Hi. My name is Aimee Auger. I work at Woodbine Racetrack as an apprentice jockey. As an apprentice jockey/exercise rider, it is so hard to choose just one horse since I have been on so many in the last few years.
I will choose the most recent one - that being my first horse as an apprentice, Rob the Cradle (Robbie) - for trainer Michelle Love. Robbie has a unique story behind his racing career. Michelle trained him as a two–year-old at Woodbine, and even though Robbie had a successful year, he was sold privately where he continued to run at Woodbine for a different trainer.
Throughout his racing career, he was moved from a few different trainers and racetracks in North America. Michelle continued to follow Robbie's racing career and at the beginning of 2015, she decided to buy Robbie and bring him back home to Woodbine. In the middle of August, Michelle asked me to work him one morning not knowing Robbie and I would eventually connect and have an everlasting memory.
My fondest memory of Rob the Cradle is the moment I walked into the paddock with my jockey silks on and he was tacked up waiting patiently for me. He was so calm and focused from the time we left the paddock to when we were loaded in the starting gate. As soon as the starting gate opened, he knew right away what his task was.
Robbie has so much confidence in himself, which taught me so much and I couldn't ask for a better horse to start my career on.
Whenever I see or talk about Robbie, I always think about how he taught me that with hard work, faith, dedication and patience, everything will fall into place when the time is right.
Even though Robbie was moved around from different trainers, owners and racetracks, he ended up home where he began his career. All the emotions I was feeling leading towards the race, I'll never forget the professionalism he showed when I was legged up on him.
Through our bond, he kept me calm and focused to complete our task.
I'll never forget how amazing Rob the Cradle is.
By Aimee Auger
Photo courtesy of Dawn Kay - @shesawanderer
(C) Ontario Horse Racing 2015. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission.
More For The Love of Racing