I recently had a chance to chat it up with the caretakers of one of the hottest racing stables in Alberta. Margaret and Katie Graham were all smiles on March 1 following a rock solid showing at Northlands. 

Sending out eight starters on the last weekend in February, with all of them finishing in the money, the Ron Graham Stable posted four wins including three winners on the Saturday. Since Feb. 27, the Graham stable has finished in the top three in nine of their last 12 starts.
 
"That big weekend (Feb. 27) helps to let both our Dad and our owners know that everything is OK here in the barn. It's running like a well oiled machine," says Margaret, daughter of injured trainer/driver Ron 'The General' Graham, who's been on the sidelines since being injured in a racing accident last month. "Dad would like to be back in the cart tomorrow, but in all reality it's looking like September," she says. "He's still here everyday," says daughter Katie. "He goes up to the track to watch them train and it's him making all the decisions."
 
Both daughters say their Dad has been getting a bit of ribbing from fellow horsemen - all in fun of course. "They've been saying that he's more like a thoroughbred trainer now." 
 
Another wrench was thrown Margaret's way, recently, when Sister Katie was injured, while in the barn, a few weeks ago. "Shortly after Dad's accident I was kicked in the side by a new colt we had," explains Katie. "I took some time to heal up, but it was tough. I was getting stressed out around home because I'm never away from the horses," she says. "If there's any kind of stress at the barn, its controlled stress and I can handle that, but having to take time off and sit around home... that's ‘bouncing off the walls’ kind of stress." 
 
"With both Dad and Katie on the sidelines, I had to step up my game here," says Margaret. "We were raised to work hard and to get the job done. That's just what we do."
 
The Graham sisters are also quick to offer up thanks to those who have pitched in, to help out, over recent weeks. "Raeanne Gemmill, Ryan Grundy, the Cutting's. They've all been great..."  
 
"Our Mom, Linda, has been a real trooper, through all of this, too," says Katie. "If Superman was a woman, that woman would be my Mom!" While there was plenty of work at the barn for Margaret, Linda was on the front lines, at home, looking after Ron and Katie. "She puts everybody before herself," comments Margaret. "Taking care of Dad and looking after Katie... And through it all she still found time to make me lunch and send me off to the track in clean clothes."
 
Looking back at last month's Sunshine Girl/Sun Bingo photo shoot, the Graham sisters played a huge role in the success of that event. Cry Freedom, from the Graham Stable, was part of the photo shoot and being looked after by Margaret. "The only one more excited than Joey (Cry Freedom), on that day, was Jonathan (Huntington)," she says jokingly. "Joey had enough pep in his step to last him the whole weekend." True that! Cry Freedom was a very game gate-to-wire winner, on Feb.27, at Northlands, with JF Gagne at the controls.
 
Katie, reflecting on the photo shoot, says she had a wonderful time. "I've never done anything like that before, but it was a great experience," she smiled. "I felt like a model and I'd totally do it again. I'll do almost anything for the sport that I love," she adds. Possible 2010 Canadian Derby Girl? Who knows what this could lead to...
 
Being involved with the horses their whole life, the Graham sisters were asked to look ahead 10 years and describe what they'd like to be doing.
 
Katie, 19, wants to have a nine horse racing stable. "I want Margaret right there with me as my bookkeeper and barn manager. I also want to have one of Stella's (Stelle Nel Cielo) offspring racing for me. I'd name him Rock And Republic - after my favorite jeans," she beams. "And of course... 'The General' would be my driver."
 
Margaret, 23, would like to be doing her part in promoting harness racing. "I’d love to see big crowds watching the harness races. I’d like to help make that happen...if I'm not still being 'bossed' around by The Little General (Katie)." 
 
"Once again we'd like to thank all who have offered and lended a hand over the time since Dad's accident," says Margaret. "Their generosity has probably been appreciated much more than I can say."

-copyright thehorses.com