Canadian-based jockey Patrick
Husbands accepted his third straight Sovereign Award as Canada’s
champion jockey in ceremonies in Toronto a little over a week ago, then on
Saturday he rode three horses at Fair Grounds, winning with one, finishing
second on another and third on the other to start off his local winter with a
perfect in-the-money percentage.
Actually, the 36-year-old native of Barbados is four-for-four in the money with his
last four New Orleans mounts because he won with
the only horse he rode here last season before being called to Southern California. Also, he has now won a total of
seven Sovereign Awards in his 14-year career – more than any other jockey in
the history of Thoroughbred racing north of the border.
However, although he is now a Canadian
citizen and makes his home in Toronto, he has
grown to love New Orleans
and plans to ride here most of the Fair Grounds season the way he did the year
before last. Another winter in California
is not on the table right now.
“If I had to move to some other place
besides Toronto,
I’d want to move here,” said Husbands, speaking Sunday morning from the Fair
Grounds track kitchen. “I’ve ridden in New York
and Southern California, but New
Orleans is a very unique city, and it’s so laid back.
I like that – being laid back. All the other places I’ve been, whenever you go
to get your license they have a whole list of new rules. Each year, the list
gets longer and longer. In Louisiana,
the rules are always the same.”
Obviously, being a native of Barbados,
Husbands’ riding career began there, but now, after so many years of
international celebrity, he feels somewhat like an unwelcome prophet in his own
land.
“I ride 11 months of the year, and when
I go home I like to just be on vacation for a month,” Husbands said. “I
don’t want to do anything but relax, but people keep asking me to ride to
promote the local racing.
“This winter, I held a one-hour press
conference to try to explain my position,” Husbands said, “but I finally agreed
to ride in the Gold Cup – the biggest race. Then, when I’m in the paddock
mounting up for the big race, the crowd starts booing me, calling me every name
in the Bible, telling me how I’m robbing all the kids (local jockeys) of their
chance to make some money. So I’m thinking, ‘I just can’t win with these
people!’ but then after I won the race all the people started cheering me for
winning. When they did that it made me feel very happy and proud.”
Of course, like most every other active
jockey in existence, Husbands wants to win the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’
Cup Classic, but he also thinks he has a very good chance to win this year’s
Kentucky Oaks.
“I’m going down to Ocala next Monday to ride her on Ocala
Sales Day for (trainer) Mark Casse,” said Husbands. “Her name is Allegation
and she’s big like Zenyatta even though she just turned 3-years-old. I
rode Laragh (who won the Grade I Hollywood Starlet) and this filly is
much better than her. Next winter when I come back down here, I’ll be a better
story, too. I’ll be known as the rider of the ‘young Zenyatta.’ You’ll see.”
Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day Returning
to Fair Grounds Feb. 20
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day is
coming back to Fair Grounds in less than two weeks, arriving in time for the
Trainers Party Feb. 19, which will be held from 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in the Black
Gold Room during Fair Grounds’ second Starlight Racing program.
On Feb. 20, Louisiana Derby Preview
Day at Fair Grounds, the local oval will host an autograph session with the
Hall of Fame jockey to raise money for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America
(RTCA).
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