“When I sit down to do this story, it's so difficult to single out a horse. So many have touched my life in different ways. Goldstryke Glory gave me my first stakes win. She was so fun to watch. Paso Doble was incredible. But the horse that made the biggest impact is Le Cinquieme Essai.
I started rubbing him at 2 until I think he was 7. We won the Prince of Wales Stakes. I'll never forget that day. I really think the town was cheering for him. It was a first I think, being Fort Erie trained, based and ridden. I think he made history with that. The papers the next day crowned him the ‘Prince of Fort Erie.’ So naturally, I had to go buy Paul (trainer, Nielsen) a tiara. So the support was unbelievable. We thought we had a big chance to win. I'll never forget coming out of the winner’s circle. He got a standing ovation all the way home.
The next day, everybody from the track came by to see him and congratulate us. It was so hard to get work done. He really meant so much to everyone. It was really great to be a part of his growth. To see him as a pain-in-the-butt 2-year-old, to a high-strung 3-year-old, to the very smart horse he was in the end – he was special. Paul and Karen (Nielsen’s wife) are two of the greatest horsepeople I know. And to be a part of the team was what has made me today.
I never dealt with him off track. So I would have no memories there. However, I know he's living very happily in retirement at the (owner) Scott’s ranch in BC. He's safe and that's the most important thing.
The first thing that comes to mind? Special. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of horse for everyone, the Scotts, Paul and myself. He gave us quite a ride. He never disappointed.”
By Kelly Callaghan, for Ontario Horse Racing
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