There’s a story behind every win (photo: Gold Circle)
It’s the little things that oil the wheels of our sport and our community and it’s amazing how a seemingly small gesture can go a very long way indeed.
They say that no good deed goes unpunished and perhaps that is true, making it all the more satisfying when someone goes to the trouble to tip the balance in the right direction. KZN trainer Doug Campbell rang in to tell us about one such incident that took place at Greyville on Sunday, 23 September 2018.
Sportsmanship
Doug Campbell (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Doug explains that his charge, Ooh La La, owned in partnership with Messers P D Robinson and Dave Hawkins, was cantering to the start of race 8, when the filly lost a shoe at around the 200m mark.
“It was the last race on the card and there was a storm closing in, so there was a bit of pressure to get things off on time. Warren Kennedy was following my horse down on a Wendy Whitehead runner and must have seen the shoe come off. He stopped, got off his horse and picked up the shoe, then vaulted back on and took the shoe down to the start where it was re-fitted. It was a wonderful gesture and fantastic sportsmanship on his part – how many people worry about other people’s horses rather than their own? And my little horse won! I was telling the story to Nic Jonsson who owns a horse with me and he was so impressed. He said it was such a good piece of sportsmanship and deserved a bit of fuss.”
All In A Day’s Work
Warren Kennedy – happy to do it
The subject of all the attention, KZN stalwart Warren Kennedy, was quick to downplay the incident, saying it was all ‘pretty straightforward’. “I was trotting to the start behind Doug’s horse and saw the shoe come off. I know there’s a farrier at the start, but it takes a while to shape a shoe and with the weather closing in, there wasn’t a lot of time to play with. I thought the right thing to do would be to pick up the shoe and take it to the start so that it could be refitted quickly.”
A Stitch In Time….
Khanya Sakayi rides Ooh La La to victory (photo: Gold Circle)
As it turned out, his quick thinking not only saved the shoe, it saved the day. “Doug’s horse went and won so he was over the moon,” smiles Warren (whose own mount unfortunately finished out of the placings). “The farrier wanted to pull the other shoe off and let the filly run without shoes, but Doug wouldn’t have allowed it. Without the original shoe, she would probably have been scratched, so I’m very happy that I could do it,” he adds.
These little gestures happen on a daily basis and usually pass without any fuss or fanfare, but nonetheless form the glue that holds our unique community together. We tip our hat to Warren Kennedy for his selfless gesture and our thanks to Doug Campbell for sharing the story.
