Hastings notes: Gryder enjoys stint in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Nobody really believed owner Glen Todd last winter when he was telling everyone that Aaron Gryder was going to be his first-call rider at the 2013 Hastings meet. Gryder had recently won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon aboard Calidoscopio and Hastings seemed like one of the last places a former leading rider at Aqueduct, Hollywood Park, Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, and Golden Gate would end up.

Gryder has an adventurous spirit, though, and has been willing to ride all over the world. Just a couple of weeks ago, he took the opportunity to ride in the Virgin Islands and won with all four of his mounts at St. James.

Despite his win aboard Calidoscopio and his impressive résumé, Gryder was struggling to find the kind of mounts he wanted at Santa Anita last winter. When Todd made him a generous offer to ride in Vancouver, he accepted. Gryder won’t be riding at Hastings this weekend as he is taking steps to reestablish himself on the tough Southern California circuit, but he will be back on closing day, Oct. 14, to ride when Todd will have live horses running in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers for 3-year-olds and up, and in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares. It is hard to say if he will be back to ride at Hastings next year.

“Right now my main focus is to try and rebuild my business in Southern California,” said Gryder. “I know it will take a while because when you leave to go somewhere else, somebody steps in and captures what you had.”

Gryder, sixth in the jockey standings, has had a productive meet, but he won’t be the leading rider mostly because he spent a lot of time riding stakes horses for Todd at Northlands Park and Emerald Downs. While he was based here, he also rode Calidoscopio to a remarkable win in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park. He is the leader in stakes wins at Hastings with seven, however.

When Gryder arrived in Vancouver, he displayed a tremendous amount of class and professionalism. But the thing that caught everyone by surprise was just how nice a guy he is – maybe not so nice when he’s riding, though. He did have experience riding on bullrings so he knew he had to be aggressive going into the first turn. From day one you could tell he meant business whether he was riding a stakes horse for Todd and trainer Troy Taylor or a bottom claimer for another outfit. He was not afraid to influence other jockeys into making the decision to either take back or force the issue going into the first turn. Gryder seems to have enjoyed riding at Hastings.

“It was fun being here,” Gryder said. “Obviously it is a pleasure to ride for Troy and Glen. They make it fun and they guarantee you are going to win races. It’s a great jocks’ room and everybody on the backstretch has really treated me well.”

One of the adjustments Gryder had to make was riding on weekends only. Being an avid outdoorsman, he spent a lot of his spare time taking advantage of the considerable opportunities offered in Vancouver. He lived downtown where he could step out of his hotel and walk to the world-class Stanley Park. It is a short trip from downtown to the North Shore Mountains where there are three ski hills and endless hiking trails.

“I would have liked more racing days, but I found lots to do,” said Gryder. “I was skiing when I first got here and then climbed the mountains and ran around the sea wall at Stanley Park when it warmed up. It’s a great place for somebody who likes to keep active outdoors.”

Todd is hoping to lure Gryder back to Hastings next year.

“I want a good rider on my horses that I can count on, and Aaron was all that and more,” said Todd. “Any time I needed him for something, he did it willingly. I hope things work out for him in Southern California, but if they don’t, I’ll be doing my best to get him up here again. He is just a real class act.”

Gryder wasn’t looking that far ahead.

“People told me I was crazy when I left Golden Gate to ride in Southern California, but the reason I went was to try and get on top horses, and I ended up winning the Breeders’ Cup Marathon,” said Gryder. “I’m feeling great and going to start fresh, so we’ll see what happens.”