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Good morning, folks.
The best horse racing tip I ever got was from Todd Kabel.
We were having a few drinks at the bar at Woodbine and he was telling me about his mounts for the next day’s card. He really liked his chances on every one of them. Then — with that big grin of his — he told me the last person you ever want to take a tip from is a jockey, because they think they’re going to win every race.
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Of course, you could do worse wagering on a tout from Kabel: he didn’t win them all, but he sure won a lot.
The native of McCreary won Canada’s Sovereign Award seven times — first as Outstanding Apprentice in 1986, followed by Outstanding Jockey in 1992, 1995 and the four-year period from 2003 to 2006.
Over his career he had 3,309 wins, including 315 stakes victories; won the Queen’s Plate twice; was the first Canadian-based jockey to earn more than $10 million in purse money; and retired with total purses amounting to $105,831,055.
Kabel, aboard Scatter the Gold, celebrates winning the Queen’s Plate in June 2000. (Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press files)
Prior to taking his tack to the big track in Toronto, three times he was the top rider at Assiniboia Downs.
It was during his dominance at the Downs that I first met Kabel, when I was the Free Press beat writer at the local track.
He was our Pat Day — fearless along the rail, an excellent judge of pace and a strong finisher.
Kabel was not only one of the most talented athletes I’ve ever covered, he was one my favourite people.
After those drinks that late afternoon at Woodbine, he insisted he take me for a steak dinner at one of his favourite restaurants in the area.
I hadn’t thought of Todd for quite some time, but got an email about him on Wednesday. Unfortunately, it was not good news. Downs historian Bob Gates was writing to inquire why we had not done a story on Kabel’s death.
Aw, man.
Reports suggest that Todd finally lost a lifelong race against depression and alcoholism — he was found dead in a park in Tottenham, Ont., on March 27. He was 55. He had reportedly lost his job in March and ended up without a place to live, instead sleeping in the park where he was found.
But for the grace of God, folks…
My apologies for not having a story on Kabel’s death sooner — it was first reported on a Saturday afternoon and got missed by our weekend staff — but our resident horse racing writer George Williams will have a look back at Kabel’s career in a story we have planned for Saturday publication.
One final memory from me:
It was also during our time at the Downs that I got to know Todd a bit away from the track. My father-in-law at the time had invited a group of jockeys to visit his fly-in fishing camp on the Gammon River system and I was invited along as son-in-law and horse racing writer.
While we mostly paired up for our forays out on the water to try and reel in some fish, Todd was up early and went out on his own.
As I think back on that time, I recall him sitting in his boat with that huge smile of his. It’s a peaceful picture.
I hope that’s how it is for him now, too.
As always, folks, you can reach me by replying to this mailing or by sending me an email here.
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