Love and trust keys to Anderson’s success

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This article was published 21/07/2023 (1146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It took about 30 seconds walking through trainer Wendy Anderson’s barn Friday morning to figure out why she won two of the three $50,000 stakes run this week at Assiniboia Downs. Love and trust.

You can sense it in both the horses and the crew. If you were a racehorse, you’d want to live in this barn. If you were a groom you’d want to work here.

Anderson and her daughter/assistant-trainer Jaydean Lamothe teamed up with their crew of Bud Smith, Kyrie Manulak, Meadow McLean, Juan Castro and a new employee named Hope to an upset victory in the 29th running of the $50,000 Derby Trial on Monday with Saxon Saga, and came right back on Wednesday to win the 64th running of the $50,000 R. J. Speers with Magic Tiger.

Both horses were former claimers at Golden Gate Fields racetrack in California. Anderson’s husband Terry McFarlane and ownership partner Bill Meikle claimed Saxon Saga for $12,500 on March 19. The same team claimed Magic Tiger for $6,250 at Golden Gate on April 2.

Saxon Saga won his first start here, finished second in two stakes and broke through the stakes barrier with a win in the Derby Trial on Monday. Groomed by Bud Smith and ridden by Renaldo Cumberbatch, he has now earned more than $55,000 at Assiniboia Downs in only four starts.

Magic Tiger won his first two starts at the Downs and finished third beaten only a neck in the Free Press Stakes before winning the R. J. Speers on Monday under Damario Bynoe. Groomed by Lamothe, Magic Tiger has now earned more than $56,000 at Assiniboia Downs since arriving from California.

“Damario rode a perfect race,” said Anderson. “And Renaldo rode a really good race on Saxon too. They both deserve a lot of credit for their patience and riding styles.”

Anderson’s newly minted stakes winners are both owned by Meikle and Wind Dancer, whichis a partnership between Anderson and McFarlane. Meikle, a farmer from Saskatchewan, and Anderson, have partnered on 10-12 horses over the years.

Saxon Saga is now headed for the $125,000 Manitoba Derby on Monday Aug. 7, while Magic Tiger will likely point towards the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile on the same day, and later towards the $50,000 Gold Cup on Sept 19. The Manitoba Derby and the Gold Cup are the most difficult races to win at Assiniboia Downs, and Anderson has a shot at both. She must have done something right.

The 71-year-old retired Supervisor of Adult Mental Health for Saskatchewan Health has held a trainer’s licence since 1978, and once worked three jobs at the same time in Saskatchewan while training horses there. “I used to love doing stalls early in the morning before work,” said Anderson. “It’s so therapeutic.”

Now Anderson has a crew of people and horses that are following in her work-ethic footsteps mentally and physically. “We have a great crew,” said Anderson. “They have fun together and they all work hard. Everything is a team effort.”

With regard to the horses, “You have to figure out what makes them happy,” said Anderson. “And then keep them that way. You watch them. You try to understand them. Some horses want to stand in front of a fan, and that’s important. Some don’t want the fan. Some want cuddles, some don’t. They’re all different and you have to treat them with kindness, and as individuals.”

Anderson and Lamothe have been working together for more than 12 years, but their bond formed long before that.

“Jaydean became my foster child at the age of seven and we immediately fell in love with her and raised as our own, “said Anderson. “She’s been sitting under the horses from the time she was 14-15. She’s like a horse whisperer. And she’s not just grooming and ponying, she also galloping and breaking two-year-olds. I can’t say enough nice things about her.

“But I think what’s most important is that we really look after each other. I’m worried she works too hard. She needs to take a day off. And she’s always worried I’m going to get hurt. I’ll start walking a horse and she’ll grab it. I’m 71, I can’t move as fast as I used to. And we also love being together.”

“Trust,” added Jaydean.

“Trust would be major,” said Anderson. “Number one. I can totally trust her for everything. If I’m away I know she’ll do her utmost best to keep things running smoothly. I couldn’t run the barn without her.”

There’s a special bond between mother and daughter here. The horses sense it.

And they run for it.