Hoss Talk

   Move over guys, there's a new star on the rise at Hastings Park and her name is Nicola Wright.
   
   Wright, who is 4-foot-11 and weighs less then 100 pounds soaking  wet, is a rarity in horse racing, she is small, light and fearless.

   Born in Wales, she grew up with only one dream and that was to one day to become a jockey. In 1998 she embarked on that journey by working long hours in the stables at Goodwood racetrack in England.

   It was there she rode her first race.
 
   Months later, Wright decided that to be a successful jockey meant packing up and heading to North America.
   
   Arriving at Santa Anita racetrack, Wright found work as an exercise person with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
   
   "It was a great experience to exercise some of the best horses in the country in the mornings. Working for him was a true learning experience," said Wright.
   
   Soon, it would be time to move on again. Her next stop came in the fall of last year when she opted for Hastings Park.
   
   She spent the first few weeks without success trying to acquire a jockey's agent.
   
   "I remember seeing this small person exercising a horse in the mornings and I immediately did a double take and thought, what am I seeing here," said Wayne Snow. " I approached her to learn who was her agent and when she told me nobody wanted to be her agent, I said, 'you have one now.'"
   
   Snow went to work and, with her first ride, Wright rode a winner. She quickly won three more. On advice from Snow, she quit riding during the winter months to preserve her apprentice weight   allowance.
   
   (Canadian racing rules allow young riders an extension of their weight allowance if they do not ride outside the country during winter months, when no racing exists in Canada.)
   
   With much anticipation, local horsemen eagerly awaited Wright's return to the saddle.
   
   The little dynamo did not let her supporters down. On May 8, she won three races. Currently, she is second in the jockeys standings with 15 wins, three behind leading rider Dave Wilson.
   
   Her success has given Snow, the last laugh on those agents who said no to Wright.
   
   "You cant go wrong riding Wright," says Snow each time he walks the barns at Hastings Park.
   
   FINISH LINES: One of the greatest horse races of all time, the classic Alydar vs. Affirmed duel in the 1978 Belmont Stakes, can be seen on The Sport of Kings, Saturday 10 am on CKVU-13. ... Former
   jockey Dan Brock donned his riding silks again last Sunday and won a  race at Sagebrush Downs in Kamloops. Brock is only four away from 1,500 career winners. .... Popular jockey Melissa Wilson has decided to change tracks and has headed east to ride at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. .... Seen on the backstretch at Hasting Park this week was
   Chris Evans, director of racing and secretary of Woodbine Entertainment (thoroughbred division). "It was strictly an informal visit to familiarize myself with Hastings Park and see how our two   racetracks can better work together," said Evans. ...Last year's, Top B.C. Two-Year-Old Filly, Lasting Code, recently was sold to U.S. interests for an undisclosed sum. "The former owners care not to   reveal the selling price but let's say it was an offer they couldn't refuse," said Chris Loseth, regular jockey for Lasting Code. ... Outstanding BC-bred standardbred mare Fast Lane Cruizin has   successfully undergone throat surgery in Ontario. ... Longtime equine favourite OK BJ recently died at Northlands Park in Alberta.
   
   HEAVY TRAFFIC: Tonight at Fraser Downs, four traffic reporters take to the track in a race and try their hand at calling a harness race on "Traffic Girls Go Racing" at Fraser Downs. The traffic girls are Sarah Daniels (Global TV), Corrie Miller ( Rock 101), Michel McDermott (CFOX) and Tracey Mills (JRfm).
   
   Their calls take place from Races 5 to 8. Each "Traffic Girl" will be asked to use as many traffic terms as possible during the call of the race. In the 10th race, all the girls will be driving miniature   horses, which means, you expect lots of traffic congestion during their drive home
   
   Tom Wolski can be seen on the Sport of Kings, 10:00 am Saturday CKVU twolski@shaw.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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