When Lyons Ruby crossed the wire first at Western Fair Raceway in the third race on January 6 driver Stephen Lees of Wales made Canada his latest addition to the long list of countries world wide where he's won a race.
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"By my count that makes it at least twelve countries that I've driven a winning horse in,” said the 50-year-old horseman. “Along with Wales and Great Britain, I've won races over my career in Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and now Canada."
"I feel very fortunate to have my health, this career and for the chance to race here,” he added. “I don't think you could find many drivers that could say they've won races in a dozen different countries 'round the world."
Lees, along with his wife and four children aged 4 through 16 settled in Ontario about two months ago into a permanent home at Harley, ON, west of Toronto and nearby to Flamboro Downs and Mohawk Racetrack.
A substantial portion of his travels have been part and parcel of being chosen as the United Kingdom representative to the World Driving Championships on three occasions. One of his favourite anecdotes involves USA driver Dave Magee of Chicago.
"A lot of people on first sight think I'm a good size to be a jockey but I'm just a little too heavy for that now," he says. "Because I'm not very tall there have been some countries where the race bikes didn't suit me well at all.
“That was the case in 1997 in Germany,” he added. “The stirrups weren't right and I had to lay back almost flat. I could barely see the horse I was driving and little else around me. I caused an accident which tore the bike right off the horse that Dave Magee of the United States was driving. It was frightening at the time but he did forgive me for it. Now that I'm in North America I hope our paths can cross again and I'm sure we'll have a good laugh about it."
Lees first tour of service in Canada dates to 1975. At age 17 he had tenures as a groom for Tom Artandi and Wes Coke and recalls living in the same dormitory as accomplished Canadian reinsman Steve Condren at the time they were both just starting out.
It was quite a jubilant sight trackside at Western Fair after Lyons Ruby and Lees won easily from the front end last Tuesday. His wife and all four children were out trackside to attend in the photo and help with the horse.
Lees says his oldest child, James, turned 16 yesterday and wasted no time in getting his Ontario Racing Commission grooms' license on the very date of the birthday which made him eligible for it.
"This is truly a family affair, we've put them all to work and they know their roles well," Lees explains. "Thanks to Geoffrey Lyons Mound we're getting this chance to live and race in Canada. Geoffrey is the primary owner I worked for back in Wales for fifteen years and he's building this training centre here in Ontario on 100 acres.
“We have a great neighbour in Wayne Langille that's helped me a lot,” he added. “Right now I have only six horses including the two I'm currently racing, Lyons Ruby and Rocket Tempo, but when the new barn and house are finished then you'll see things really get busy around here. And I hope folks in Ontario soon see more of me at the tracks and in the winner's circle too."
Awards Night Set For February 21
The 31st Annual Awards Banquet for Western Fair Raceway is set for Saturday, February 21 in the Carousel Room.
The evening will include a buffet dinner, door prizes, DJ and dancing. Tickets are $35 per person or $200 for a table of eight if booked by February 2.
Reservations can be made by contacting extension 320 at Western Fair. The toll free number is 1-800-619-4629.
New Filly and Mare Stakes Race
A February 15th nomination deadline has been established by Race Secretary and General Manager Ian Fleming for the new Forest City Pace at Western Fair.
The Filly and Mare Open Pace will have eliminations on October 10, 2009 for $18,000 each. The $150,000 (added) final will be on October 17. The nomination fee is $750.
J. Gary Keays Back In The Bike
Former horseman and Ontario Racing Commission judge Gary Keays, 62, has dusted off his driving suit. He suited up to drive at Western Fair on January 9 in a pair of qualifying races.
Under a two-second allowance, Keays guided Bear Creek Baron to a fifth-place finish in 2:07.3 and Fee F F A to a sixth-place clocking of 2:07. Both are trained by William Bannister of Denfield, ON.
Driving horses in frigid temperatures is certainly nothing new for Keays. In the press boxes at many Ontario tracks over the term of his judging career Keays recited many anecdotes of competing in temperatures approaching -40 in winter meets at Assinaboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Keays is a resident of Ailsa Craig, ON, the same hometown made famous by John and Jim Campbell, their parents, and by Canada's only NASCAR winning driver, Earl Ross. Keays also donates of his time in civic duty to help promote and stage the "Gala Days and Turtle Races" there each Summer.
Ohio's Hanners Now Here
A well-known name from the Buckeye State has brought his driving suit to Ontario to compete this Winter. Brad Hanners, 36, of Chillicothe, Ohio is listed for three drives on the Monday afternoon card at Western Fair.
For trainer Shannon Wonson, Hanners will drive first race starter Armbro Birthstone and ninth race entrant Whitesand Scarlet.
For trainer Andy Hardy, Hanners has been hired to pilot New Dice Please from Post 7 in the $18,400 purse Preferred Trot in the seventh race.
In 2008 from over 1,400 drives, Hanners won 162 times for purses of almost $1.7 million. Lifetime, Hanners has won 3,875 races and he'll soon surpass $30 million in lifetime driving purses.
Other features on the Monday afternoon program at Western Fair are the tenth race Mares Preferred Pace for a $15,200 purse, as Dangerous Years in Post 7 is morning line 2-1 choice; the $18,400 purse Preferred Pace in the twelfth race concludes the card with Post 4 starter Shadywood Baron looking to repeat his off the pace winning form from Boxing Day as the 2-1 early favourite in the evenly matched field of veterans.
Through June, Monday and Tuesday afternoon post time at Western Fair is 3:35 p.m. and Friday evening programs convene at 7:05 p.m.
The 2009 Molson Pace Championship night has been set for Friday, May 29. The nomination fee of $1,000 is due February 15.
(Western Fair Raceway)