Fort Erie’s 39-day Thoroughbred season came to an early end on October 26 due to heavy rain in the area for several days, but for jockey CHRIS HUSBANDS it was a shining day as he accepted his first trophy for leading jockey.
Husbands, who hails from Barbados, won 52 races from 207 mounts, a 25% win clip, and was ahead of 2020 leading rider Juan Crawford who had 34 wins. Husbands rode his first race at Fort Erie in 2015 after relocating from Winnipeg.
“I had a really good start and I just continued on that momentum. I was blessed to ride good horses. The owners and trainers gave me good horses, which I really appreciated. Thanks to all the owners and trainers who gave me a shot and the opportunity,” said Husbands.
Husbands accepted his trophy during the HBPA Ontario’s Awards presentations that were held before the final card of racing. He noted that one of his favourite horses of the meeting was Pepperoni, a son of Society’s Chariman.
JULIE MATHES earned his second consecutive leading trainer title with 23 victories, leading Sharon Ceccato who had 16. Mathes won her final race of the meeting on closing day as TEAM WIN won his fourth race of the meeting, tying Horse of the Year ACT OF BOB for most wins at the meeting.
ACT OF BOB, by Souper Speedy, won his four races for owner Fortunato Galati and trainer Michael Cohen and set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs of 1:03.21. Bred by Northern Dawn Stables, Act of Bob and his connections received the trophy from the HBPA although the horse was claimed from his final win of the meeting by Bruno Schickedanz.
SCHICKEDANZ was the leading owner with 16 wins. MICHAEL DAVID was honoured with the top apprentice jockey award, DARLENE PETTIPAS was awarded the trophy for top assistant trainer for her work with trainer Elliot Sullivan. NOEL TOMLINSON was named Outstanding Groom.
HADDASSAH, owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling won the track’s premier race, the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown. Trained by Keviin Attard and ridden by Gary Boulanger, Haddassah (Air Force Blue) won an exciting stretch duel with Harlan Estae to win the 1 3/16 mile classic.
It was announced on Tuesday that track announcer FRANK SALIVE would be retiring. Salive, longtime caller for Standardbred racing at Woodbine, joined Fort Erie in 2016.
The shortened final day of the meeting realized close to $400,000 in wagering and brought the total handle for the year to $28.6 million, down from about $40 million during the 2020 COVID-19 meeting and on par with the $29 million wagered in 2019.
“Unfortunately, due to the continuous rainfall throughout the day we could not carry out the remainder of the card,” said Drew Cady, the general manager for the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium (FELRC). “Despite our shortened card today, we still had a tremendous season, one in which we were able to welcome back fans who missed out on the 2020 racing season due to COVID-19 restrictions.”
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