“Never in a million years did I think I would be working on the racetrack. Coming from a show jumping background, I had dreams about the Olympics not the Kentucky Derby. But a few twists and turns in the journey of life led me to the horse that changed my life, Kentucky Bear.
It was only my first full year galloping at the racetrack when I started work for trainer Reade Baker. Before I knew it, I was spending the winter in sunny Florida and found myself riding a big, but still gangly, chestnut colt. Reade had high hopes for him as he was out of Mr. Greeley, one of the last of his progeny.
He won his first start impressively and attracted many enquiries to purchase him. But luckily for me, the owner decided to keep him and pursue the Kentucky Derby trail. Unbeknownst to me, I was about to embark on a 6-month road trip - just me and the ‘Bear.’
Still very new to the game, I was lucky I had experience bringing along show jumpers as I was the hotwalker, groom and rider for Kentucky Bear. He taught me a lot about galloping, especially as he got stronger and tougher after every race.
With just one horse under my care, I was able to spend a lot of time with him and learn a lot about his personality. He was a very picky eater and we use to spend hours grazing in the bluegrass fields so he could put on weight. We had a very special bond over those 6 months travelling around the U.S.
He just missed out on enough points for the Derby and ran in the Preakness. For someone who had never experienced those huge races, it was a chance of a lifetime to be around a horse of that caliber, especially being my first year on the track.
Today, Kentucky Bear is well into his stud career with a stakes horse from every crop. I still have his saddle towel from the Preakness and his first win picture framed in my apartment.
He always reminds me of everything you could want in a racehorse: speed, power, agility, pure greatness and a remarkable travelling partner.”
By Cassie Garcea, for Ontario Horse Racing
(C) Ontario Horse Racing 2016. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission.
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