Trainer Jason Homer with Falsely Accused, one of his favourites. (George Williams)
by G.S. Thompson
It was a chilly Thursday morning in the ASD backstretch when we caught up with trainer Jason Homer, who is here for the second year in a row from Washington State with 24 horses and more coming.
Homer was playing with Falsely Accused, one of his favourites. The big gray was taunting his trainer with faux lunges and bites, until his breakfast arrived. Then it was all business.
Falsely Accused started seven times at ASD last year and compiled a record of 1-3-2, improving his career stats to 6-12-4 from 54 starts and earnings of US$183,948. He’ll be back for another campaign, and Homer has high hopes for the big gray.
“He’s just honest, tries hard all the time,” said Homer. “I’m hoping he runs good again.”
Homer himself had a fine meet here last year, going 15-19-23 from 118 starts for purse earnings of US$178,521 and an eighth-place finish in the standings. Not bad for a man who arrived at the Downs in the middle of a long losing streak.
“This game is a streak,” said Homer, who at 63 has been training horses since he was 18. “When you’re down, you’re down. You just have to keep going, try to get back to where you know you should be. Things don’t always go right, so you make changes.”
He made the changes. Things went right. So he came back.
“Probably because we did good last year,” said Homer.
Falsely Accused kibitzing with trainer Jason Homer. (George Williams)
This year he’s brought considerably more firepower. Twenty-four horses already on the grounds, with 12 more in transit. The barn is loaded with young horses, including a number of maidens that have all their conditions in front of them.
Jason and his brother Blaine raise some of their own stock on a farm near the Tri-Cities in Pasco, Washington. Blaine works in IT and helps buy horses. They stand two stallions: Sea Candy Ride, a son of the great Candy Ride, and a newer addition by Epsom Derby (G1) winner Galileo, with babies already on the ground.
Homer’s horses were fit when they arrived. He started training in January and had them galloping and jogging for two months at home before shipping north around March 20. By the time they hit the Downs, they had a solid foundation under them.
Homer has raced at numerous tracks including Emerald Downs, Golden Gate, Santa Anita, Fonner Park, Turf Paradise, the California fair circuit and in New Mexico. He won the Portland Mile and has won at Santa Anita, which he’ll tell you is no easy thing. “It’s tough there, that’s for sure,” he said.
Ask him where he’s happiest and he doesn’t hesitate. “I like the California fairs the best,” said Homer. “Santa Rosa was probably my favourite.”
Still, Winnipeg has clearly gotten under his skin. Homer was here in 2010 and 2011, came back last year, and now he’s back again with his biggest string yet.
Falsely Accused closed out the morning by making one more swipe at his trainer. Not mean, just playful, the way a horse will test a man he trusts. Homer barely flinched. “Eventually he’ll probably end up being my riding horse,” he said.
There were over 100 workouts on the main track this week as trainers began to tighten the screws ahead of opening evening at ASD on Tuesday, May 12. Homer’s horses were among them.
He’ll be ready.