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Beardy’s band member wins top award for horse training

Article Origin

Author

By Sam Laskaris, Sage Writer, WINNIPEG

Volume

14

Issue

9

Year

2010

It was an award-winning year for Tom Gardipy Jr. in 2009. And early indications are 2010 might be even better for the 50-year-old horse trainer from the Beardy’s First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Gardipy Jr., who is Cree, ended up in a tie for first place as being the trainer with the most wins during the 2009 season at Winnipeg’s Assiniboia Downs.

He was not the only Aboriginal to enjoy success at the horse track last season. The top jockey at Assiniboia Downs was Larren Delorme, a 25-year-old who hails from Spirit Lake, North Dakota. Both were honoured for their ’09 performances by the staging of Aboriginal Day at the Races, held on May 24.

This marked the first time in the 52-year history of Assiniboia Downs that a pair of Aboriginal participants had won the top trainer and top jockey awards in the same year.

“It was really nice the way the track (officials) treated us,” Gardipy Jr.  said of the recent celebration. “It was a real good feeling.”

Gardipy Jr. trained horses that won 45 races at Assiniboia Downs last year, tying him for top spot with another trainer, Carl Anderson. Gardipy Jr. has been training horses at the Winnipeg track since 2003. Though he has been one of the track’s top trainers he had never previously finished in top spot for victories.

“It was nice to finally see a break out year for Tom in 2009,” said Darren Dunn, Assiniboia Down’s director of operations. “He was on the fringes of greatness here locally for a while.”

The season at the Winnipeg track runs from May through September.

Gardipy Jr. is also off to a flying start in 2010. As of May 26, his horses had already registered victories this season.

“Last year at this time I think we only had three wins,” he said. “The pace we’re going at now is going to be tough to keep up. It won’t last forever. But I’m hoping it does.” Dunn believes it might be another award-winning season for Gardipy Jr.

“This year Tom has picked up where he left off,” he said. “His horses are sharp, ready and incredibly competitive. Defense of his 2009 title looks very likely at this point.”

Gardipy Jr. is training a total of 33 horses this year. Being the top trainer at a track is nothing new for Gardipy Jr. He was the top trainer at Saskatoon’s Marquis Downs for three straight years, from 2000 through 2002. The following year he started training at Assiniboia Downs.
For a while it appeared that Gardipy Jr. might not be returning to the Winnipeg track this year. His father died this past November and he was not keen on leaving home.

“I didn’t have an interest in going back,” said Gardipy Jr., who returns to the Beardy’s First Nation and works as a bus driver during the non-racing season. “I wanted to stay close to my brother, sisters and mother.”
Gardipy Jr. is rather glad he had a change of heart and decided to return. Getting back to working with horses helped him through his difficult times.

“I thought I’d feel better if I stayed home,” he said. “The horses though helped me come through it.” Plus, Gardipy Jr. has plenty of family members with him in Winnipeg. His three sons, Travis, 24, Gabe, 19, and 15-year-old Tanner who is home schooled, all work as grooms (barn hands) at Assiniboia Downs. His daughter Jessica, 18, will be joining them in June when she completes her high school studies. “It’s more like a home feeling now,” Gardipy Jr. said of the fact his children work alongside him. “You don’t get quite as homesick as before.”

His wife Cheryl is unable to join him during the racing seasons because she stays in their hometown of Duck Lake where she works for an insurance company.

Gardipy Jr. has been around horses his whole life. His parents and grandparents farmed, trained and raced horses throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta. Gardipy himself was a former jockey, up until about the age of 17 when he outgrew the position and turned to training. He’s hoping his most recent accolade will inspire other Aboriginal to get into the business.

“I think it might if they see it’s possible (to be successful),” he said.