“The horse that changed my life, in a professional and heartfelt way, was Go for Wand.
I had started to work full time in the New York Racing Association Press Office in the fall of 1990. While working in the Belmont Park press box that year, I had also had the opportunity to call some races, which was my passion and hope to pursue a full-time opportunity in the future. While on the racetrack, a filly named Go For Wand, by Canadian champion Deputy Minister, had been racing. She had already won the Ashland Stakes and Alabama that year.
I was also fortunate at the time to be able to work with Tom Durkin, who had been just hired as the voice of the NYRA. That October, Tom was also calling the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe for NBC Sports. With Tom abroad, and his assistant not available, I had the opportunity to be able to call races on Beldame Stakes weekend that year. Among the runners was Go For Wand. I had followed her the previous fall winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and she was well on her way to a start in the 1900 BC Distaff. I remember that Beldame Stakes feeling it would be a stepping-stone for me as well. For a young New York-born aspiring announcer, to call a Grade 1 at Belmont at 25 years old was a dream come true.
On the track in the 1990 Beldame Stakes, Go For Wand did not disappoint. With her poise and class, she ran another winning race, drawing away from her rivals, but now with me calling her home from the Belmont announcer booth! I remember it being one of the first times I added some type of colour to the race call by saying, "To her long list of laurels, you can add the Beldame. Here she is, Go For Wand." It was the first time for me to call a Grade 1 race and it had been a Breeders’ Cup champion.
Another Grade 1 win for Go For Wand, but a race that allowed me to gain the confidence needed to go on with my race caller career, too. Which, the following year, I began full time at Thistledown in Cleveland, Ohio, to sprout my own wings, too.
In her next start in the Breeders’ Cup, while back in the NYRA Press Box, I was watching through my binoculars at my desk along with millions of other viewers when Go For Wand suffered a devastating injury while showing her heart and grit in the Distaff. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.
The emotion of the moment was indescribable to all of us there in the Press Box. A moment and day I will never forget. It always made me appreciate the talent of horses of all classes as competitors and how amazing they are on and off the track.
I think back to Go For Wand as the horse that really helped launch my career, but also who taught me in sport, and in life, to enjoy every day we are here.”
By John G. Dooley, for Ontario Racing
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