Waking up this morning was almost like just any other Monday morning for track announcer Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle, but on this February 4 -- World Cancer Day -- he was determined to help in adding to the numbers for Team To The Moon - an idea brought to fruition, a few years ago, by the husband-wife team of Lou and Maria Sorella of Mississauga, Ontario.
"On a day when all tracks in Ontario cancelled live racing, due to unseasonably warm winter weather that has caused unsafe track conditions, Team To The Moon had been busy recruiting members to help raise funds in support of Breast Cancer Awareness," says Team Director Lou Sorella.
Doyle saw a Facebook video clip early Monday morning of Brendan Curran training pacing colt The Fox down in Charlottetown, PEI. "A childhood friend of mine, Joey Blacquire, was very excited to show me his brand-new ownership licence while I had been home for my Christmas holiday in PEI. That licence now has him involved as part of the fractional ownership group behind The Fox.
Horseman Brendan Curran gives early lessons to The Fox around Red Shores Charlottetown. (Brendan Curran)
"I reached out to Brendan and he was happy to hear that we'd be looking after The Fox in terms of his role with Team To The Moon. Another call here and there, a few more Facebook and Twitter posts throughout the day and before we knew it Lou Sorella was in beast mode taking on new recruits."
"Today had to have been my busiest day in the last four years," mentions Sorella. "As the saying goes if you blinked - you missed it. I could barely keep up with the multiple requests that came in from social media pages both on Twitter and Facebook.
"Today we added trainers Dain Pearson and 2018 O'Brien Award Future Star winner Chris Lancaster," beamed Lou. "On the equine side we have a fan favourite and horse loved by everyone around in Fork, owned by Sarah Lauren Scott, a longtime supporter of Team To The Moon... Sarah has been the best from day-one! She's been there with brow-bands and other Team To the Moon apparel that some of our horses wear and we love her for that."
Also added today were the following horses from east of Ontario: The Fox (Brendan Curran/Sugar Doyle), MUuzzysenglishbaby (Joe Poirier) and Electric Syl (The Rennison Family). From western Canada, top class pacing mare BIG SHIR (Gilbert, Lambie & Lancaster) was added to the fold.
"Today will go down, in our books, as one of the best days, ever, for new members joining our group," explains Sorella. "I never wish to see them cancel racing, but because of today's cancellations our Team was able to do something special -- it was an open day that brought some new people and faces together as one -- to TEAM up and fight for this very important cause."
Monday morning the Team had consisted of just five horses, one realtor and one driver.
"Right now Team To The Moon has 10 horses listed, one driver and two trainers, plus we have Tom McPhail, a well-known realtor from the Milton and surrounding area. Together we are now a bigger and better Team To The Moon - all with the same goal. And that is to have fun and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness," concluded Sorella.
Feel free to contact Lou Sorella via Facebook or Twitter anytime to discuss details on joining up to race, in part, for Team To The Moon and Breast Cancer Awareness.
(with files from Team To The Moon)