On Thursday, November 10, just hours before Remembrance Day, a three-year-old trotter broke his maiden at first asking during an overnight at Woodbine Racetrack. On the surface it doesn't sound like much, but when the trotter's name is Vimy Ridge, well, you know there is a story there
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For those unaware of significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the three-day military engagement in France was a hard-fought triumph for Canadian forces over the German Sixth Army in April of 1917 during the first World War. The offensive ultimately ended up a successful proving ground for the mettle of brave Canadians that were up against extreme odds. The victorious siege has been a galvanizing beacon of Canadian pride ever since.
So, seeing as though a trotter with the handle Vimy Ridge was in action November 10, there was surely more at play than mere coincidence.
"He was born April 9, and he had the name 'Vimy' from Day 1," co-owner/breeder Edward 'Ted' Wilson told Trot Insider (April 9 was the first day of the Vimy Ridge battle in 1917).
Wilson, along with Vimy Ridge's trainer, Rob Fellows, told Trot Insider that they had hoped to start the three-year-old son of Kadabra on November 11, but the way it worked out he went out and broke his maiden the day before. Although the win didn't come on Remembrance Day itself, anyone that figured they were up for a hunch bet probably reaped a decent windfall.
Having started from the rail with Sylvain Filion at the controls, Vimy Ridge sat patiently throughout the mile. Filion got his charge fired up in the final quarter and began his assault on the front steppers. Firing home with trot, Vimy Ridge surged past the leaders, posted a two-length triumph and returned $10 on a successful Win wager.
"I was headed down to the winner's circle and a gentleman, a veteran, stopped me and said that he saw the horse in the program and just had to bet it," Wilson said of the victorious punter.
Vimy Ridge is not just a horse with a great handle, and Wilson is not just a horseman looking to stamp a snazzy tag on his charge. The former is a full brother to half-million-dollar earner Wilsonator. Wilson, a resident of Seagrave, Ont., is a retired history teacher that bred and co-owns Vimy Ridge along with Michael Pozefsky of Saratoga Springs, New York.
To make the story even more interesting, Wilson probably helped instill the cultural importance of Vimy Ridge into trainer Fellows, who was a student of Wilson's years ago when he was going through the school system.
As for Vimy Ridge, the equine, Fellows and Wilson told Trot Insider that the colt was unable to reap the benefits of the Ontario Sires Stakes program due to inopportune injuries.
"He cracked a knee and suffered a stress line in May of his two-year-old season," Wilson said. "That was enough to sideline him for his freshman year. This year, in March, it happened again and he had to miss the 2011 stakes season as well. It was unfortunate because we had him staked right up."
As San Pail and many other trotters have shown, sometimes being forced to wait on a talented trotter is not the worst thing in the world. The battles will always be there, but, as the past has proven, sometimes it is advantageous to lay out a plan and pick your spots.
One spot which Wilson revealed is an upcoming series at Woodbine Racetrack, but the horseman also said that Vimy Ridge could be back assaulting his foes as soon as next week.
To view the harness racing results from Woodbine's Thursday card of racing, click the following link: Woodbine Racetrack: Thursday, Nov. 10.