The Canadian Sportsman
Lee Way
Back To Lee WayApril 08, 2010
It wasn’t the power of the parliament buildings or the quiet beauty of the canal that prompted trainer Jamie Copley to set up shop in Ottawa in 2003.
Leaving his home in Inverness, NS with five low-level claimers to his name in search of Ontario’s slot-infused purses, Copley simply made the most practical decision, geographically speaking, when he put down roots at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
“It was the closest track to Nova Scotia,” said Copley, 29, with a laugh. “I figured it would be the shortest trip back home if things didn’t work out here.”
Almost seven years later, Copley, who lives nearby in Greely, ON, hasn’t needed to take advantage of the relative proximity.
Beginning with those five $1,200-$1,500 claimers, Copley has steadily upgraded his stock and increased his numbers year after year. Currently, he is Rideau’s leading trainer with double the wins and money of his next closest competitor. Nationally, Copley ranks third with an outstanding .443 URS training percentage and sixth in wins with 47 in 2010.
During his first few years at Rideau he worked for other horsemen, including Joe MacIsaac, Matt Dupuis and Chad Schmiedge, while he learned how to craft his own stable.
His big break came when several trotters he trained for owner Pat Lang turned up in the winner’s circle, getting Copley’s name out among other owners in the area. Soon, he attracted owner T.P. Crawford who invested a considerable amount in horses to place in Copley’s care.
Last year, thanks to a breakout season from seven-year-old gelded pacer Duke, who won nine in a row at the beginning of the season, Copley expanded to about 30 horses and hired four employees to assist with his operation. He finished the year with a career-best record of 85-50-34 from 344 starts and more than $400,000 earned.
Through the first three months of this year, Copley is on pace for an even better season thanks to 47 wins and $260,000 in purses (through the first week of April), with special credit to strong performances from five-year-old pacer Did It Again, who has earned $47,000 with five victories in the Rideau preferred class and four-year-old pacer Tropical Luck contributing close to $40,000.
“I’m just playing it by ear and hopefully this good run will continue,” said Copley, who spends his downtime with his girlfriend Mandy and 15-month-old son Jacob.
Copley originally learned what he calls ‘the family business’ from his father Jimmy, a Nova Scotia horseman, as well as from his grandparents on his mother’s side of the family.
And it figures to continue to be a family-wide passion, with Copley registering Jacob and his four-year-old son from a previous relationship, Evan, who still lives in Inverness, as horse owners. Thanks to dad, the pre-Kindergarten duo holds the papers on Did It Again and Duke.
For Copley, it’s all about trying to introduce his sons to something he loves.
“It’s just horses for me. I really don’t do much that isn’t involved with that. I don’t follow hockey. I’m not into baseball. I just like training horses,” he said.
“I enjoyed training when I wasn’t doing well, so it’s just that much more fun now.”
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1.
April 9, 2010
12:21 PM
12:21 PM
Go get them Jake its nice to see you doing so well pal.
~ Chad Schmiedge
2.
April 27, 2010
8:28 PM
8:28 PM
Hey Jamie, What a terrific article about you and the success you are having. I am so proud of you and very happy that your life there in Ottawa is so contented. They say that to be very good at one's job, you have to love it and it is obvious that your passion for what your life with horses is truly paying off. All the best to you and your little family.
~ Gena Deagle
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