Going as Far as She Can in an Industry She Loves

by Stacie Roberts | Canadian Thoroughbred July 2009



Most people on the backstretch at Woodbine just call her “Kat”. A shortened version of her full name Katerina Vassilieva, she is also otherwise known as the Assistant Trainer of Pennsylvania based trainer Mike Pino. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Katerina’s mother and father brought her to Canada in 1989 in hope of securing a brighter future for their only… Continue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZsVGIY3chY&feature=channel

They did it again! Amazing race today as they won the Mother Goose stakes at Belmont and set a record. They won by over 20 lengths! And she made it looks SO EASY!!

Tomorrow is the big day for Calvin and Mine That Bird! He has had a busy week in New York! He, his fiancee, Lisa, and her parents Suzanne (my Heart Land Horse Rescue co-counder) and Mike have been playing celebrity tourists all week! Tuesday he taped Letterman, which airs tonight! Yesterday he rang the bell at the NYSE and this morning was on Good Morning America! And of course he has been to Belmont to see MTB. Suzanne called me this morning, very excited, because while at GMA, she spoke to a… Continue

Last week Evie and I spent our time “toiling” in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, home of the Northlands Horse Show. Edmonton Northlands Horse Show has become one of the premier events in Western Canada under the stewardship of the Edmonton Hunter – Jumper Association and the direction of Show Manager Caroline Jones. The event is unique in the fact that it is held on the infield of Northlands Race Track, who along with Hastings Park in Vancouver is the location for all of western Canada’s Grade… Continue

Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness Stakes, Canadian champ Mine That Bird second

Lee-Anne Goodman, THE CANADIAN PRESS



BALTIMORE- Canadian champ Mine That Bird stunned naysayers on Saturday to come within a length of repeating his jaw-dropping Kentucky Derby victory at the Preakness Stakes, proving he's far from a one-hit racehorse wonder.



Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924, but she did it with a feisty Mine That Bird nipping at her… Continue

Grand National fever again last Monday. This time the €250,000 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in Co Meath, not far from the famous Dreaper stable which once housed the greatest steeplechaser of all time, Arkle. It was won by the English trained, but Irish bred, Niche Market, brilliantly ridden by 19 year old Harry Skelton. There is a showjumping connection here as Harry is the son of British veteran Nick Skelton, who in recent years came back from serious injury and retirement to be one…

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Every April in the UK the world stops for The Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree. It is the richest race of the year with the incredible prize money of £900.000. The winner immediately becomes front page news on every national newspaper and will still feature in quiz questions round the country twenty years afterwards!



I was brought up with the history of the Grand National and those famous Aintree fences, Beechers Brook, The Chair and The Canal Turn…..1954 The Queen’s horse…

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Have you ever wondered what kind of jobs exist in the racing industry?

Try this list on for size...





Track Manager

The track manager is the queen ant. He or she makes sure that all parts of this operation run smoothly and that an exciting program of racing is presented to the public.





Race Secretary

The race secretary manages the track's racing operation. They structure and oversee the day-to-day program of races and…

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Frustrations mount.



The open house at Greener Pastures went very well, with quite a large turn out but no real on the spot buyers for that day. For me, salfishly, it was a good thing as no one put their dibes in on the gelding I am hoping to adopt as soon as I can find a job.



It is becoming very frustration. I have been over a year now without a permanent job and still no takers on my resume. I am so ready to bring home my new horse and start with his re-education and to…

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Well, it's not a done deal yet, but it's really looking like I will be adopting a Standardbred very soon. I was all set to do it last month and then got laid off my job so that sort of put a hold on the proceedings. Still, I have ridden this little fellow a couple of times now and am really pleased with him so I expect I will find a way. I feel confident that I will be back working again soon and can finally get this gelding home and start getting to know him.



Greener Pastures in…

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Next week's To Do List includes a famous Will Rogers quote about horse racing.



And if you are a horse racing fan, you might enjoy this website dedicated to the Triple Crown Trail.

The painting is of Prepstress, a Thoroughbred mare, whose sire is is the famous Skip Away. Read more about Prepstress; her painting is part of my "Beautiful Horses of Ohio" series.…

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The following is inspired by "Lily" (I am not using her real name, as I do not want to comprimise the ongoing investigation into the conditions under which she was found); an older Thoroughbred mare with whom I had brief contact. This mare probably had a story common to many OTTB's; a race career, ending for some reason or another; a "rescue" thereafter, only to fall into a state of neglect, depravity & hunger. Subsequent "rescues" followed that, until she came to be taken to a place I'll… Continue