Hoss Talk

It is no secret that many jockeys are in a constant battle to lose weight. And when it comes to stories about jockeys and their weight, I had heard them all.

So when someone told me about Donny Roe, a former jockey who had ridden through the mid-60s and '70s and often rode at 113 pounds, then ballooned up to 235 pounds during the offseasons, I told them, I don't think so

At age 16, Roe got his first taste of racetrack life growing up near Lansdowne Park in Richmond.

He stood 5-foot-3 and hit the scales at a svelte 108 pounds, an ideal prototype for a jockey.

Two years into a successful riding career, Roe fractured his left leg carrying a water pail to a horse's stall.

After spending four months in a cast, he added 30 pounds. From then on staying light became a constant battle.

"I remember in 1970, I was doing well and my riding weight was 115 pounds," Roe said. "I enjoyed eating so much, the next thing I knew I was up to 235 pounds and gaining."

Fearing his career would be over, he went the route of many riders back then.

"My life revolved around sweating nearly 24 hours a day. After exercising horses in the mornings, I would rush to the jockey's room to sit in the sweat box for hours. As soon as I got into my car the heater went to high," Roe said.

For years, losing and adding weight were routine. Until one season, his weight did not stop at 235 pounds. He went up to 345 pounds.

"I had become lazy, which made me heavier. It was then I realized if I did not begin caring for my body, I would eventually die."

It was not until after a visit to his doctor, that Roe learned he had developed diabetes. "I guess all the abuse I gave my body finally had taken its toll."

With his current weight stabilized at 170 pounds. Roe is busy these days training his one-horse stable every morning at Hastings.

Chances are a few eyebrows were raised when the name of Barbex, a horse that passed away several years ago, appeared on the daily workout sheet.

It was an idea that came from clockers R.J. Goss Jr. and Gerry Brownell, who for years worked alongside Larry Goulding timing horses during early morning workouts. Goulding had done several jobs at the racetrack including working with Mike Drozdowski's Barbex to win numerous stake races.

On Monday, after a serious illness, Goulding, 49, passed away.

This was when Goss and Brownell made a decision to add their friend's favourite horse to their workout sheet.

It would be something they knew Goulding would laugh at and later tell them to correct ASAP.

The horse racing community sends condolences to his wife Allison and two young children, Brooke and Brandon. A celebration of life will be held in the George Royal Room on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Tom Wolski can be seen on Citytv's Sport of Kings on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.

twolski at shaw dot ca

Source: Vancouver Province