Randy Goulding: Horse racing returns to Hastings Friday and Saturday

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Deservedly or not, and probably deservedly, jockey agents at Hastings Racecourse have developed a reputation for being ruthless.

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Trapper Barroby, who is the agent for leading rider Amadeo Perez, Kimal Santo and beginning this week Antonio Reyes, doesn’t disagree with the above statement.

“I can be ruthless, but I’m not completely untrustworthy” said Barroby with a glint in his eye. “But I will do anything it takes to get my jockey the best mount in a race.”

A good example of what Barroby will do to get a good mount happened a few years ago when I was an agent. I had to miss a day of entries and Barroby told me he would help me out. I gave him the list of mounts my riders had and he told me he would make sure they had the mounts. However, when the entries came out, a couple of horses my jockeys were supposed to ride had his riders named on them. I wasn’t shocked and just laughed when I saw what happened.

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There is a big heart somewhere in Barroby’s makeup though. When he isn’t booking mounts at Hastings, he spends his time helping children in Thailand and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

“I feel a lot better in the winter when I am doing what I can to make things better for people,” said Barroby.

In Asia, Barroby takes medical supplies and clothing to Myanmar, mostly in Karen State. In one village he teaches English to over 400 orphans and instructs them about how to be safe.

“I have heard a lot of bad things and sad stories from refugees coming from the camps,” said Barroby. “I try to give them ideas about how to stay safe. I also let them know they have a lot of support in Canada. People at Hastings in particular have been great and I am very thankful for all the money they have donated.”

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Barroby would like to make more people aware of what is happening in Myanmar, a country that is controlled by the military.

“People there want to know why everyone in the West talks about Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, but ignore what is going on in their country where civilians are being killed,” he said. “The authorities do everything they can to keep people from the rest of the world knowing what is going on there.”

Barroby spread his goodwill at Hastings last weekend and has a new friend.

“I starting talking to this very nice young man who was standing by the rail with his mother prior to the River Rock stakes,” said Barroby. “I showed him the program and he told me Avana was going to win. He was right and after she did, I had Bryan Anderson take him into the winner’s circle with Peter Redekop who owns Avana.

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“Then he picked August Rain who won the Ross McLeod, also owned by Peter. Peter ordered pictures for him and said anytime he won a race he could come into the winner’s circle.”

His mother, Erin Paterson, said Jerrod, who is autistic, loves sports and coming to the races.

“He picks names he likes and in this case he was right,” she said. “It was a great experience and the owner of the horse could not have been nicer.”

Barroby was raised a Christian and has been studying Buddhism while in Asia.

“When people ask me what my religion is I say I just practise being kind to people.”

Amen.

FRIDAY SELECTIONS — FIRST RACE 7 P.M.

RACE 5: STAY FANTASTIC looked good winning his latest sprint and with eight wins at the distance, he won’t mind the move to a route.

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RACE 6: PADDY D’ORO has been right there in his two sprints at the meet and could take them all the way if he breaks alertly in his first route attempt this year.

SATURDAY SELECTIONS — FIRST RACE 2:30 P.M.

RACE 2: ABOVE AVERAGE has not been able to keep up with the top older mares in her two sprints and will appreciate the class relief she is receiving with the drop into a claiming event. She won the B.C. Oaks last year to the added distance will not be an issue.

RACE 3: REVEALING SUN could be the one in the first baby race at the meet. She has been impressive in the mornings and being a half-sister to Avana, who won the $50,000 River Rock Casino by eight lengths, she has the pedigree to be a decent horse.

Randy Goulding has been handicapping horses and writing for The Racing Form at Hastings Park for more than 30 years. His column will run every Friday throughout the racing season.

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