DUNROBIN – No athlete wants to break in a new pair of shoes on competition day – and that’s the same for Silverado.

But on June 23, that’s exactly what the promising young standardbred had to do on race night at the Rideau-Carleton Raceway Casino. Silverado, a harness horse born and trained out of Hillside Farms in Dunrobin, was having foot issues. A small chunk of hoof was missing, and the new shoe would compensate for that.

The shoe worked, but Silverado was not comfortable. After a strong start, driver Rodney LaFramboise was unable to get around a group of riders and Silverado finished fourth.

“Well, at least you get an envelope,” John Smith, another West Carleton-based owner and trainer said.

A Top five finish guarantees the owner prize money. The driver gets five per cent and so does the trainer.

Hillside Stables owner and trainer Wayne Laviolette has been training horses for more than 40 years and has raced horses all over North America including the Meadowlands, NJ, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, New York, Toronto, Ottawa “a lot of different places.”

Laviolette was hoping for a top two finish that warm June evening. When West Carleton Online arrived at the Rideau-Carleton stables it was about an hour before the race. There were about 60 other horses in the barn also hoping for a strong finish.

About 60 horses and twice as many humans, at least, getting the athletes ready. The stable air is filled with whistling. It’s not to cheer or congratulate the athletes – it’s to encourage the horse to urinate before post time. A relieved horse is a faster horse.

Laviolette was wondering if he should put a fly sheet on Silverado.

“But I don’t want him blowing any harder than he has to,” Laviolette says referring to the heat.

It’s a community in the stable. Along with West Carleton neighbour Smith, Dr. Roly Armitage and his son Donnie can also be found at the track with their horses. Of course, the trainers know those who aren’t from the same neighbourhood as well.

“See this guy here,” Laviolette says pointing to trainer-driver Guy Gagnon. “He beats me every week. He’s the best driver here.”

But that night, Laviolette was more concerned with Silverado’s new shoes.

“I hope he takes to them,” he said. “You never know. This track is hard, so who knows?”

The proof is in the pudding and as Silverado and his rider got bogged down behind three others at the 3/4-mile mark, the eight-year-old was unable to get around and move up before the finish line.

“I thought he had it won after battling it out at the early part,” Laviolette said. “Yeah, that shoe was bothering him. No foot, no horse, that’s what they say.”

But as Smith said, at least Laviolette will be going home with some money in his pocket.

The purse for Silverado’s race, the seventh of nine that night, was $6,900. The top five get a cheque. First gets 50 per cent, then 25%, 12%, 8% and 5%.

Horse racing has taken a hit over the last several years. The track gets 10 per cent of the slot’s profit in a deal Laviolette and several other trainers said Rideau-Carleton never should have accepted. About 10 years ago, provincial funding, through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation dropped from about $350 million a year to $50 million, although the Conservative government recently made a commitment to increase funding in the horse racing industry.

“60,000 people lost their job,” Laviolette said. “This used to a $14,000 race.”

It costs a lot of money to keep and train a horse. Laviolette’s been bringing Silverado along for eight years, born and bred on the farm.

Three weeks after that June race, West Carleton Online caught back up with Laviolette at Hillside Farms last Wednesday (July 17) for a training session with Silverado.

“Those shoes didn’t do him any justice,” Laviolette said. “They held his foot together and that’s it.”

But Silverado, who was named for the silver hairs in his mostly dark tail, has rebounded nicely from that June 23 race. The last two Sundays, Silverado has finished second in both races.

“One of them was the fastest race of the night,” Laviolette said, sharing the race from a video on his phone.

Silverado had a strong 2018 season with five wins and four second place finishes. This year has been good as well with seven seconds, but only one first-place finish.

“He’s running really well right now,” Laviolette said. “He’s in the running, just not getting his photo taken.”

“He’s camera shy, that’s why he’s been finishing second,” Laviolette’s friend Clay, of Big Leaf Stables, jokes.

After a good workout on the Hillside track, Laviolette is giving Silverado a bath and a foot soak. Then it’s a trailer ride to Wesley Clover Park to visit Silverado’s veterinarian, who is working at the International Horse Show, for a chiropractic adjustment.

Silverado’s next race is only days away after all.