When the 2022 O'Brien Awards were handed out last weekend, one of the night's big winners was Dr. Ian Moore. The trainer picked up his second O'Brien Award of Horsemanship while also collecting an O'Brien as the conditioner of Stockade Seelster. Moore, however, was not there to receive the honours.
Trot Insider learned just prior to the black tie gala that Moore sustained an injury while training in Florida.
The injury occurred as Moore was training a set at Spring Garden Ranch on Wednesday, Jan. 26. Jogging on the inside of the track, Moore got hit by a young horse that was spooked by a tractor and he was knocked out of the bike. He broke multiple ribs from the fall. In 2012, Moore broke a number of ribs in a training accident at The Meadows and some of those previously fractured ribs were broken again.
Moore took a break from a midweek drumming session to provide an update on his recovery. He recently made his return to the barn after an eight-day absence and watched as a set of his two-year-olds train between 2:40 and 2:45.
"I've got Ronnie Waples helping me and Kim Miller and Ted Nadhazi. I’m probably going to be six weeks [recovering], typical thing – six to eight weeks," Moore said of his return to the barn. "I’m missing my hockey, missed the trip to the O’Briens, I was supposed to go to California to help with the build of my new plane for a few days and then fly one in the afternoon, to get the 10 hours necessary for the insurance. So I’m missing a lot of things right now.
"I get a bit depressed when I can’t get to the barn," Moore continued, "and then I get depressed watching them without me out there. A couple of good things came out of it – I got all my tax reports all done. And I got my iPod all updated with songs. I got a whole bunch of stuff done at my desk so I’m right up to date."
The haul from the 2022 O'Brien Awards definitely lifted his spirits.
On Saturday (Feb. 4), Moore's State Treasurer colt Stockade Seelster was honoured as the 2022 O'Brien Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year off a campaign of eight wins from 11 starts with $917,470 banked. The trainer was also named the winner of the O'Brien Award for Horsemanship.
"Trying to still be humble, we were hoping and expecting for Stockade [Seelster] to win," noted Moore. "As far as the other award goes, it's always nice to get recognized by your peers. But I'm sure that there were a lot of deserving people in that room as much as I was – and in particular, the co-nominee Shawn [Steacy], who I'm sure is going to be around for a lot more of these than I am. It’s always nice to see youth do well."
Moore did miss attending the crowning of his colt, but hopes to recover enough to see his colt honoured in the U.S. Stockade Seelster, despite never racing south of the border at two, was named the Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and will be honoured in Florida on Feb. 19.
"It's only 45 minutes [to the Dan Patch Awards], so I might do that," said the Florida-based conditioner. "I’m getting more mobile than I was. It seems to be progressing a little quicker than the last time, 2012, when I had four broken ribs with Eighteen down at the Adios. That was a long time and a lot of pain, but it seems to be coming along a lot quicker and I’m hoping to be back on the go in a couple weeks."
Stockade Seelster is back in training for Moore and owners Sally & Paul MacDonald. Moore did get to sit behind him before his spill, but is now watching from the sidelines.
"I actually got to jog him three days before the incident happened to me, so I've got Ronnie Waples helping me now, Ronnie and Ted Nadhazi. They’re jogging him now and he’s looking pretty good."