“Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years.”
-LL Cool J
Apprentice rider Micah Husbands roared onto the Woodbine scene July 3, 2022, scoring a wire-to-wire triumph in his first lifetime start – an incredible feat for a rookie rider. The ensuing winner’s circle celebration was boisterous and resonated with an A Star is Born vibe.
Twenty-five days later, the 19-year-old nephew of Woodbine riding legend Patrick Husbands notched his fourth win, but subsequently vanished off the radar and hasn’t ridden a race since.
“His student visa expired,” explained Husbands’ agent Leroy Trotman. “It was an honest mistake that was made and now we’ve got everything finalized. He’s a citizen of Canada now and amen to that.”
Now 21, Husbands officially became a Canadian citizen on June 4, 2024, but the bizarre hiatus so early in his career took a mental toll on the native of Bridgetown, Barbados.
“Every day it was going through my head how mad I was,” said Husbands. “I was worried about the paperwork.”
(L-r) Cousin Desean, Uncle Anthony, and Micah at Fort Erie in an undated photo.
Micah’s mom, Selene, is Patrick Husbands’ sister. A few years back, Patrick brought Micah to Canada and eventually adopted him. Micah’s adopted status allowed him to remain in Canada during the citizenship process, but until it was completed, he wasn’t legally allowed to be at Woodbine. In the meantime, he stayed in shape galloping horses at a local farm for Woodbine trainer Kevin Attard.
“When we started the citizenship form, we thought we were almost finished, but we were just starting,” lamented Micah, who is now elated to be a Canadian.
“So that’s why it took us awhile. The process was stressful, but thank God everything came back.
“I’m thankful to be back at the track. I’m going to try to win as many races as I can.”
Husbands’ late father Fazal Razack was a rider from Trinidad. Micah’s jockey uncles Patrick and Simon also inspired him to pursue a career in horse racing.
“I grew up in Barbados. In my house there are pictures all over of Patrick and Simon. I’d wake up and see those pictures of them winning million-dollar races, I couldn’t believe it. They paved the way in my mind.”
Husbands’ familial racing pedigree made gravitating to the sport a fait accompli, since by his own admission, he never found his groove in other Bajan pastimes.
“Soccer, I was never good with my left foot,” he recalled. “Cricket, I could never hit balls at that kind of speed. Tennis, I was never as good as the others at putting the ball back into the court. But horse racing … was always the one sport that I had the drive for.”
Husbands galloped his first thoroughbred at age 11. At age 14, he acquired his exercise rider license in Barbados. A year later, he was invited and joined Patrick in Canada, but his famous uncle had one proviso.
“He was like, I’ll bring you to Canada, but you have to finish school and then you can race ride.”
Micah honoured the stipulation, focused on his studies and earned his high school diploma. His education at Woodbine came largely from benefactor Attard, who entrusted Husbands with a job as an exercise rider.
“I always wanted to race ride. But my uncle always put it in my head ‘don’t rush, never rush,’ just wait your turn and when you’re ready, get out there and take advantage of it.”
Micah finally made his professional debut in July 2022 and displayed the prowess of a prodigy. In a two-turn race on Woodbine’s inner turf course, Husbands (aboard Attard-trained Rosebud’s Hope) broke sharply from post position 12. He deftly cleared the field, angled to the rail to save ground, rated his mare perfectly around the oval and cruised to the wire, igniting a jubilant party among supporters trackside.
Micah Husbands in his first ride at Woodbine, a race he won aboard Rosebud’s Hope. (Michael Burns photo)
“I had butterflies, I couldn’t believe it.” said Husbands with an awestruck nostalgia. “I was thankful for being at the right place at the right time.”
However, Husbands was admonished post-race by the Woodbine stewards for a perceived nonchalance, as the margin of victory diminished after he geared his charge down late.
“Yeah, they were telling me to just finish up in the race,” said the chastened but wiser rider.
In his brief Woodbine cameo in July 2022, Husbands won four races in 22 starts and scored victories over all three courses. Three of his wins came on the lead, where he showed an adept ability to hustle his mounts sharply from the gate, thanks to mentoring from Uncle Patrick.
“He said, always make sure you hold on to the horse’s mane, try not to have the lines so tight on a horse’s head,” conveyed Micah. “Try to give the horse its head, let it break and you can always take a hold after you come out.”
Husbands lone main track win showcased his off-the-pace timing. Sitting 10th three furlongs from the wire, Husbands rallied Theskyisthelimit eight wide into the lane and was up in the final jump.
Trotman, who also represents Patrick and Sahin Civaci, said Micah’s ordeal has been beneficial. The time helped mature the young man and his steadfast agent, (also from Barbados) is excited about his professional return.
“I think he’s a phenomenal little rider. He showed that when he first started.”
“I’ve grown up around Patrick, seen him grow up. I think Micah and Patrick are twins. And not just riding-wise, overall,” marvelled Trotman.
Micah patterns himself a ‘finesse rider’ like Uncle Patrick, but he also enjoys watching a pair of established stars south of the border.
“Joel Rosario. I take from him his timing. It doesn’t look like he has much horse, then out of nowhere you see him show up and take the lead and bang, right there,” observed Husbands of Rosario, who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY this August.
And of 5X, reigning Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr. “Irad is perfect with positioning, knowing where horses need to be. He can ride from front, back……middle of the pack. He can also hide horses in between other horses and can get them out easily.”
The timing of Husbands’ return has been strategic. Trotman said a late summer resumption of Micah’s riding career would allow the 5′ 6″ natural lightweight to hone his timing by working as many horses as possible. In addition, the current apprentice crop at Woodbine is ultra competitive. Sofia Vives, Fraser Aebly and Pietro Moran are all enjoying strong campaigns. The apprentice eligibility for both Vives and Aebly will soon wind down.
“I hope to get an extension next year, have some competition with Pietro and light a fire at Woodbine,” said Trotman.
“This kid is going places.”
With the arduous path to citizenship behind him, Husbands has dreams of winning the Sovereign Award and possibly the Eclipse Award as top apprentice rider. Following this two-year blip, simply seeing his name in the race program again will be a triumph for the newly-minted Canadian.
“I love riding horses every day. This is my life until I pass.”
