(PHOTO - GET A LEG UP won three races in 2012 after her first winter as a riding horse for Marie Quinn-Broadstock)
Quarter Horse racing was not a part of Marie Quinn-Broadstock's life as a girl growing up on a beef farm in Ajax, ON.
The sport was not that far away from her, however, as her grandparents often bought horses from Norm Picov, master of Ajax Downs racetrack. The first horse she ever rode was one bought from Picov.
When Marie met and married Bob Broadstock, who was involved in Picov/Ajax Downs racing, she began to learn a bit more about the sport. And the first horse she ever owned taught her the most about horsemanship and re-training horses.
“I made a list of 10 horses who were in theHeritage Place. Oklahoma sale in 2010," said Quinn-Broadstock. "I wanted to buy a horse to race that would eventually be a broodmare."
Bob came home with Get a Leg Up, a sorrel filly by Stel Croona from a First Down Dash mare who had some racing experience but had yet to win.
“She was not at the top of my list but when she got here but I instantly fell in love with her.”
Get a Leg Up did not win for Broadstock in 2011 and was 21 races deep into her career witrhout a win. She decided to test 'Lola', as she is affectionately known, as a riding horse in the winter of 2011/2012 doing walk, trot and other basics. It was a big step not only for the horse to learn to be a riding horse but for Broadstock to get comfortable with the imposing animals once again.
“I had stopped going near horses when my son was born, too afraid to get hurt, and only started riding with my coach (Carol Spratt) in 2008. Lola taught me so much when I started riding her: you don’t realize how much they don’t know when you are re-training them. When I first got on her, she couldn’t steer, I thought we were going to walk right into a wall."
Incredibly,, once back at the races in 2012 Lola won three races from 10 starts and over $28,000.
"She came back to racing as a completely different horse."
Marie and Lola rode together again early in 2013 and then after three races that summer, the mare was retired from the track. The pair have progressed to the point where Marie could have shown the mare in dressage events last year.
Instead, Marie bred her prized mare to Ontario stallion Sugarman Perry this spring and now awaits the birth of a foal in 2017.
"She was getting a bit older so I thoguht if I wanted to continue her breeidng line, I should breeder her."
Certainly since the mare has not only been an amazing friend, riding mate and racehorse for Broadstock, it will be exciting for the family to have the mare produce a youngster.
"She has made me a better horseperson and we have a very strong bond," said Broadstock.
(PHOTO BELOW - GET A LEG UP (LOLA) in 2015 - thank you Marie Quinn-Broadstock for the photo)
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