Thoroughbreds stirring up dust, hopes
Activity building along backstretch at Fort Erie Race Track
The arrival of spring and lots of activity in the backstretch at Fort Erie Race Track are two things that have gone hand-in-hand for the past 121 years.
Last week, trainers, jockeys and other staff began setting up for the 2018 racing season. They’re getting their horses conditioned for the upcoming 40-date meet.
Julie Robillard-Mathes, lead trainer in 2017 at the thoroughbred track, is hoping to continue her winning momentum when opening day arrives Tuesday, May 29, but she’ll be doing it with a much smaller team.
After training 30 horses last year, she is taking on about 10 this time and “downsizing with hopes to get some better horses.”
‘‘ I’m really looking forward to getting the races started and, hopefully, getting some wins.”
PIERRE MAILHOT
Jockey
“I’m excited to get going, it’s been a long winter,” she said.
Having fewer than a dozen thoroughbreds in her stable barn allows for a greater focus on the quality she has to work with.
“It’s nice to come in and attend to a few horses, get them ready and pay close attention,” said Robillard-Mathes as she fed her horse Tuition a couple of breath mints, a treat given to the animals as a reward.
Robillard-Mathes has been a trainer at Fort Erie for the past 20 years. The track is one of her favourite places in the world.
“It’s like home, everyone knows each other and gets along,” she said.
Lindsay Hoad, also a trainer, is excited to hit the dirt with the 10 horses she will have in the program this year.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the races started and, hopefully, getting some wins,” she said.
Jockey Pierre Mailhot has been racing for about 35 years but hadn’t sat atop a horse in Fort Erie for a decade and a half until last season when he returned from time spent at other tracks. He ended up being the sixth-best rider in 2017.
“I had a great meet last year and am looking forward to an even better one this year,” he said. “When I came back I thought it would be tough, but everything ended up perfect for me.”
Mailhot already has a win under his belt at Woodbine, riding a horse that had 55-1 odds at post time.
In March, the provincial government announced an agreement to put $105 million annually into Ontario’s horse-racing industry for the next 19 years, beginning in 2019.
Fort Erie Race Track has received $7.9 million each year since 2010.
The track was put up for sale by its owners, but its operators have said racing will not be affected. Mailhot said he looks forward to seeing how the next few years unfold.
“For the future, we are looking good,” he said.
Racing begins at 4:20 p.m. on opening day. Live music from Beatles tribute band The Caverners will follow the final race at about 7:30 p.m. Food trucks will be open 3-8 p.m.
The Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, is Tuesday, July 24.