Christoforou Issues Statement
After having announced his return to the sulky after a six-month sabbatical, Chris Christoforou returned to the racetrack less than two weeks ago. He proved that he still has what it takes to be one of Canada's marquee reinsman, but the three-time O'Brien Award winner has told Trot Insider that he is taking another
self-imposed hiatus.
Over the course of his career, the 'Golden Greek' has steered his mounts to more than 5,300 victories and just under $85 million in purse earnings.
Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Christoforou all the best in his fight.
Christoforou's words appear below in their entirety.
To My Fellow Horsemen and Women;
It has recently become obvious to me that I need and want immediate professional therapy to help me fight an addiction I have developed to prescription pain medication. I have tried to control this problem myself, and although I am currently clean and am winning the battle, I feel as though I'm fighting something I don't fully understand yet.
With the help of a loving family and wonderful friends I have decided to enter a 45-day, 12-step program in the United States in the hope of getting my life and career back on track.
The encouragement and support I have received from everyone (especially in the past few weeks) has been overwhelming -- THANK YOU! It also serves as a reminder to me as to why I love this business and the people in it.
I have been in this business my entire life and one thing has never changed -- when one of us is down on their luck, there's never a shortage of people in this industry to step in and help out in any way they can. So when we hear and read about harness racing being in trouble, please remember this: Our breed of horses is strong, has a lot of stamina and is big-hearted -- just like the people that race them! If we put our heads together and keep trying to improve our product we can and will survive!
I look forward to seeing you all when I return to racing, and wish you all the best of luck on and off of the racetrack.
Sincerely,
Chris Christoforou, Jr.
Related Stories
• Christoforou Serves Notice
• Christoforou Discusses Return
HI Cgris. I am proud of you
HI Cgris. I am proud of you for doing this. You will never lose your ability to drive. I myslf am keeping a low profile from this great sport of ours. The 12 steps are used in any kind of addiction. Stay focused on yourself. It takes courage to stop an adddiction. God will help you also. Stay clean and safe!!!
Best of Luck to you
Best of Luck to you Chris.
It takes an amazing amount of courage to admit you have a problem and choose to seek help for that problem but to share it with all your fellow horsepeople is even more impressive.
wishing you all the best in your recovery
Marie Stoyles-Moura
Good going Chris I was very
Good going Chris
I was very happy to see You back to driving after a long understandable time off.I hope everything goes O.K. with Your program and be back to racing and show some of the big boys how to drive the way You use to. I wish that every one would admit to their mistakes instead of making excuses as to why they were off for long periods of time. John
Congratulations Chris. keep
Congratulations Chris. keep up the good work, but One Day at a Time
Good for you Chris and good
Good for you Chris and good luck.
You are on your way . You have step one and two,admitting and acknowledging that you need help with your addiction.
I couldn't do it on my own either and today I am 29 months clean (clean date-Sept 11/07).
It's not easy but the gifts received from living clean are amazing.
My good wishes and thoughts go out to you.
Pat Dillon
Hey Chris, I would like to
Hey Chris,
I would like to wish you all the best of luck with your endeavour's and I'm really looking forward to seeing you back in the bike.
Best of luck,
Kyle Burton
(still your #1 fan, thanks for the suit!)
Good luck Chris, We all have
Good luck Chris, We all have some demons in us, realizing that you have a problem is half the battle. I know you have the Cypriot blood in you, Us Cypriots are fighters, You will get thru this. Go get em South paw!
If only every sport had as
If only every sport had as positive a role model as you, Chris! Congratulations on taking charge and doing what you need to do. I wish you all the best and hope to see you on the track soon!
Best of luck to you Chris!
Best of luck to you Chris! You have a lot of support behind you.
CHRIS OUR THOUGHTS AND
CHRIS OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WHIT YOU.IN THIS COURAGEUS STEP.WHISHING YOU ALL THE BEST.GOD BLESS YOU.AND CHIARA LONGO
Chris, you have shown the
Chris, you have shown the class and stamina to beat this. You have already did what so many can't. As a gambler only, it will sure be nice to see that some of the others that didn't do what you are doing now, will probably make them step up and take control of their lives again like you. All the best and hope for a speedy recovery.
All the best in you recovery
All the best in you recovery Chris!!
Knowing you have a problem and tackling it head on is 75% of the battle!!
Way to go Chris ; )It takes
Way to go Chris ; )It takes a big man to admit to having a problem and it takes an even bigger man to do something about it.
You are on your way down the wonderfull road of recovery.
And let me be living proof that recovery is possible.
be strong, be brave and we will see a new chris in the near future.
Here's to a speedy recovery
Here's to a speedy recovery Chris. All the best!
You will move back to the
You will move back to the top that i am sure of ! You have way to much talent and now you have the determination which is great to see !! C.S.C
Best of Luck JR...
Best of Luck JR... Thoughts and Prayers are with YA...She can be a Tough Battle,You'll Maker. I Did .. Lookin forward to seeing you in the Winners Circle again soon....
Chris; You're taking a very
Chris;
You're taking a very courageous step. You can do it!
Chris, Best wishes to you as
Chris,
Best wishes to you as you continue your journey. Realizing you need help is courageous. Your desire to become victorious is sincere.
We look forward to your return.
Chris, it takes a lot of
Chris, it takes a lot of guts and a lot of class to tackle this situation head on like you have. I wish you all the best with this. Keep your chin up! Brighter days are just around the corner!
Chris, We wish you all the
Chris,
We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you back in the bike.
you"ll be golden....
you"ll be golden.... greek...good luck :)
Congratulations
Congratulations Chris!!!!!..Now it's time to look forward. The Past is exactly that...."The Past".Best of Luck on your sabattical to the U.S. You'll do just fine!
This is a classy move and
This is a classy move and you've already won half the battle by admitting a problem existed.I wish you all the best with the program and hope to see you back on the circuit soon.
As a fellow member of a 12
As a fellow member of a 12 step program I can understand what Chris is going through. One day at a time Chris
Anyone who admits to their
Anyone who admits to their addiction and is ready to seek help is already on the road to recovery. Best wishes to you and may your health be restored so that you can carry on with the work that you love best.