Brenda Adams says she grew up as a “track rat”, helping around the barns when her family raced Standardbreds on the Ontario circuit. One of her fondest memories was a day at Kawartha Downs when she was a 10-year-old and chattering away to a fellow onlooker that her uncle's horse was in the next race.
“I suggested he bet on the horse,” said Adams. “He did, showed me the ticket and the horse won. Turned out it was none other than jockey Sandy Hawley; he was just getting big in his career."
Adams always wanted a horse of her own, but marriage, children and a career came first. Years later, however, in 2012, Adams approached her friend Rebecca Watson (father Greg is a noted Quarter Horse owner and breeder) and the pair went to work seeking out a horse to buy.
As is often the case in Quarter Horse racing, fellow horsepeople and word of mouth led Adams to a 2-year-old filly trained by Clint Crawford with the fun name of Shesastreakinchick.
“She was beautiful, fit as a fiddle and she just had the perfect name for me,” said Adams. “She also had this perfect, heart-shaped marking on her neck. As soon as I picked her up to take her home, she bonded with me.”
Adams plunked down $3,000 for the Oklahoma-bred daughter of Bigtime Favorite from the mare Miss Acclaimed, by Streakin La Jolla. Adams was also impressed with the rich pedigree lines of the filly with notable Quarter Horse champions such as Dash for Cash, Miss Acclaimed’s grandsire, mixed with the great Thoroughbred Native Dancer.
'Chick’s' first race for Adams and Watson was a trial for the 2012 Maple Leaf Futurity and while the filly had a very rough journey, she battled to the finish. A month later, she won a maiden allowance race worth $5,500 to the winner. It was the first win for not only the filly but also her owners and jockey Josh Scott.
Shesastreakinchick now has two wins and eight placings in her 37 career starts with earnings of over $20,000. Adams is the sole owner of ‘Chick’ and the 7-year-old is getting ready for the 2017 racing season with trainer Rick Kennedy.
“She’s happy and healthy and all heart,” said Adams, who lives in Pickering and tutor’s children. “To her, I am just the carrot lady. She could be anywhere on the track and I will make a nickering noise and she looks right over.
When she races, I just zone out; it’s just her and me and it’s like I am racing with her.”
Adams also may have the coolest set of racing silks at Ajax Downs, designed by Ruth Smith and sewn in detail by Josee Romano at Stafford Racing Silks, to bring together Adams’ ideas of the special moments of horse racing.
“I wanted a heart, for her marking, and a horseshoe shape for luck. To me, this is a spiritual journey with her. She has taught me to live with integrity, be honest and that life is fun but sometimes it isn’t.
She’s an amazing animal, I would keep her in my backyard if I could.”
(Photos of Brenda and Shesastreakinchick, Rick Kennedy and 'Chick', courtesy of Laurie Overton)
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