I love my job. Where everyday is always and never the same.

Iʼve got the best of both worlds. The security of knowing that I will see the same faces tomorrow as the ones that greeted me yesterday juxtaposed with expecting the unexpected equals a perfect day at the office for me.
 
Imagine a place where you can go anticipating a delightful surprise every single day, but never really knowing when, or how. Sometimes the best part of my day is NOT picking the winner. Donʼt get me wrong. I do not take oversights lightly. What woman doesnʼt want to be right all of the time? But on certain occasions, the joy and surprise a victory brings to the winning connections far outweighs damage to my pride. So Iʼm okay with that.

Take Wednesday, for example. Race six on the card. The outdoor paddock is packed with fans enjoying Canada Day at the races. I was watching trainer Doug MacDonald chatting with apprentice jockey Omar Moreno in the walking ring. Looked to be a few last minute instructions from the voice of experience, some lighthearted banter and a couple of smiles. Then itʼs the familiar “Riders Up” call and away they go. Omar gets a leg up on Gorgeous Gabrysia, just as he did once before on June 17th. But this time, he would cross the Northlands finish line in front for the first time in his riding career. She paid $14 to win, and I didnʼt pick her. But, this was definitely a race I didn’t mind losing. It was an amazing moment for a rising star in our industry and a special memory for race fans to be part of it. As a graduate of the Olds College riding program, we have all watched Omar learn and grow over the past few years. He has been so highly regarded by his peers, described as athletic, intelligent, keen, hard working and most complimentary of all, a natural.

One hour after Moreno’s big moment, on the other end of the spectrum, one of the most decorated veteran riders gets the spotlight. To start the day, Perry Winters did not have a mount in the $50,000 feature Western Canada. But, true to form, a twist of fate was to come during a day at the races and he picked up a live horse in the stake.

Where the bug boy has ridden about 40 races on the A circuit, Perry has made thousands of trips around our oval in the past 29 years, to the tune of about 19,000 mounts! (He still remembers riding his first winner in Lethbridge in 1980!) Perry holds the record for the most wins in the history of several different stake races including the City of Edmonton Distaff, the Edmonton Klondike, the Alberta Premier's Futurity and the Princess Margaret. He is a four time winner of the Ky Alta and has won all of the Derbys, some on more than one occasion. He is a star well on his way to winning a remarkable 3,000 races! Go Perry!

Winters inched his way closer to that milestone Wednesday with two wins on the card, most impressive was a victory aboard Caseyʼs On Call in the main event. I picked him to Place, like most everyone else I was on the Pop Artist band wagon. But I couldnʼt be happier to lose! Perry is one of those guys you canʼt help to cheer for.  He is a gentlemen who conducts himself with class and integrity and has been an advocate of the sport for decades.

All that excitement in only two races! Imagine an entire day at Northlands? Just another afternoon at the office for me. Canʼt wait till Friday!
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