The Canadian Sportsman

The best from our Post Parade Q & A feature

Past Posts

Favourite answers from past Post Parades

Rick Zeron (April 29, 2004):

What is the best advice a mentor ever gave you?
“My mentor, Andre St. Amour, who used to be a top driver at Rideau Carleton, told my wife, ‘You let him scream, because he will never have a breakdown’.”

On a scale of 1 to 10 how competitive are you?
“I’d say 23, but my family says it’s way over that.”

David Scharf (May 1, 2008):

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
“Getting into the passenger seat with my daughter Nicole on her 17th birthday to go driving in New York City. And next February I get to do it again when Lauren gets her license.”

You can only do one of the following: (1) Win the Hambletonian again; (2) Go on stage with The Boss at Madison Square Garden and sing backup for one song or (3) Sit behind home plate as the Yankees clinch the World Series at home. Which do you choose?
“If you meant ‘sit behind home plate’ as in I was the CATCHER, then that’s my choice hands down!! But if you meant as a fan, I’ll probably be sitting somewhere else in the ballpark so my choice is easy, I’d want to win the Hambletonian again.”

Ron Gurfein (March 20, 2008):

Deep thoughts first. What is the secret to life?
“Always think positively. Never let negatively enter your body. Love everybody. Don’t involve yourself with hatred or fears. Don’t waste mental energy on things that aren’t positive.”

You’re more stylish than most trainers. What’s the secret to dressing well?
“I’m the only trainer that grew up in Manhattan.”

The Commish
Everyone gets the “If you were the Commissioner of all of harness racing...” question. Here’s the best responses.

Cal Stiller (Oct. 25, 2007):
“I would appoint John Campbell with complete executive authority for 10 years.”

Chuck Keeling (March 26, 2009):
“Allow horseplayers to legitimately participate in the decision making process; in other words, make all industry stakeholders truly answer to its customers.”

Hec Clouthier (Feb. 12, 2009):
“Drastically reduce the medication we give our horses. Unlike other athletes, our athletes (horses) have absolutely no say in what is put into their bodies. A man who I truly respect, Jack Kopas, was fond of saying the best medication for a horse was Dr. Green (as in green pasture). Enough said.”

Handicapping Challenge
Post Parade subjects set the odds when asked the “chances the following will occur in the next 10 years”

Betting on harness racing will reverse the current trend and start rising?
Ron Gurfein (March 20, 2008) — “It has already. We’ve hit rock bottom. Now the trick is to keep the trend going up for awhile.”
Moira Fanning (Oct. 18, 2008) — “2-1.” Ontrack betting? 50-1”
Hugh Mitchell (Nov. 27, 2008) — “100-1.”
Kelly Spencer (Jan. 5, 2009) — “2-1”
Chris Roberts (Jan. 22, 2009) — “3-1”
Chuck Keeling (March 26, 2009) — “10-1”
Hec Clouthier (Feb. 12, 2009) — “4-1”

Discarded Cover Lines

Coming up with the perfect words to match a Canadian Sportsman cover photo is not always a match made in heaven.
Check out these gems, the best of the worst we kicked around for recent issues...

Nov. 12, 2009:
The story:
Eight months after an eight-horse wreck at Woodbine left driver Robert Shepherd sidelined for three months with a severely broken leg, the 29-year-old up-and-comer has regained his career momentum with two victories in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots Championships at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

What we went with:

What it could have been:

I hate it when all of these hot shot trainers and owners can’t be bothered to grace us with their presence in the winner’s circle after winning a big race. On some nights, we’ve got more people out there presenting trophies than we’ve got collecting them. What in tarnation?

It’s a slap in the face to all of us old-timers who used to race for a box of crackers and a stick of gum when we see no one showing up, much less showing up excitedly, to claim their prize. Today, the worst horse, in the worst race on the card has likely made more money than us grinders ever got from a good, honest horse back in the day. So do me a favour and don’t act like you’re too good for it.

I know these guys and gals, with 80-horse stables spread out over two countries, racing at umpteen different places can’t be everywhere. But someone should surely be there when there’s big money on the line.

Sure, it’s your party and you can cry if you want to. But I don’t think there are a lot of Sweet 16 parties where the guest of honour sits upstairs in her bedroom and asks the guests to just leave the gifts on the doorstep.

Put a smile on your face, show a little respect and get out there to claim your trophy. Your reward will be the $100,000 cheque they are going to cut you for winning the damn thing.

Believe me, I like staying in the comfort of my own living room, soaking my feet in Epsom salt and watching the races on my TV just like the next guy. But there’s no one standing out in the cold waiting to congratulate me on my greatness, either. If there was, I’d be there with bells on wearing a freakin’ top hat and monocle.

I recently saw in The Sportsman that someone made a smart-aleck comment about Angie Stiller hoisting a Grassroots trophy over her head like it was the Stanley Cup. Don’t listen to them, Ms. Stiller. That’s what I want to see — a little appreciation that these things are nothing to sniff at. Winning is a good thing and having a good horse is a privilege. I’m glad someone realizes it.