“I said, ‘You know what, we’re here, we might as well carry on.’ There’s no point in crawling up in a ball and crying. You got to push through it. It’s like the old saying, ‘You fall off the horse, you get right back on.’”
The ever-so-timely win for trainer Chantal Mitchell and Rakin It In last Monday at Woodbine Racetrack made immediate headlines in the harness racing industry. On Sunday, that story was front page content for traditional media as well.
Mitchell and Rakin It In were featured on the front of Sunday's Toronto Sun with a feature story courtesy writer Steve Buffery.
Mitchell was racing Rakin It In on Monday, January 4 at Woodbine Racetrack. She brought the pacer back to Classy Lane Training Centre and found Barn 1 ablaze. She lost 10 horses, including seven Standardbreds, equipment and clothing. Tangibly she was just left with Rakin It In, but she and the others affected by the tragic fire have been met with a continuous outpouring of support from the racing community and beyond.
“It’s been crazy,” Mitchell told The Toronto Sun. “But the support from everyone has been unbelievable -- people calling, and texting and sending money. It was just so unbelievable, it just blows my mind.”
Rakin It In, unraced at three due to injury, gave Mitchell something else to smile about last Monday when Chris Christoforou helped guide the four-year-old pacer to his maiden-breaking score.
“I’m flabbergasted, I’m floored,” said Mitchell after taking Rakin It In to the Woodbine test barn. “I’m just happy for the first time in a whole week. He picked a great time to do it ... It’s so nice. It’s like one big family here. And if he never wins a race again, well, he picked the right night to win a race.”
Mr.Riga, very well said. This
Mr.Riga, very well said. This is the way a lot of us fans feel. I could not have expressed it better.
Nice to see the smile on
Nice to see the smile on Chantal's face under some very tough circumstances. Very happy for her and wishing her and all those affected by the recent tragedy all the best in the coming year.
While we don't obviously suffer the financial losses and I dare not compare our level of sorrow, as fans of the sport we feel the sorrow as well. We also in our own way become attached to these magnificent creatures who have provided us with so many thrilling and memorable moments in our lives.
The horse racing community is one of the most tight knit and resilient group of people around. While I have often said that despite sometimes being angry about a certain drive or how a race went etc. etc. I take no pleasure in seeing any tragedy befall any fellow human being or creature. At this moment my hearts are joined to yours in hoping for a speedy recovery from this devastating experience.
God Bless