Do Lishus "Dough Boy"

Do Lishus is the next Wolfe horse to be honored and remembered. This one is a very good story. Do Lishus or "Dough Boy" as he was affectionately know at our barn. Was a small colt by "One For All", who was by Northern Dancer. Small doesn't really matter if your an athlete anyway. You always measure and athlete by the size of there heart. If the horse has talent and heart. That is the necessary requirements. After all the famous Northern Dancer was not a big horse. Also "One For All" was not large horse either and he went on to win several graded stakes races on the grass. Dough Boy was the perfect nick name for our latest star. He was feisty, honest and brave. The perfect ingredients that would make a fighting soldier. He was owned by Dan Krever. Who had made a large investment into the horse racing industry. But had not achieved the success that he had been hopping for. One day my father received a call from Mr. Krever. He asked my Dad if he would train a two year old for him. My father said sure. He invited my Dad to his farm and showed him three 2 year olds. He said my father could select one of the three. My father selected the "One For All" colt named "Do Lishus" All the Krever horses were named Do for his wife Dorothy, or Dan for himself. Mr. Krever was surprised with my father's selection. My father asked him why he was surprised. Mr. Krever said that the One for All colt was small, and that he had gone lame when they had him in training in the spring. Also the veterinarian could not find the reason why Do Lishus had gone lame. He said he was happy to have my dad train the colt. But did not have much hope that he would ever amount to much. My father was happy to have the opportunity to train him.

Do Lishus came into our stable and was popular with all the barn staff right away. He had a lot of personality and was full of energy and was enthusiastic in his training. During the Ft. Erie summer meet of 1976 Do Lishus started to train like a very good horse and was showing promise. A big plus for the Wolfe Stable at this point in my father's training career. Was my Dad's association with Hall of Fame jockey Chris Rogers. I did get to know Chris Rogers. I was very lucky for doing so. He was an extremely talented man. Who was a serious professional. He had a lot of pride, and a lot of will to win. I will be profiling Chris Rogers in my favorite jockey section, during the course of this blog.

Do Lishus was nearing the races, and was set down for a 5 furlong workout out of the gate. I believe Gary Stahlbum was on him for this workout. Dough Boy broke very slow from the gate, and didn't have a good time for the 5 furlong workout. Mr. Krever was so disappointed with the workout. That he almost decided to send the colt back to the farm, and give up on his career. However my father talked to Mr. Krever and persuaded him to give his One For All colt another chance. My Dad believed in Do Lishus, and felt he had the potential to be a good racehorse. My father faith came to be. When Do Lishus made his first race at a mile on Woodbine's Marshall Course. It was a two year maiden allowance race. Chris Rogers would ride the "Dough Boy" in this race. The date was September 15, 1976. Chris Rogers at this point had been on Do Lishus and was starting to be in full agreement with my father. This colt had talent, and Chris Rogers was going to find out how much in this mile grass test. Out of the gate Chris had Do Lishus very much in hand for the first half a mile. Coming to the 3/8th pole Chris Rogers was starting to find out how much talent "The Dough Boy" had. For Do Lishus was starting to gain momentum, and from the grandstand. It was apparent that Do Lishus was now a major contender in the race. Past the quarter pole. Chris Rogers had a tone of horse underneath him, and was just waiting for an opening to let Dough Boy loose. In the pursuit of his first win. Crossing the main track. The opening that Chris was looking for opened. Chris pulled the trigger on Do Lishus and he uncoiled a tremendous run to win this race going away by 2 lengths. Chris came back to the winners circle with a smile from ear to ear. He told my dad and Mr. Krever. That this colt was quality, and he was on his way to a very good career. When it came to horses. Chris Rogers was never wrong!

Do Lishus would run right back in the Gray Stakes race on September 25th, 1976. This race is one of the major two year old races run in Ontario racing during the year. This test is 1 mile and 1/16 on the main track for two years olds. Could the lightly raced and inexperienced Do Lishus have a chance in his first stakes race. Also he would loose the advantage of running on the turf. Do Lishus came out of his impressive maiden win in very good shape. He continued to train very well, and was a confident performer going into the Gray. Also Chris Rogers was also very confident. He assured my father victory going into this race. "There at the post, there off". Dos Lishus broke slowly and was taken in hand, and was rated by Chris. It was his first test around two turns. Do Lishus was a natural racehorse, a true professional. He fell back off the leaders. Waiting for Chris Rogers to ask him for his big kick. To try and win his first stakes race. Coming to the half mile pole Do Lishus was staring to become a contender in the race. By the time the leaders had reached the 1/4 pole. The Dough Boy was now in fourth position about 4 lengths from the leaders. Chris was now getting serious on Do Lishus. It was time for action. It was now or never. By the 1/8 pole Do Lishus was in third position and still two lengths from the leader, a filly named "I'm promised Al". It didn't look like Do Lishus would win the Gray. It looked like we would have to settle for 3rd or second place at best. However Chris Rogers still had an ace up his sleeve. From this point in the race. Chris Rogers didn't look like a 51 year old jockey. That was doing well from his vast experience from days gone by. There would be a transformation. From the 1/8 pole home. It was now Chris Rogers in his prime. He looked like a 25 year old man at his physical best. Chris communicated this tremendous energy and will to win to Do Lishus. The Dough Boy responded, and gave Chris the finish he was looking for. The Dough Boy swept past the two horses in front of him. Do Lishus had won the Gray Stakes in dramatic racehorse style. We were all estastic!

This race would prove to be the most prestigious win for the Krevers at Woodbine. It would also prove to the last stakes race win for Chris Rogers. Nobody knew it. But Chris Rogers was a very sick man. He was being treated for sclerosis of the liver. Shortly after the win on Do Lishus in the Gray Stakes. Chris Rogers would break a leg in a racing accident on the Marshall Turf course. Crossing over the dirt strip. This injury would cause complications for Chris Rogers’s treatment for cancer. Chris Rogers would loose his life that fall. However I will never forget his great ride on Do Lishus in the Gray. He was the difference in us winning this race. Giving the Dough Boy the win. For me. Chris Rogers went out of his career a winner. He deserves to be remembered as the greatest Canadian jockey of all time.