"Emmy" Wins 6 In A Row!

Dancing Emerald after winner her fist race had problems winner her second. That would all change when the fall Woodbine meet ended, and racing moved to Greenwood for the final meet of the 1983 racing season. Our fortunes were about to change for the better. Dancing Emerald had arrived in her realm. There is a saying at the racetrack; "horses for courses". That is very true. Racehorses can be very comfortable and successful runneing at a certain racetrack. This is usually due to the racetrack surface, or the amenities of the racetrack. Dancing Emerald "The Queen of Greenwood" enjoyed running at Greenwood, yes because of the racing surface. Also she loved and maneuvered extremely well around the tight turns at Greenwood. Emmy had amazing speed. That could prove to a huge advantage for a front running racehorse, when running at Greenwood .

Win #1
Dancing Emerald would make her first start of her career at Greenwood on November 9, 1983, under the lights. A big part of her success. Was being paired up with jockey Robbie King Jr. Robbie was an excellent rider, and was very comfortable riding a front runner. They were a great duo and worked extremely well together. Get us started Daryl Wells, "There at the post, there off!" "That is Dancing Emerald reaching for the lead" "Dancing Emerald has a 2 length lead" "That's Dancing Emerald by a good margin". These were just some of Daryl Wells descriptions, that would become predicable and carbon copy when this excellent filly raced, at Greenwood. Emmy would go wire to wire in her first race at Greenwood. Golden Champ would try her coming to the 1/4 mile pole. However it was apparent that Dancing Emerald could sprint around the tight turns. As quickly as she could, running on the straight a ways. The Queen had arrived! Emmy pulled away and beat Golden Champ by 4 lengths, easily! The Wolfe Stable, and Toronto racing fans were going to be treated to some fantastic racing, by the "Queen of Greenwood".

Win #2
Emmy would race back for her second race, and win at Greenwood on November 17, 1983. This event would race at 6 1/2 furlongs, and would match her against tough older, and more experienced females. Also Dancing Emerald would have to break from the 8 post position. All these obstacles didn't matter to the "Queen of Greenwood". I remember Emmy was in a particularly horrible mood that November night. She took it out on her opponents. O.K. Daryl get the race started, "There at the Post, There Off" That's Dancing Emerald reaching for the lead". Emmy broke like a bat out of hell, and she was flying going into the clubhouse turn. Midway through the turn, Emmy had cleared the field and made the lead. Now Robbie dropped Emmy into the rail, and it was up to the field of older mares to try and catch, our speed demon! They had no chance. Emmy made her competitors feel really old that night, and maybe ready to call it a career. Down the run down the backstretch, by the time she reached the racetrack kitchen, Emmy had opened up a commanding 4 length lead. By the time she reached the far turn, the lead had expanded to 6 lengths. In the run for the finish line. Emmy just coasted to the line by a staggering 8 length margin of victory. Robbie King had eased the Queen up at the 1/16 pole, as he tried to save her for the next race, and not to embarrass her beaten opponents. It was all smiles in the win picture for this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6CuOo9G1Dw

Win #3
Dancing Emerald would race back on November 30, 1983 in her final start as a 3 year old. This race would complete the natural hat trick for the "Queen". Emmy would become only the second Wolfe runner to win 3 races in a row. The challenge for this race would be to find a replacement for Emmy's very talented regular jockey, Robbie King Jr. Robbie had been suspended for a riding infraction, and could not pilot the Queen in this race. A replacement had to be found. Enter David Piques. Dave was an up a comer, and had enjoyed a very successful fall Greenwood meet. Dave was sitting fifth in the jockey standing at the 1983 fall meet. He was riding very well. David Piques was also very suited riding a racehorse. Who enjoyed a front running style. My father made the wise choice of picking Dave to replace Robbie for this important race. I remembered Dave being thrilled that my dad had picked him to ride Dancing Emerald. He was honored that he would be getting a chance to pilot the Queen! Emmy was again meeting a tough group of more experienced fellow females. The toughest of the group was "Tiffany Tam" from the Sam Son Farm. Tiffany Tam was being ridden by champion jockey "Irwin Driedger". They would prove to put forth a tough challenge to our star performer.

David Piques did an excellent job in this race. Emmy broke very well, and moved into a commanding lead going into the clubhouse turn. Dave let her relax and cruise in the run down the backstretch. Going into the far turn. Tiffany Tam was starting to try and harass Emmy. Dave and Dancing Emerald responded by opening up a 2 1/2 length lead, turning for home, and the run for the finish line. Tiffany Tam and Irwin Driedger would make one last attempt to ruin Emmy's third win. However Emmy and Dave both would bare down, and repel the late challenge of Tiffany Tam, and win this race by a margin of 1 1/2 lengths. It was a great feeling for the win picture, for this third win. It is a special accomplishment for a top caliber racehorse to win multiple races, racing at this level. Thank you David Piques for doing a excellent job, riding Dancing Emerald. The "Queen of Greenwood" winning streak was far from over. It would continue well into the 1984 racing season.

Win #4
Dancing Emerald enjoyed a very good winter up at the Hindmarsh Farm. Physically and mentally she could not wait to get back to the races. Emmy trained brilliantly coming up to her first race of the year. Which took place at Greenwood, on March 31, 1984. The distance for this race was 4 1/2 furlongs.

In the good old days. The Greenwood Spring meet use to open with 4 1/2 furlong races for the first 3 weeks of the meet, almost exclusively. This use to give the horsemen that wintered in Toronto a chance to compete with the horsemen that had wintered away in the sunny south in the U.S.A. Also it gave the trainers with pure speed racehorses a chance to compete at this shorter distance. From a racing fans point of view. I use to enjoy watching the races at Greenwood. The smaller 6 furlong oval, gave the racing fans a more intimate view of the races. The 4 1/2 furlong races were a real treat to watch.

This would be Emmy's first try at 4 1/2 furlongs. The Queen of Greenwood was ready to defend her throne. "There at the post, there off" Was the opening call from Daryl Wells. Dancing Emerald broke alertly, as the the talented field of fillies and mares sprinted down the backstretch at Greenwood. To try and open up a lead going into the far turn. There was a big battle that was being fought between Emmy, and Shantilly Liz, and Forest Green. The threesome were altogether going into the turn. Midway through the turn. Dancing Emerald was starting to win the fight. Turning for home the challenging pair could not keep up the pace. Robbie King set Emmy down for the stretch drive, and she pulled away to win this 4 1/2 furlong dash in a quick time of .52.3 by 1 1/2 lengths. Dancing Emerald had now won 4 races in a row! The Wolfe Stable and Lee Family were ecstatic.

A special thanks for the great success of Dancing Emerald has to go to Debbie Goldman. Debbie is an American from New York State. Debbie Goldman was a very competent exercise rider, and did a great job riding Emmy for her morning training. Dancing Emerald was not a very easy horse to ride in the morning. Emmy was very aggressive, and like to do things her own way. Debbie did a excellent job to get her. To all of these fantastic races, in great shape. Debbie did suffer from stretched arms for her dedicated efforts. The "ass-sistant" trainer thanks you, Debbie!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sEvcQz3lHZs

Win #5
Emmy would run back on April 12, 1984. She would be trying for her second win of the year, and her unbelievable fifth win in a row! This Greenwood dash would be at 6 1/2 furlongs. Her main competition in this overnight Handicap. Would be her stablemate "No. One Busheling" This very fine filly would push Dancing Emerald to her limit. To win her fifth race in a row. I will be honoring and remembering "No. One Busheling" on this blog.

Emmy broke alertly and quickly moved to take control of this race, in her usual style. Everything was going well in the run down the backstretch. However No. One Busheling was tracking Dancing Emerald in second place. No. One Busheling was also a very fast female racehorse. Who also loved racing at Greenwood. No. One Busheling was coming off an impressive win on March 24th. So she was also in very good form. Our two stars raced that way down the backstretch, and into the far turn. Then No. One Busheling made her move, and actually ran by Emmy, and opened up a 1/2 length advantage coming to the 1/8 pole. Was the "Queen of Greenwood" winning streak over at 4? No! Robbie King who was also a fierce competitor, who hated losing. Robbie put his whip into his left hand, and gave Emmy a couple of slaps with the whip. To awaken her bad temper. It worked! Emmy responded with a come from behind win. Running past No. One Busheling, strides before they hit the finish line. It was an unbelievable feeling being in the winner's circle again! Dancing Emerald had accomplished the unbelievable. Winning her fifth race in a row! Emmy's groom and assistant trainer, me! Saluted the Queen in the win picture. Holding up five fingers. One for each win! Of note in this race. The 1 and 1 exactor paid off at $4.10. It is the smallest exactor payout I have ever seen at the racetrack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5HpSadsC30

Win #6
Dancing Emerald, the "Queen of Greenwood" would race back on April 28th, and win the 2nd Division of the "Whimsical Stakes". What an accomplishment for this outstanding racehorse. Emmy dominated the field in every stage of this race. Dancing Emerald sprinted to the front. Robbie King had the Queen in cruise control in the run down the backstretch. Going into the final turn. There was no doubt who would win the 2nd Division of the Whimsical. Emmy started to pull away in the run through the final turn. Robbie set her down for the final 1/8 of a mile to the finish line. Emmy pulled away to win by a commanding 4 horse lengths. The Lee family and the Wolfe family were very proud to be part of such of this accomplished and talented racehorse. Dancing Emerald would come back as a 5 year old mare in 1985, and win the Whimsical stakes race again. She refused to ever give up her title of being a Queen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5HpSadsC30