put on hold after the Ontario Superior Court ordered a stay of a Dec. 20 ruling.

That ORC ruling had suspended Schickedanz for 12 months, commencing Jan. 1, with the last six months to be stayed.

Lawyer Peter Simm, representing Schickedanz at that ORC hearing, had obtained a stay on the condition that an appeal would be heard by March 4. That hearing did not take place as Schickedanz instead obtained the Ontario Superior Court stay.

* * *
Gail Sinclair, a former backstretch worker at Woodbine and Fort Erie, has self-published a novel by the name of No Safe Bet. The Mitchell Advocate reports, Self-published book a success story for MDHS teacher:

The story was inspired by the eight years Sinclair spent living on the backstretch of various racetracks in Ontario and the United States. "There are literally 2-3,00 people living on the backstretch at Woodbine. This book it is not one of those rags to riches stories, it is meant to have a more realistic view of racing and what it is really about and that there are more losers than winners," she said.

"Living on the backstretch is a struggle," she said, adding, "This story depicts a young woman fighting to rise in the ranks of an essentially male-driven industry during the mid-'80s. She manages to overcome an initial fear of the high-strung horses and learns that there is corruption and illegal practices in the high-stakes game of racing."

"Against her will, she becomes caught up in the immoral and illegal aspects of racing – the ability to make thousands of dollars on a single, well-placed bet – (but) she begins to fight back in an attempt to save the horses she has grown to love," she said.

For Sinclair, finally publishing the book is exciting. "It is a strange sort of exciting because it was so much work," she said.

To order the book, visit the iuniverse.com website.

* * *
Jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva is fine following a spill at Aqueduct when his mount Honeywantshermoney fell. Woodbine Entertainment's news section reports, Eurico Rosa da Silva fine after spill:

Da Silva was unseated and removed from the track on a stretcher after his mount, Honeywantshermoney, fell in the ninth race at Aqueduct on March 2. He was taken by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

“I just spoke with him and he has an ice pack on his shoulder,” said da Silva’s agent, Don Parente. “It’s just a bruise. He feels as though he’ll be ready to ride on Saturday. He said, ‘I’m feeling a lot better than I did last night.’ He’s definitely in good spirits.”

The Brazilian native, who is riding his first winter in New York, had posted nine wins from 81 mounts entering Wednesday's racing.

Get well soon Eurico!


* * *

Sensational Slam, winner of the Clarendon and Vandal at Woodbine last season, scored in the Fred “Cappy” Capossela at Aqueduct on Saturday for owner Bobby Flay. The three-year-old Ontario-bred son of Grand Slam was making his three-year-old and dirt debut for trainer Todd Pletcher who will now point the colt at the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore.

Sensational Slam surges widest to win the Fred “Cappy” Capossela at Aqueduct

(Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

Sensational Slam needed a bit of encouragement to get the job done according to jock Ramon Dominguez in this NYRA Press Release:

“Todd said to me, ‘Ramon, there should be some speed in here, but you’re going to have to ride him and you’re going to have to help him,’” said Dominguez. “Sure enough, that’s exactly the way he was. Pretty much every step of the way I had to encourage him a little bit, but when it was time to pick it up, he was there for me.”

The Capossela was the fourth start overall for Sensational Slam, who was exiting a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 With Anticipation on turf at Saratoga Race Course on September 3. Prior to that effort, the son of Grand Slam was a narrow winner of the Vandal and Clarendon at Woodbine in July.

“The horse was training well so we were optimistic, but it was the first time we had run him on the [dirt],” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “This looked like a good place to give it a try. The race unfolded like we thought it would. We thought there’d be plenty of pace, and he’s not a real ambitious horse, especially early on. I just told Ramon to let him settle, and when it came time to give him an encouraging ride.”

Sensational Slam wins the Cappy


* * *

Two other Ontario-breds, Pay No Mind and Cozy Fire, got their picture taken over the past week at Charles Town and Mountaineer respectively.

Pay No Mind, a three-year-old daughter of Survivalist bred by Garland E. Williamson, won a six and a half furlong MSW in a time of 1:23.38. To watch the race, click here.

Cozy Fire, a three-year-old Forestry filly bred by W. S. Farish, sped to victory in a four and a half furlong allowance tilt in a time of 54.08. To watch the race, click here.

* * *

There are plenty of Woodbine trainers keeping busy in the offseason so why not click into my Entries/Results page.

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

Rest In Peace

Horse racing lost one of its biggest fans when my dad passed away at home on Sunday, February 21st at the age of 78. My family lives in Northern Ireland and when my phone rang late that night, well, I knew it was not likely to be good news. My dad had been living with Alzheimer's for nearly fifteen years and, despite the illness, his passing still came as a bit of a shock. I was quite fortunate to get home for a visit late last year and spend some time with him.

My dad and I at the Belfast Zoo - thirty years on and still the same hair cut


The love of horse racing, a game where pedigree features prominently, is so often passed down from parent to child and there are few who enjoyed horse racing more than my dad. He loved nothing more than cheering on his favourite horses, especially if that horse carried a bit of Irish blood in them. Even in my dad's disease-derived absence from discussing the horses, his spirit is ever present when I'm at the track. I attend the races quite often with his best friend, Ted, and together we watch stakes named in honour of horses the three of us once watched together from the third-floor grandstand - - such as the fillies Bessarabian and La Lorgnette. Ted, an eighty-year-old Japanese man, and myself make for an odd combo but we get along famously.

Ted will tease me that my dad always bet on the favourites, which is not my recollection, as I'm pretty sure my dad only had two columns of horses - - donkeys and beauties. He was never shy to share his judgment on either, at volume, from the Woodbine grandstand.

There's no doubt that his favourite race each season was the Canadian International. We watched a number of great horses compete over the years including Nassipour, Southjet, Majesty's Prince and the Canadian champ Sky Classic. The race always featured a few horses from 'back home' and, man, did my dad love imitating the European jocks windmill style of whipping while extolling the virtues of the overseas rider. He had me convinced that a North American jockey could never win the great event and the bias lives within me to this day despite much historical evidence to the contrary.

The ill-fated Shergar wins the 1981 Epsom Derby


Through my dad I was bequeathed a love of football (soccer), snooker and the ponies. During my brief childhood stay in the tiny town of Newtownhamilton, I became a Liverpool supporter, a fan of Hurricane Higgins and pondered the fate of the great Epsom Derby winner Shergar.

The Hurricane


In 1982, when I was just eight years old, I recall my dad taking me to watch an aging and ailing George Best play for Glentoran in their centenary celebration match against Manchester United. It was a dangerous time to live in Northern Ireland and not only did we leave that match ten minutes from time to avoid the pending sectarian violence - - but our train route home was also interrupted when it was announced that Portadown train station was under a bomb threat. We spent our delay, with fellow travelers, huddled in a tiny station shack drinking watery tea from a vending machine.

Best of the bests


Returning to the safety of Canada in 1983, horse racing quickly became my top sport. It was harder then to follow football and snooker without the Internet. I can remember slowly flipping the pages of the Sunday sports section, savoring the anticipation of a Kenny Dalglish goal, while running my finger down the football results page hoping to see a positive Liverpool result. A simple 1-0 scoreline boasting, "Dalglish '68'", would put me in a great mood. However, in need of a little more substance, Woodbine Racetrack with all of its great events was only minutes from our Brampton, Ontario home and we both loved our Sunday afternoons there. Memories of my first Queen's Plate, won by Key To The Moon, became my first published piece in Woodbine's 50th Anniversary Magazine.

I feel fortunate to have such great memories of the racetrack with my dad. More fortunate still that the memories have very little to do with wagers placed or dollars won. We were there to see the horses and their riders and be with our friends. That sentimentality wins over in my writing more often than it probably should but I'm happy that I'm not kept to task to find joy in what I write - - whether it's a professional piece or just a memory resurrected free-of-charge on my blog.

Southjet won the 1986 Rothmans International despite our cheers for Swinburn


I've missed having my dad nearby as the damned disease robbed him of his memory, his voice and ultimately the connection we tried to upkeep after the family moved back home and I stayed here in Canada. The connection was there for some time but it faltered through Alzheimer's. My young brother David, bless him, used to try and feed my dad answers during awkward phone calls as the illness took hold. But Alzheimer's is unforgiving and polarizing in that it removes the memory of the afflicted and leaves those around the victim with nothing but their memories, and each other, to hold on to.

Fortunately, plenty of good has come out of these moments with my dad. He inspired me to write about the game and it's brought me great joy, new friends and some success. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to know I'm twice-nominated for a Sovereign Award and, if he were here and of good spirit, would probably be asking me for a few tips come April and the start of the Woodbine meet.

In his passing, I'm comforted that nothing more can be taken from him and that he left this world surrounded by his family. I'll miss him desperately, but I'm sure he's already found a turf course in the great beyond and, odds are, he's got a fiver on the Irish horse in the big one. I hope it's a beauty.

Rest in Peace: Robert McCalmont - Born February 18th, 1933 in Belfast, NI - Died February 21st, 2011 in Derriaghy, NI . To learn more about Alzheimer's, please visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada website.