Natasha House was presented with the 2014 Caretaker of the Year Award at this year's harness racing "Raceway Awards Banquet" by Hugh Mitchell and Don McCallum of Western Fair District.
Natasha House went shopping for a racehorse last week at The Raceway at Western Fair District… She ended up with Sandburg Hanover after multiple claims were entered on the horse at the $5,000 claiming level.
“He was an early Birthday present for myself,” House said – who will celebrate her Birthday this coming Sunday, May 24th. “And now he’s given me an even better early Birthday gift – my first training win!”
Sandburg Hanover would face tougher foes on Monday evening, at The Raceway, but he was given 8/5 respect by the betting public and his competition would never seriously challenge him, from start to finish, as driver Lorne House would guide him to a 1:55.2 score.
“He’s meant to be a good one. He’s the nicest stud to be around – just like a puppy dog… Lorne has always liked him too and when the opportunity was there to claim him – I didn’t hesitate,” stated Natasha.
Sandburg Hanover now has a nine-race win streak dating back to August 30th of last year. Conditioned then by Kevin McMaster – the wins started at Sarnia and continued at Hanover and Kawartha before his season ended on October 11th.
Miroslaw Czupa purchased the horse from McMaster during the off-seaon and then had the horse return for his season debut on May 6that The Raceway. An eye-popping 1:55.3 win at the $5,000 claiming level would spark multiple claims when Sandburg Hanover was entered back for the same price the following week. Five claims were entered on the great looking stallion son of American Ideal on May 11th at The Raceway. “We had talked to the former owner/trainer (Czupa) about purchasing the horse and he was very excited to see him go to us. We’re going to make sure he has a great home going forward,” she continued.
Natasha’s first career training win comes seven years after she first obtained a training licence. “I had a licence in the Spring of 2008 and decided to get back to training again this year,” she explains. “I’ve been around racing my whole life, so this first training win is pretty exciting for me!”
Natasha and husband Lorne look after a stable of nine horses. Eight trotters and one single pacer now in Sandburg Hanover. “I do enjoy the trotters,” Natasha stated. “But we’re hoping to keep this pacer around for a long time. He won’t be in a claimer next time out – that I can tell you,” she added.
If not in a claimer then where does this red hot horse, with the long running win streak, go?
“He’ll likely be entered at the Preferred level now,” she said. “Maybe there’ll be a race we can enter him in for Molson Pace night (May 29th)… That would be exciting!” she continued. “For now we’ll just see how he comes out of this race and give him a few days off in the paddock. He has his issues and he’s the kind of horse we’ll have to manage well, but we’re good with that – he’s worth it!”
Shannon Doyle
Email: sdoyle@westernfairdistrict.com
Web: www.westernfairdistrict.com
The Raceway @ Western Fair District
