Owner wins by nurturing special bond
Cowie Creek, victorious in season debut, is the friendly star of his one-horse stable
Randy Hudson owns a onehorse racing stable at Hastings Racecourse. The star is Cowie Creek, a four-year-old who has won four races during a brief career, including a victory in his season debut three weeks ago.
The horse was purchased by Hudson privately after being overlooked at a local yearling sale.
Since then they have created a story that speaks volumes about a bond people can sometimes have with their animals.
Wherever one goes, the other is not far away. In this case, the word inseparable fits.
When they arrive at a racetrack, aside from looking for a stall for his horse, Hudson is always looking for a tack room nearby to live in so he can keep a watchful eye on his horse.
“Since purchasing Cowie Creek, I’ve hardly been away from him,” Hudson says. “A few years ago I went to visit family in Peace River for three weeks. Other than that, the last time I was away was when I took two days last year to go upcountry.”
Hudson’s horse has one of the most likable personalities and temperaments you can find — and he can run.
Hudson says if he doesn’t keep an eye his horse, strange things often happen.
“One time in Kamloops,” Hudson recalls, “I was in a tack room nearby and heard noises coming from that area. This kind of startled me, so I get out of bed to take a look and there was a total stranger in his stall sleeping underneath Cowie Creek.
“Another time we’re at a racetrack upcountry and while having dinner, he went for a walk and was attacked by dogs. Then he also got loose once and we didn’t find him until the next night.”
This season at Hastings, as in the past, Hudson’s living quarters are a tack room a few stalls away.
When it quiets down after morning workouts, Hudson takes Cowie Creek for walks to the parking lot where he lets him enjoy grazing on some grass.
“One morning,” Hudson says, “after deciding not to take him on his regular trip, he uncoupled his stall door and began walking on his own. He was on his way to that parking lot to begin grazing on the grass again. With him there’s never a dull moment.”
NOT EASY: Horse racing needs a Triple Crown winner to keep the attention of the media and public. Will it happen June 6 when Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah runs in the Belmont Stakes with hopes of becoming the first horse to accomplish this feat in 37 years?
With those odds, a betting person would say highly unlikely.
As with others before him, American Pharoah now faces several challenges from horses who bypassed the Preakness for some rest before competing in the gruelling distance of the Belmont.
Here’s hoping American Pharoah does make sports history because as all of us well know, a true champion is made the old-fashioned way — by going out and earning it. That’s reason enough to cheer for him.
RIDERS’ RIVALRY: Veteran jockeys Richard Hamel and Pedro Alvarado have created a new rivalry at Hastings Racecourse early into the season. With four wins last weekend, Hamel has taken the lead in the jockey standings with 11 visits to the winners circle. Alvarado is right behind him with 10. Racing resumes at Hastings Saturday and Sunday at 1:50 p.m.