Four weeks ago, Billy Davis, Jr. announced he was heading east. This week, Bill Davis has announced he is heading to Ontario as well
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“Things are getting kind of dead out here. With the purses being cut, and racing two days a week, it’s just not enough,” said the 47-year-old Davis. “There are so many horses here right now, it is tough to get them in to go, lots of horses are racing every three weeks. The owners are finding it tough paying the bills right now. All costs have gone up, but the purses have gone down, makes it tough. Lots of owners are bailing and getting out.”
Bill Davis, who has been 'the Man' on the left coast for over two decades with 2,942 training victories, will be moving closer to his birthplace of Peterborough, Ont.
“It has come down to two things, either get out of the business or go somewhere where we can race and make some money. I don’t want to leave BC, but I feel we are forced to,” stated Davis.
“I am not going with a whole lot of power, taking 10 horses with me of the 17 I am currently training. An ideal number for me to train is usually around 20 head, so hopefully I can get some more horses and owners once I get out there. The doors are open for business and hopefully I can do some catch driving as well,” continued the O'Brien Award of Horsemanship winner.
“I am shipping the stable into the Shamrock Training Centre near Cambridge, which is where we are looking for a home as well. The training centre seems to be in a great location, fairly close to all the tracks we will be racing at.”
Davis mentioned his home in Langley has been up for sale for about a week now.
“Billy will give me a hand moving out east and getting things set up, then he will venture out on his own,” stated Davis. “Our daughter Courtney is still in school, so my wife Laurie will remain behind with her until the end of August when Courtney has completed her eventing (equestrian competition) season. She has been preparing for the competition all year, so it’s not fair to her to leave before it ends. Our oldest daughter Megan (20) is going to stay in BC. She likes it here and doesn’t want to make the move.
“The first truck load of horses is leaving on the 17th of May, and then I’ll come back ten days later for the second load. So by the end of the month we should be out there and situated.
“The only thing that scares me a bit is not taking a lot of power with me, but, oh well...” summed up Davis.
With 5,075 driving wins lifetime, Davis is currently $150,000 away from $20 million in career purses.
(a Trot Insider exclusive by Todd Beelby)
I wish Bill Davis and family
I wish Bill Davis and family all the best. I have had horses with him in the past and new the family well. A class act and BC will miss him. It seems like Alberta and BC are certainly on the down for this great sport. Very sad.
It's sad to see such a great
It's sad to see such a great driver as Bill Davis have to leave BC...but it's only Ontario's gain...It's a sad time for racing in BC...I used to love watching & wagering on racing from Fraser...but the purses dropped...the quality horses left...even the regular track announcer seemed to disappear for awhile...Rick Uppal...The track used to offer 2 Win 4 wagers...took away the late Win 4 which in turn took me away..I like the exotic bets & they've vanished from Fraser...In turn you'll see more & more of the guys jump ship...you should take advantage now before the ship sinks...The Serge Masse's & Tim Brown's..Jim Marino's....they'd all be welcome driving down here in Ontario...If the track would offer the wagers the us handicappers are looking for...then in turn the purses wouldn't have nose dived like they did...you can't blame everything on the Casinos there...you offer a strong racing product to the consumer..they will come..you offer up the cheap $2000 purses & short fields & everyone's looking elsewhere...I wish Bill Davis & his son & family all the best on their move back home & look forward to placing a few wagers your way in the future....