Hoss Talk

   Next time the Collins Brothers win a horse race at Hastings Park, management may have to consider renting the Agrodome for the post- race festivities.

   Last Sunday, after the filly Lady's Jewel raced to an upset victory in the $30,000 Liberation Stakes, 57 members of the Collins family and a few friends arrived at the winner's circle to have their picture taken.

   It was the largest winner's circle group Hastings Park photographer Larry Goulding can recall.

   For Andrew Collins, who trained Lady's Jewel, it was extra-special because, aside from his six brothers, 10 sisters, their husbands, wives and grandkids, his parents were there.

   ``First, if it had not been for my dad (Jim Collins), we probably  would not have raced in the Liberation,'' said Andrew. ``My plan was to race her in condition races but, in reality, my father is the boss''

   The last thing Andrew wanted to do was run Lady's Jewel against Castle Mountain and Queen Of My Nights, two of the best around.

   However, his father had other ideas.

   ``My dad kept telling me `you may not believe in what you're doing a 100 per cent but I sure do.' He told me to challenge myself. And it took a lot of pressure off me,'' said Andrew.

   Among those pressures was the fact that, if his horses did not begin winning by mid-July, the stable would be liquidated.

   ``Since we all lost a lot of money the last few years with the horses, we knew this would be our last kick at the can this year. We brothers operate a house-painting business but the horses were   sucking us dry. Before we got into this, we could take holidays.
   Suddenly, we were not taking any days off because the horses were taking all our money,'' said Andrew.

   The win by Lady's Jewel was redeeming for another reason.
   Since he began training five years ago, Andrew knew his unorthodox style has brought some criticism.

   ``I have no problems with that. I am a critic myself. I think critics often are our best assets if we use them in the right way,'' he said.

   Suffice to say you haven't heard the last of this large -- and remarkable -- family.

   JOCK TALK

   I received a note from the home of Hall of Fame jockey Don Seymour, saying the former rider -- who recently suffered a brain aneurysm -- was all smiles as he began taking his first steps Wednesday. ...
   Former Hastings Park jockey Jeff Burningham has been told by the Ontario stewards that he will be serving a 30-day suspension for a  riding infraction that caused a spill. The jockey injured in the  mishap, Robert Landry, will miss the ride aboard Toronto Maple Leaf goalie Curtis Joseph's Millennium Allstar in Sunday's Queens Plate.
   ... B.C.-born jockey Russell Baze moved up to fourth place on the all-time leading winning jockeys list when he recently rode his 7,397th.
 
 
 
 

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