“Down the long, historic shedrow of Barn 4 at Woodbine stood a big chestnut, sometimes hidden behind a screen, other times with a big orange pylon in front of his stall to warn you of his bite. His name: A Fleets Dancer.
Our paths first crossed in 2000. He was a physically imposing horse with attitude looking for his first win at Woodbine and I was crew leader for the newly created TRN (now HPItv) and part-time hotwalker for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield.
At first glance, he was a horse that demanded your attention: turn your back on him and he would leave his mark!
While he was challenging, interestingly enough, I feel he was equally educational. He would test your nerves, awareness, patience and reflexes relentlessly, but respect that, and he can be eating, (or in my case) sucking on the palm of your hand.
While our time together was short and intermittent, it came at a time of his greatest successes. I remember his 2001 Sovereign Award-winning campaign when he would be Champion Older Male. After watching the six-year-old collect a score in the 2001 Dominion Day Stakes (G3), his groom Richard and I shipped to the punishing heat of Chicago and Arlington Park for the Washington Park Handicap (G2). He didn't win that day, but he did run second and achieved a lifetime best Beyer figure of 111.
From there, I was with him for his an eye-popping victory in the Durham Cup and then, before trying the best in the Breeders' Cup Classic, we parted ways, as we were on two different paths, and I wouldn't see him again.
I know I only played a small part in his life, but he played a huge part in mine...he was a friend. A tough friend, one who would show me to always keep your eyes and mind on your surroundings and not to judge a book by it's cover.
So when asked to name the horse that changed my life? A Fleets Dancer was the heavy favourite.”
By Kris Platts, for Ontario Racing
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