Horse racing always tries its best to crack the mainstream news publications. Racetrack PR workers try to find angles, get great quotes, craft an interesting story, and pitch it to general media. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Regardless of how it got there, a story about a backstretch cat – sorry, ‘handicatter’ – on the Woodbine circuit has cracked the Toronto Star.
An abandoned tabby cat from a Florida racetrack was taken in and relocated to the backstretch of Woodbine Racetrack – and, yes, ‘Gator Kitten’ was born.
As the Toronto Star article explains, Gator Kitten’s saviour, Sarah Ritchie, has turned the two-year-old feline into a bit of a darling on social media.
Given his clever handle due to the nature of his eyes, Gator Kitten has over 1,500 followers on Twitter. He dwells at Barn 28 in Woodbine Racetrack’s backstretch and is now laying claim to have trained stakes winners.
Gator Kitten has taken the position that he would like to have more horses in ‘his’ stable, but his true desire is, apparently, to become the spokesman for a national cat food brand.
For now, the mice will have to suffice.
To get to know Gator Kitten a bit better, check out the Toronto Star article or his Twitter account.
(With files from the Toronto Star)