(PHOTO - PHILIP (left) and MIDNIGHT ARIA with trainer Nick Gonzalez)
You can tell Philip Hyde takes great pride in what he does for a living. The Brampton resident has various roles at three different racetracks and loves all the horses he works with on a daily basis.
Philip is a friendly and familiar face at Ajax Downs each race day as a member of the starting gate crew, a dangerous job but one that he has done well at for five years. Philip also works the starting gate during the races at Fort Erie and has a full time job as a groom for top Woodbine trainer Nick Gonzalez.
It was a horse that Gonzalez claimed with Lou and Carlo Tucci in the winter of 2013 who resonates with Philip as a horse who changed his life. His name is Midnight Aria.
“I started grooming him when he was claimed and I just knew he was going to be a Queen’s Plate horse,” said Philip about the Ontario-bred son of Midnight Lute.
Midnight Aria did indeed go on to be the Plate champion in 2013 although Philip had taken a leave from his grooming job by that time and watched his favourite horse win as part of the Woodbine gate crew on the big day.
“I wish I was still working with him for the Plate but I was happy for him.”
Philip also enjoys talking about a filly who was important to him in his teenage years.
“My Dad bought a filly, we named her Hydethetreasure,” said Philip. “I was 15 and I even rode her a little after she was broken. She won first time out and was claimed. She was a pretty cool horse,” said Philip.
The 25-year-old is currently looking after a collection of Gonzalez-trainees including the well-bred Berliner, a son of Bernardini who is on a two-race winning streak.
And while there will be many more horses who pass through Philip’s hands but Midnight Aria and Hydethetreasure played a big role in his career.
“They made a real change in my life, some horses you just never forget.”
(PHOTO BELOW - Philip (left) at Ajax Downs. Photo by Laurie Overton)
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