Father, daughter a winning combination
BUILDING BONDS: Family connection is further strengthened through pair’s mutual love of horses
Six months ago, the furthest thing from trainer Phil Hall’s mind was that his 19-year-old daughter Sara would one day be working by his side at his Hastings Racecourse stable.
And while they could not be any happier, if you know the Halls, it was almost predictable.
Sara grew up riding ponies on a farm in the Fraser Valley, slowly branching out to the show horse world while Phil was busy managing his successful stable.
Living in two separate worlds, father and daughter never really got a chance to spend much time with each other.
“Watching her as a youngster,” said Phil.
“I knew Sara one day would be good enough to continue working around horses. I just never thought it would be with race horses. Then a little over eight months ago, she began riding a couple of thoroughbreds at a training farm in Langley. Some friends involved in the racing business told me they thought she was a natural talent with younger horses.”
It was around the same time when Sara had thoughts about asking her father to give her a chance to ride one of his race horses.
“At first it was tough pitching him,” said Sara. “He did try hard to convince me not to do it. I think at first he may have thought I wasn’t ready. But he knew it was a dream of mine and decided to give me a chance by taking some of his horses out for exercise.
“Shortly after, I could see him beginning to gain confidence in me.
“At the start of spring training at Hastings, he asked if I wanted to work for him full-time.”
Today, a common sight in the morning is watching Phil riding his stable pony with Sara by his side aboard a race horse.
“For many reasons,” said Phil, “this has been an unbelievable experience.
“Imagine working with a person who always has an amazing smile, gets along with people, loves being around horses and best of all, she’s your daughter. I’m just thrilled to have her around.
“On Father’s Day Sara drove down to Seattle to help me with a horse I was running at Emerald Downs. Her being there was the perfect present for me and a memory a father will never forget.”
Welcome arrival
Former leading jockey Amadeo Perez was back galloping horses during morning workouts Wednesday at Hastings.
For Perez, the late start arriving back to Canada from his native Mexico was a simple matter of having his visa in order.
For local fans, it means they’ll have an opportunity to see three former Hastings riding champions in action with Perez (2014, 2012), Richard Hamel (2011, 2010) and Pedro Alvarado (2006, 2004, 2003, 2002) competing for this year’s leading jockey title.
Combined, this illustrious trio of jockeys has won 4,508 races and their mounts have earned over $42 million in purse money.
Perez has five mounts scheduled for Saturday’s card that starts at 1:50 p.m.
This story was produced by Postmedia Works on behalf of the B.C. Horse Racing Industry for commercial purposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had no involvement in the creation of this content.
Her being [at Emerald Downs on Father’s Day] was the perfect present for me.
— Phil Hall