“Who is the horse that changed your life? I am always asked this question in different ways, and it is a very difficult question to answer. Over my 10-year racing career, there were many that stood out for many reasons - Gallant, Velvet Snow, Top Ten List, Angel in Tights - just to name a few. The truth is every horse contributes to our learning and growing.
But, the horse that changed my life (the most) had to be a horse trained by Ralph Biamonte named Starticus. I would say this because this horse showed so much from the very beginning, he scared trainers from entering other horses in his maiden race, he was huge and stunning to look at, and as kind as horses come. I love telling the story about after Starticus had won two races, my agent Lorne Spearman mentioned that we were going to run him on the turf because he was well bred for it. I was upset because he was doing well and sitting on a win as well as fighting my way up the standings, so every win was big. I stood up, walked out on him and said, ‘If it's not broke, don't fix it!’ After that happened, there were two wins (with a track record) and an amazing third in the Neartic, with one of my favourite stretch calls. Dan Loisseille said, ‘And Starticus…with a heart the size of the grandstand!’
But, there is a back story on this horse. I think it was after his second race. He approached the wire and something felt very wrong. After pulling him up and the vet showing up, everyone thought he had broken his shoulder. I was devastated and cried. They took him back to the barn. He collapsed and laid there for a long time. I arrived after getting changed and when I got there, he stood up and acted like nothing was wrong! We realized this horse would give everything he had in a race. It was astonishing how honest this horse was.
When I think of the horse now I get sad. At the end of the season the next year, he went in for a routine MRI. He had broken his elbow and eventually had to be euthanized. Everyone involved was devastated - he grabbed so many people's hearts. I even remember Mark Casse's crew loved him (they were in the same barn). This was a horse I would have taken for myself. I really felt we had a connection. I felt as though he liked me, and I know I loved him. A lot of people loved him. It’s easy to understand why.”
By Corey Fraser, for Ontario Horse Racing
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