FEBRUARY 2023 THE RIDER /21 Had to be Ivory – Behind the Award


By Kim Sabila What an honor it was for our family to be be-


stowed the award of AQHA Canadian Race Horse of the Year for 2022 at the AQHA Racing Champions Awards in Oklahoma this January. I was grateful to be able to attend this event with my Dad Bryn Robert- son. Standing on the stage with my 81-year-old Dad, I couldn’t help but beam with pride as our family’s horse, Had to Be Ivory, fondly known as “Ivory,” was honoured for the 3rd time. If you’ve ever stood beside Bryn at the rail at Ajax Downs Race track when Ivory is running - the calm, collected trainer we most often see takes a back seat to his inner child. His excited enthusiasm and passion cannot be contained and you’d swear he was the jockey, rather than the trainer. Bryn’s pride in Ivory, and the Had to Be Ivory team is evident and infectious as he heads over to collect him for the win picture. Proof and validation that all of the hard work has paid off. Raising a once in a lifetime horse like Ivory re-


quires a total team effort by everyone involved with our family run operation. As much as I might have complained about his intensity and demands on us growing up, I have come to admire these traits and respect his dedication, consistency and commitment to the Hillerin Farm equine program. My brother Mike, is the assistant trainer and my dad’s right-hand man. He is the farrier and rider for all our race horses, especially Ivory. The farm’s feed program, supple- ments, after race care, legs and any injury care needs, are looked after by Mike’s wife Jaime. My mom Carol, despite her rheumatoid arthritis still comes down to the barn to help make feed, give out carrots and spread some extra loving. Carol also looks after all of the paper work for the track, and takes care of entries and farm paperwork. Myself and my three kids will pitch in where needed when we’re at the farm, from cleaning stalls to ponying and everything in between.


Equine Hospital for several weeks. At that time, it was uncertain if he would ever run again and his future racing ca- reer was in question. Thankfully Ivory was a fighter and over that following winter he rallied and returned to the track in 2021, eventually returning to his peak racing condition. At home Ivory is just a horse, al-


though an attention seeking, entertaining one. He has the #1 stall so as you enter the barn, he will make sure you stop over


to say hello with his funny antics. He may be all business on the track but he is all family at the farm. There are no guar- antees in the life of a horse, any more than there are for humans. Ivory has given us more than any horse ever has, he owes us nothing; as long as he is healthy, strong, and willing, the plan is to let him keep racing. His best interests will al- ways come first, he will always be our Champion.


Did you know? You can now complete your OQHA Membership & Reserve Back Number online. https://oqha.on.ca/collections/membership


There is always extra help needed because the


work is never ending. Paul Sauve, a long-time family friend and Amber Swatuk are also part of our ex- tended family, both valued members of Ivory’s team. We’re grateful for our incredible 2022 jockeys Josh Scott and Corey Spataro who did a tremendous job riding Ivory to victory in the 2022 season. Ivory has been fortunate to have the backing of a great sponsor, Equinety, who supports his journey by helping to maintain his peak condition with their great supple- ment regimen. It can’t be overstated that behind every great Champion is a great team. Had to Be Ivory was foaled by Had to Be Fan-


dango our top producing mare, and is a son of Ivory James. The decisions and work involved in the breed- ing of a champion race horse is not to be taken lightly. There were sleepless nights prior to foaling and the worry of making sure someone was there when he was born so nothing went wrong. With all of that, on March 9th, 2015 a Champion was born. Ivory was undefeated in 2022 and 2017. 28


starts 22 wins... his record, well it is long and impres- sive. The ultimate was setting the fastest track record in Ajax Downs history with a speed index of 112 and winning the 440 for his first time. Just to prove his versatility he surprised us all by winning a 250-yard race that he was put in, only because he needed a race to run in to stay race fit. But enough about his accomplishments. Earlier I spoke of the team behind the horse - he has been cared for over 2800 days since he was born and the team has cele- brated 22 Victories in this time. If that doesn’t de- scribe commitment and dedication, I don’t know what does.


At the track Ivory is 1st class, he loves his


workouts but on race day he’s all business, focused and on point. He knows his job; the jockey’s have been known to say ‘you just need to stay out of his way and let him do his job’. Track records were never specifically the goal set, but the combined actions set into motion through Ivory’s determination, compul- sion and drive is an incredible thing to witness. Of course, it hasn’t been all glory for Ivory, in 2020 his year started out strong with winning the Alex Picov Maturity. Then things took a sudden unexpected turn when he caught a virus that landed him at the Guelph


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