February 24, 2004

MARGARET ANDERSON OF JOHN HAYES STABLE
IS HARNESS TRACKS’ CARETAKER OF THE YEAR

Margaret Anderson, a university graduate and 20-year employee of the John Hayes Stable Ltd. in Beamsville, Ontario, has been named Harness Tracks of America’s Caretaker of the Year.

The award, first suggested by the late Delvin Miller 22 years ago, recognizes the key role of caretakers in the welfare of race horses, and is presented to one caretaker each year who represents the best qualities and virtues of the hardworking heroes and heroines of the backstretch.

Ms. Anderson was selected by an HTA committee of seven former caretakers who now hold executive positions in harness racing, and she will receive an Andrea Steiner oil painting of herself and her favorite horse, presumably in this case the pacing filly For the Luva Moni, Ms. Anderson’s charge last season that was a nine-time winner of more than $400,000.

In nominating Ms. Anderson, Dr. John Hayes noted that her father was an educator "who always wondered when Marg would get this horse business out of her system and get a ‘real job.’" Apparently, Dr. Hayes wrote, "the ‘real job’ is still on hold."

Hayes, in his nomination letter, wrote, "For the purest of reasons, Margaret is a caretaker…..she enjoys the horses. It’s not always the good one that’s been her favorite. Some pretty ordinary mugs have received her favored status over the years."

During her stable tenure, she has taken truck and trailer, with pride and joy aboard, to tracks as far as fifteen hours driving time away. Accompanying horses in flight to western Canada, from our Ontario farm, is in her resume also. From a different perspective, I’ve too often seen Margaret paralyzed from a migraine headache, after the completion of her duties, realizing that she had persisted through adversity till the moment arrived when she would allow herself to deal with the pain."

Talking about the brilliance of For the Luva Moni, Ms. Anderson’s filly charge last year that was first or second in most of her starts, Dr. Hayes wrote, "Consistency of this sort is accomplished through days and circumstances that are both varied and challenging. These are Marg’s specialty….be it inopportune ringworm infection, inappetence, retention barn logistics, a damaged hoof from an untimely pulled shoe, muscle tie up, or respiratory disease and recovery care in the middle of a busy stakes schedule. Marg has attended, applied and achieved the ‘at the moment’ constant litany of little things that add up in re-righting a listing vessel. So often, it’s not big, impacting maneuvers that make the difference. It’s the timeliness and diligence of the smaller, mundane tasks…maybe early morning paddock time before the heat and flies, or maybe full hoof care applied after a two-hour truck ride home from being in the last race. Margaret is the mistress of quietly spending time to do what should be done, other considerations aside. It’s one thing to see this dedication in a ‘new broom sweeping clean.’ It’s Gretzky-esque to see it repeated season after season, year after year, now decade after decade."

In short, Ms. Anderson typifies what makes any good caretaker good. She represents all good grooms in the sport, and HTA will be proud to present her with her Caretaker of the Year award later this season at Woodbine or Mohawk. All 50 caretakers nominated in the competition will receive handsome blue and gold windbreakers made available by Hanover Shoe Farms, HTA’s partner in the Caretaker of the Year venture.