Tom Valiquette certainly knew about horse racing when he was a kid. But, it was an on-track moment, not as a fan, but as an applicant, that sealed his love for the sport.

Although his introduction to horse racing began during his teenage years, it wasn’t until much later, with résumé in hand, when Valiquette truly realized his passion for the Sport of Kings.

“My grandfather always had a racing form with him and my mother and I would never miss a major race on TV,” he recalled. “I didn’t become a big fan until I interviewed for a position with the Ontario Jockey Club. During the interview, I watched a few live races and saw the breadth and complexities of the business. I was hooked right there. I became a full-fledged fan on the day of my interview in 1992.”

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