Milner adapting to new job as racing secretary

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There has been a huge boost of positive energy coming out of the racing office at Hastings since Nichelle Milner finally arrived and took over as racing secretary two weeks ago.

Milner, who was the assistant racing secretary at Portland Meadows, was given the job a few months ago, but it took a while for her to obtain the necessary work permits to start her new position.

Milner’s enthusiasm for racing stems from her childhood. She grew up in Southern California, where her parents raced Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos. She moved to Oregon when she was 14, and started galloping horses shortly after graduating high school. She eventually moved back to Southern California, where she galloped horses for trainer Jeff Lukas before taking out her jockey license.

Milner got off to a quick start as a jockey, winning with her first mount at Portland Meadows for trainer Garry Roberts aboard Ken Kelley.

“It was a dark and rainy night in Portland,” Milner said. “I made the mistake of looking at the tote board and saw he was 1-9. I was terrified because I thought if he didn’t win my career as a jockey would probably be over. ”

Ken Kelley drifted up in price and paid $4.40.

Her career as a jockey, which saw her win 23 races, was short lived due to injuries she incurred riding. Her left arm was immobile for seven months in 1989 and she suffered a broken neck in 1992.

“It was frustrating,” Milner said. “Since I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a jockey. I still like to ride, and I wouldn’t mind getting my helmet out and take one around the track. It is such a beautiful setting, and it would be pretty neat to gallop one here.”

Milner takes her new position seriously and given that she arrived after the meet started, she’s really just trying to get a feel for her new situation.

“There are jurisdictional differences between here and the United States, so it’s a big learning curve,” she said. “But the main thing right now is to learn what horses are here, and develop a solid relationship with the horsemen. We are all in this together as part of one big family. The last thing I want to see is a horse sitting in a barn and not getting a chance to run.”

There is a clearly a shortage of horses at Hastings, and Milner’s experience as the racing secretary for two years on the fair circuit in Oregon, particularly Grants Pass, should help her in putting races together.

“You always had to do a lot of scrambling to make it happen,” Milner said. “You had no idea who was going to show up. At least here I should know which horses are on the grounds.”

So far, Milner is enjoying her new position and new country.

“I am very happy to be here,” she said. “The quality of the horses here is amazing. Just walking through the barn area you can see how good the conformation is on a lot of them. The people seem great, friendly, and Canada is awesome. I’m learning something new every day and I’ll do whatever it takes to help make the meet a success.”

Stakes plans for Taylor pair

Trainer Troy Taylor said Miss Hollywood and Mr. Bowling came out of their respective stakes wins last Monday in great shape.

Miss Hollywood scored a front-running win with David Lopez aboard in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Mr. Bowling rallied into a fast pace to win the 6 1/2-furlong John Longden 6000. He was ridden by Vancouver’s favorite adopted son, Mario Gutierrez.

Miss Hollywood will try to carry her speed 1 1/16 miles when she makes her next start in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun on June 7.

Mr. Bowling figures to thrive when he stretches out to the same distance in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill, also on June 7.