“Eighty Nine Red caught my eye when I walked through Mike De Paulo’s barn on Woodbine's backstretch in 2014. At first it was just a crush, but he really does encompass everything I love about racing. It's easy to feel the thrill of the sport when he's running because he's just one of those horses that gives it his all every time.
Moreover, he brings out the more tender moments of the sport, because whether he crosses the finish line first or last, there's always a team of loving people waiting for him. They give him a big pat, tell him he's done a good job and give him a handful of mints before heading back to the barn.
For the last couple years there's been more than a few times where I've snuck out of events to come watch him race. Now, I just say I'm going to visit my 'track boyfriend' because he's still racing and I continue to be his social media cheerleader!
My fondest memory of him is when he romped home victorious in the 2014 Achievement Stakes. I just remember seeing the blinkers charging down the stretch and his fan club – yes, his fan club - going nuts as he stalked down a horse by the name of Flashy Margaritta to win the race.
My heart just skips a beat when I see him in his blue and white-checkered blinkers. There's something very Secretariat-esque about him and he does command a presence, whether it be in the barn, in the paddock or on the track.”
By Hayley Morrison (@Hays_Morrison), for Ontario Horse Racing
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