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Hoss Talk |
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| by Tommy Wolski | ||
| Grooms are lifeblood of racing industry
The Vancouver Province Fri 31 Jan 2003 At any racetrack, the chance of you interacting with a racetrack groom is almost nil. Which is strange, since without this group it would be quite difficult to have horse racing. No one on the racetrack -- owners, trainers and drivers/jockeys -- is as close to their horses as the grooms who care for them. Grooms are a breed of their own, who often are up as early as 4:40 a.m. and stay until late in the evening to turn out their horses' stall lights. The groom is the life of the horse. For some the job as a groom takes on a life of its own. "For 16 years I held down a 9-to-5 job that required me to wear a suit and tie every day. Then one day a friend who knew I loved the races suggested I go visit the barn area at a nearby track," said Bert McNamee, a full-time groom for trainer Bill Davis at Fraser Downs. Now in his 12th year caring for horses, McNamee has found work at racetracks throughout North America. As with many grooms employed full time, McNamee lives in a small tack room adjoining the barn. "With what we make in wagers, it would be tough to pay rent for accommodations away from the track. For me, if money was an issue in my life, I wouldn't be working at the track. Also by staying at the barn, I always know if any of my horses ever need me, I can be right there in minutes. I'm not alone with those feelings, every full-time groom feels the same way, we love our horses." PROBERTS PUNCH! On Jan. 11, driver Jim Burke drove Proberts Punch to an easy victory in the sixth race at Fraser Downs at odds of 9-1 in the time of 1;59.4. Last Monday, Burke was given a three-year suspension from working at any racetrack. The suspension lasts through Dec. 31, 2005. Burke is expected to give his side of the story before a hearing next Tuesday. STRETCH DRIVE: The Sport of Kings (11 a.m., Citytv) looks at the life of the true "Unsung Heroes" of horse racing ... Emerald Downs in Washington opens its stable area to horsemen tomorrow for its 2003 racing season .Thoroughbred horse racings winingest jockey, Laffi Pincay, still keeps on reeling off winners at age 56. Pincay this week rode career winner 9,500 at Santa Anita in California ... It maybe time to give up the horses for two horsemen from Charlottetown Raceway in P.E.I. Part-time driver Keith Ford and trainer Dave O'Brien recently won $5 million on the Lotto 6/49. Tom Wolski can be seen on the Sport of Kings, 11:00 am Saturday Citytv
twolski@shaw.ca
Source: Vancouver
Province
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