Apr 2017
The Unheralded Hero on the Backstretch!
Updates:
Imagine yourself attending and watching the races. Let’s make it a nice day when the sun is out, the crowd is buzzing and the racing is exciting. This live event happens three times a week at Emerald Downs and daily across racetracks in North America. The stars of the show are the horses, jockeys, race-caller, handicappers and those big name trainers. TVG or NBC Sports may even broadcast live trackside, creating a festival-like aura for the day and exciting live racing venue.
The show goes on because owners buy horses, pay bills and bring a competitive zest. It goes on because the racetrack provides the infrastructure, promotions and venue. It goes on because jockeys put their life at risk with each mount and trainers supervise the day-to-day activities of the barn, set the barn-rules and schmooze with owners. It goes on because of the patrons, gamblers and fans.
Not as visible is the commitment present on the backstretch every morning and every race-day. The work-ethic, perseverance and love these individuals demonstrate for our horses is amazing and their efforts are truly unheralded. These individuals don’t receive the glory and rarely the public recognition but they represent the lifeline for horseracing across the country and across the world. When you come to the backstretch in the morning, you will quickly notice that everyone operates with an unspoken bond towards the horse be it in English or Spanish. Each person has a role and understands they are essential to the success and well-being of these horses. Let’s meet a few of these people.
Gabriel is the first to arrive at 4:30 each morning with his fellow grooms. He is the groom for eight horses and speaks little English. He previously worked at cattle ranches before finding his way to the racetrack several years ago. Each morning, he will feed, bath and bandage each of his horses. This routine is played out daily and multiplied across the many grooms in the barns. On race day, he has the privilege to lead the horse from barn to paddock and then return him to the stall after the race. For those eight horses, he is both their closest and best friend. Gabriel quietly goes about his business and never raises his voice or overtly disciplines a horse. He believes that by treating horses nicely, they treat us nicely in return. Watching his horse enter the winners circle is always a special thrill.
As an exercise rider, Alfonso arrives each morning at 6:00 AM and will ride up to 10 horses on any given morning. Exercise riders do most of the galloping, back-tracking and breezing for the racehorses on the track. Alfonso is always cheerful even though he’s been kicked and thrown multiple times over the past 19 years and rides with permanent screws in his leg following a nasty kick. It is a labor of love as he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. On race day, Alfonso and his pony horse escort the racehorse and jockeys from the post-parade to the starting gate. His favorite time of year is when yearlings arrive during the autumn when he is first to saddle and ride them. It’s a challenging process that takes patience, courage and skill and Alfonso demonstrates this with grace. Above all, the people in the barn on the backstretch are a family and this is what Alfonso most appreciates every day.
Robert also arrives promptly at 6:00 AM each day. His routine as Assistant Trainer is busy and includes visual inspection of all the horses in the barn, taking temperatures, checking legs and medications and coordinating the sets where each horse in the barn will either walk, jog, gallop, ride with pony or breeze. A good day is when there are no surprises but after 30 years of working with racehorses, Robert knows to expect the unexpected like when he arrived one morning to find a horse with her head stuck in the hay rack. She turned out ok and later won multiple races. Robert says you can put a horse in a padded cell all covered in bubble wrap and they’ll still find a way to do something silly. When asked for his favorite horse to train, he diplomatically and honestly states that he loves them all. His advice for owners is to understand that horses are like people and will have some good days and some bad days and that we’re all trying to win and have some fun! When his day at the track is over, Robert returns home to his nine dogs. Talk about commitment!