Sunday's cover of the Edmonton Sun featured a face familiar to those at Northlands Park promoting the Sun's Bingo contest, and Katie Graham is more than pleased to help promote the industry she loves
at the same time.
"I was totally flattered and excited to be asked to do the shoot," Graham, 19, told Trot Insider. "Anything to help promote harness racing, I'm game for!"
Graham and fellow grooms Jodi Loftus and Felisha Murphy were part of a photo shoot at Northlands for the Sun's six-week contest.
"It was great that I got to do the shoot with Jodi and Felisha," continued Graham, who was in her first professional shoot. "People say that we looked great and I think the photos turned out good so that's a plus."
Graham is part of a family entrenched in the standardbred business. Katie and sister Margaret are handling a bit more of the stable duties as of late while their father, renowned horseman Ron Graham, is currently on the sidelines with a broken elbow.
"I look up to my dad and respect him so much I don't know what I would do with out him. He has taught me everything I know. My dad was made for harness racing, he's Grand Circuit material himself. I hope one day I can become as great as he is."
The aspiring trainer hopes to follow in her father's footsteps with a lifelong career in the industry.
"As long as my dad is by my side we'll be racing, even if he just becomes my catch driver. It's great that he drives our horses because if he makes a bad call in the race I can get mad at him and he still has to drive next week," joked Graham.
There were not many calls for complaints in 2009 when the Grahams campaigned award-winning colt Sixdaysontheroad to a nearly flawless season for owners Walter Moroz of Edmonton and Willie Wychopen of St. Paul, Alta. The four-year-old son of Allamerican Native has since moved onto Canada's toughest circuit at Woodbine Racetrack and is showing his Western success was no fluke. Now in the stable of Gord Remmen, 'Sixpack' - as Graham calls him - has tallied five wins in seven starts in 2010, including a sharp 1:52.1 score in Saturday's opening leg of the Cam Fella Series.
"I miss him so much, he's my buddy," said Graham. "It was nice to be around a horse who just couldn't wait to get behind the gate! And Wally Moroz is one of my most favourite people."
Graham's love of racing goes hand in hand with her competitive nature. Off the track, she refers to herself as a "total jock" in high school, finding time to play basketball when not at the track.
"I love the competition in racing. The business itself is so tough and can be hard to keep pace but when you start winning and your horses are racing to their full potential it's the best feeling ever," stated Graham. "I work hard at it because it's in my blood and what I do best."