Horse Racing: Spill at the Canadian Derby, No Hesitation wins
It was a good day for horse racing. The fans had flocked to Northlands Park in record numbers and they were aching for a day of racing and betting. Their enthusiasm was evident and their energy just pouring out as thousands of horse racing enthusiasts cheered on the horses and jockeys.
Then suddenly it all went quiet. Gasps replaced cheering as the crowds looked on in horror at the track. One of the favourites and trained by Jim Meyaard, who also trained the winner ‘No Hesitation,’ stumbled and fell. Coming in right behind the fallen horse, ‘Professor Pollard,’ ‘Dyna Stroll’ and ‘Stachys’ also fell as they collided with the fallen horse.
None of the horses or Jockeys involved in the spill were seriously hurt. Meyaard reported that Professor Pollard was ‘skinned up’ but seemed to be fine otherwise. The spill occurred about almost half a mile from the finish line. Meyaard said that the crash distracted him from No Hesitation because one of Meyaard’s horses was involved in it.
“My heart stopped,” Meyaard said adding that it wasn’t until the winner was well into the final turn when Meyaard looked at the front end of the field. Meyaard’s attention was fixed on Professor Pollard until he got up. That’s when the trainer got his first hint that the horses were not seriously hurt and he looked down at his winning horse. Meyaard said that the spill took away all the excitement and emotions of winning the $300,000 Canadian Derby.
Jockey, Anthony Solgado, who rode Professor Pollard said that Gold Medallion moved a little too close to him clipping the heel of the horse causing the spill. Solgado said that he didn’t get any time to react. Neither did Dyna Stroll with Jockey, Mario Gutierrez have time to react and crashed into the fallen horse.
Stachys was now headed full speed at a two horse pile up. Jockey Derek Bell realized that there was nothing else that he could do so he tried to get the horse to jump over Professor Pollard and Dyna Stroll. “I almost made it,” Bell said. All three came out uninjured. The condition of the horses would be made clear in the next few days.
The focus might have shifted from No Hesitation but ultimately it was, again, his day. The aptly named horse showed no hesitation to win his fifth race of his past five starts and fourth consecutive stakes race. But the Derby was the biggest of his recent achievements for the horse and owner. No Hesitation’s earnings got a boost of $180,000 with the win.
‘Ranger Hartley’ and ‘Gold Medallion’ were leading the field. However, both soon fell off pace and were left behind when the field caught up with them. Taking the lead initially was Kara’s Orientation. The horse ran on the outside and kept a regular pace all the way to the finish but was not fast enough for No Hesitation.
Jockey Rico Walcott aboard No Hesitation was almost worried by all the energy his mount had in him. Walcott said that he wanted to take things slow but No Hesitations thrust him into the front. “I didn’t want to go so fast so early”.
Jockey Emile Ramsammy said that with two and a half furlongs left he thought he would have won the race but was forced into second place a 1 ½ lengths behind No Hesitation.
The owner couldn’t be happier with her horse. Barb bought No Hesitation for just $30,000 dollars in January last year and now the horse has earned her over $280,000. Barb said that she didn’t even look at the accident on the track. “My horse was in the first three and I never took my eyes off him”.
No Hesitation paid $4.70, $3.60, and $2.90, Kara’s Orientation returned $5.80 and $4.60. Distorted Dave paid $5.20 to show.
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