I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since my
best friend won the 1992 Elitlopp. I still get goose bumps watching the race on
video or on YouTube especially the ‘Go Canada Go’ part. I remember the tears
streaming down my face as the National Anthem played and the Canadian flag made
its way up the flag pole. Most people would think my best friend was the driver
or the trainer or even the owner of winner but no, my best friend was
Billyjojimbob.
I remember the day I got the call and after
hearing the words ‘invitation’ and ‘Elitlopp’ the rest just felt like a dream.
I thought that there couldn’t be much more to wish for or receive than a
Breeders Crown trophy or year-end titles for BJ and yet, here it was. We were
going to Sweden.
The whole experience was one I will never
forget. It was a royal reception when we arrived we were treated so well. The
people at Solvalla Racetrack and everyone associated with the race were very gracious
and accommodating. Everything about the event
was first class ----- the accommodations, delicious dinners, cruises, up to and
including the track officials and maintenance and even the race fans, all
24,000 of them. The pony races before the eliminations helped me relax as I was
so very nervous. He was racing against
the infamous Peace Corps!
Going to the beautiful country of Sweden to
race in the Elitlopp with Billyjojimbob was a once in a lifetime experience for
me and it was definitely a most grand experience especially since he won! Good
luck to North America’s Arch Madness and Windsong Geant in this year’s
Elitlopp! Enjoy the experience, the attention and the people you meet.
Vi ses i vinnarcirkeln!
Lori Ferguson
Fotnot:
Ovanstående är ett gästinlägg av Billyjojimbobs ägare Lori Ferguson (Wade).
Det är i år 20 år sedan Billyjojimbob och Murray Brethour hemförde Elitloppet i publikfriande stil. (Se loppet här.) Hästen fick abrupt avsluta sin tävlingskarriär efter att ha gått omkull i Yonkers International 1992, det kan du läsa om i detta blogginlägg. Balanced Image-avkomman, som tränades av Mike Wade, vann 39 av 62 starter och tjänade $946,762, och blev 1995 invald i Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Billyjojimbob avled för tio år sedan, år 2002.
