This weekend, the Canadian harness racing community will be recognizing the hard work and dedication of the caretakers in the industry as National Caretaker Appreciation Day events and efforts take place from today, September 18 through September 20.

Due to COVID-19, things are much different this year and although protocols won’t allow for many of the recognition and reward items from past years to be put in place, but it’s probably more important than ever to recognize and show our appreciation for the caretakers keeping our horses healthy and safe while training and racing under unusual circumstances and protocols.

Many industry associations & partners, racetracks, trainers, and owners are all doing what they can to make this happen. Caretaker Appreciation events are being hosted at the following racetracks:

Friday, September 18 - Grand River Raceway, Truro Raceway, and Woodbine Mohawk Park

Saturday, September 19 - Century Downs, Kawartha Downs, Northside Downs, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at CDP

Sunday, September 20 - Flamboro Downs, Hippodrome 3R, Leamington Raceway, Red Shores Summerside Raceway

(Several other tracks that usually take part could not do so this year due to track protocols and limited resources, but SC looks forward to having them take part again next year.)

Some of the features at this year’s racetrack events include:

• Having caretakers’ names announced in the post parades and winner’s circle

• Awards for caretakers of winning horses

• Video profiles

• Complimentary win photos for caretakers

• Draw prizes and more

If you are posting any photos, etc. for Caretaker Appreciation, please use the hashtags #NCAD20 and #thehorsecomesfirst. If you would like to submit / share any photos, video for our Caretaker Appreciation wrap up, you can email [email protected], or [email protected].

SC would like to thank all the caretakers that were willing to be profiled in our Faces of Racing Series. If you have not read some of the features, the links are below:

Faces of Racing: Shanisty Andres
“I want to be the best horsewoman I can possibly be, and the only way to do that is to keep an open mind, have a good work ethic, patience and a sense of humour -- you can never take yourself too seriously!”

Faces Of Racing: Shane Baglole
“Getting up everyday and having the ability to learn something new... nobody knows everything so if you can learn something new each day you're doing well. Just be a sponge, take everything in, absorb it all, and if you can learn something new from all the different people you work for you've probably done something right.”

Faces Of Racing: Clara Mary Corbin
"To have the chance to work around good trainers, drivers and horses is one of the most rewarding aspects of working as a caretaker.”

Faces Of Racing: Kate MacNeil
“A strong work ethic, staying in good physical shape and being compassionate and listening to people are important to being a good caretaker...every day you can learn something from someone if you are open to suggestions.”

Faces Of Racing: Mathieu Nadeau
“A great reward for me as a caretaker is to see my horse win and see the effort that he gave to win that race but the greatest reward is seeing the improvements in a horse, week after week.”

Faces Of Racing: Fiona Reynolds
“Everyone I have worked for I have learned from, and everyone has a different way of doing things.”

Faces Of Racing: Jackie Starkewski
“My advice to new grooms is to pay attention to the horses, get to know them and respect them, they work hard for us. Be humble, there are always things to learn.”

Faces Of Racing: Ryan Wilkie
“One of the pillars to success in the industry is to stay positive through the process, and it's the positivity that makes the highs even higher.”