Hoss Talk

   Who is Rob the vet?
   
   During her career as a jockey at Hastings Park, there was hardly a morning that April (Gilchrist) Friesen would not hear an announcement over the loud speaker asking for ``Rob the vet'' to go to a trainer's barn.
   
   Hearing trainers often ask, ``Has anyone seen Rob the vet?'' was something she'll never forget.

   ``Nobody knew his last name,'' said Friesen from Woodbine racetrack in Toronto.
   
   One morning, she tracked down veterinarian Rob Leakos, the person who the messages were intended for, and told him that -- one day -- she was going to name a horse after him.
   
   She lived up to her promise three years ago. Friesen bought Nearly Precious, a mare in foal, for $1000.
   
   The following year, she bred her mare back to stallion Baron de Veax, and named the resulting colt Rob the Vet.
   
   ``I was having a hard time keeping my riding weight down and decided to retire from being a jockey. I made the decision to go to Woodbine racetrack as an assistant to trainer Robbie King,'' Friesen said.
   
   At Woodbine, she acquired an owner's licence and gave up her rider's permit.
   
   ``My only horse was Rob the Vet. I was his groom and exerciser. If I could have ridden him in races, I would have. I left the training to Robbie.''
   
   In his first start, Rob the Vet won easily and brought home $14,580. In his next start, he finished second.
   
   Last Saturday, he was victorious for the third time in six starts on the year and has now netted $89,545 for his owner.
   
   Has Rob the Vet changed Friesen's life?
   
   ``He sure has. He bought me a car, and paid for airline tickets for my daughters and myself to return to Vancouver last week. Rob the Vet has helped pay off all my bills and given giving me a chance to finally have money in the bank,'' she said.
   
   Oh, and yes, at Hastings Park you can still hear those calls for``Rob the Vet'' each day.
   
   SPIRIT UNBROKEN
   
   After suffering a fractured shoulder while racing in May of last year, local businessman Jeff Sengara's moneymaker Budroyale will make a return in the $250,000 US San Diego Handicap at California's Del Mar track on Sunday.
   
   ``Not in our wildest dreams did we imagine we would get a second  go-around with Bud. He has been training wonderfully. Win or lose,  he's back. All we ask for is for him to have a safe race,'' said   Sengara from California.
   
   BUSINESS EXPENSE
   
   Bad week for Canadian businessman Frank Stonach. First, he failed in his bid to add Los Alamitos in southern California to his expanding racetrack portfolio. Then he learned that his   state-of-the-art San Luis Rey training facility in California is losing $750,000 annually. As a result, he's upped the rent on stalls. ... Sad news of the passing of long-time Hastings Park trainer Betty Snow. Condolences to her family. ... Cloverdale's   founder -- the late Jim Keeling Sr. -- will be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday.
   
   ROYAL FEAST
   
   Sport of Kings, at 7 p.m. Saturday on Shaw Television, will be previewing the big B.C. Cup weekend at Hastings Park -- and telling the dream- come-true story of trainer Brian O'Connell.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Vancouver Province
E-mail Tommy Wolski at twolski@home.com