Derby winner went from zero to hero

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2017 (3262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Oddly, perhaps, the owner/trainer of the horse that won the Manitoba Derby, Plentiful, is as much a source of inspiration as he is a hero in the racing world.

A year ago, Carberry’s Murray Duncan was a big fat zero — literally. He couldn’t win a race at Assiniboia Downs if his life depended on it. In fact, he lost 38 races in a row until the last day of the meet when he finally made it into the Winner’s Circle.

After a season like that, who would have blamed him if he had decided to close the stable door for the last time?

After all, he’s 76, lost his long-time horse-owning partner, North Dakota lawyer Garylle Stewart, who died on Derby Day last year, and has lots of good memories; including owning a horse, Pleasant Closing, who beat two-time horse of the year Balooga Bull three times several years ago.

But Duncan soldiered on. With his keen horse smarts, gleaned over 25 years of training, he found a three-year-old gelding  called Plentiful that no one seemed to care for at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas this past spring and claimed him for $15,000 US.  

The owners likely said “good riddance” as that horse — which would ultimately win the Manitoba Derby — finished ninth at odds of 20-1 in the Arkansas race.

Lady Luck helped Duncan come up with his other world-beater. A four-year-old filly called C J’s Flair caught his attention so he decided to claim her for $6,250 US. Problem was, 10 other trainers wanted her, too. But Duncan won the shake to take her to his barn.

Back at Assiniboia Downs, Duncan worked his magic on those two horses and a few lesser lights and they rewarded him handsomely with victory after victory in big-money stakes races, including the Manitoba Derby on Aug. 7. His record last year at this time was 16 races without a win, two seconds and four thirds (16-0-2-4).

And what is it today?

It’s 30-11-3-1. (Eleven wins from 30 starts, three seconds and a third). The two claimed horses that cost $21,500 US have earned him and Audrey Farol, daughter of his late partner, $141,400 (less 10 per cent jockey commission) and counting.

What made Duncan’s Derby victory sweet for local fans is that he is a Manitoban — someone who built up a bankroll to get back into the racing business in 2009 by making French fries for McDonald’s at the McCain’s potato processing in Carberry.

Homers were also delighted by the second-place finisher —  Manitoba-bred filly Escape Clause.

No Manitoba filly has ever finished second in the Derby at the Downs. This one will be remembered for a long time.