By Bob Gates
Every now and again a story idea comes along, and I wonder how it is that I haven’t done it already. I’ve written well over 200 blogs, yet I somehow missed “Michigan,” and that just doesn’t seem right.
Michigan Avenue was a stakes-placed gelding who competed at Assiniboia Downs for 72 of his 77 lifetime starts. In a career that spanned seven years (1983 to 1989) he compiled a record of 23 wins, 13 seconds and 8 thirds for total earnings of $77,696. If you do the math that gives him a 30%-win rate and he finished first or second 47% of the time.
a First race, second place – May 8, 1983
His percentages get even better if you eliminate his non-Downs performances, and his end-of-career starts in 1989. His adjusted win rate jumps to 35% and his first/second-place finish percentage climbs to 53%. Who wouldn’t want a horse like that in the barn?
You might be wondering where Michigan’s 23 wins rank him in terms of the winningest horse at the Downs. Over the years the Downs has had some nice horses with impressive win totals. Here are your leaders:
Job’s Alibi 1976 – 1984 29 wins
Last Lea 1973 – 1985 28
Key Canadian 1985 – 1993 26
Michigan Avenue 1983 – 1989 23
Michigan was owned and trained by C. J. “Shorty” Gray. “CJ?” You’d be surprised at the number of people who have no idea his name was Clifford James, but to most all, he was just Shorty.
Gray passed on 25 years ago, but we are fortunate enough to have Cam Ziprick and Bill Chabot to talk about the chestnut gelding and the man called Shorty. Cam and Bill were young’uns when Michigan came into their lives. They both worked for Shorty; Cam assisted with training and Bill groomed.
Gray purchased Michigan as an unraced 3-year-old in a Keenland sale in January 1983 for $7,500. The gelded son of Affiliate out of Grosse Pointe by Groshawk was as honest a horse as it comes. Bill said, “Michigan was a laid back, cool dude who liked to run.” He was all class and most importantly he was Bill’s horse.
Michigan’s first race took place on May 8, 1983 and saw him finish second in a seven-horse allowance field. He broke his maiden in his next outing. After a few allowance races as a youngster, Michigan found his place in higher-level claiming contests. From 1984 to 1986 he was the toast of the $20,000 claimers. Come the end of the 1987 season, he found himself with the mediocre $5,000 crowd. The 1988 season was much the same. According to Cam, they never should have raced Michigan in 1989. The gelding was a 9-year-old and had lost a step or two.
Early win with Bill – October 9, 1983
Who Knew? Bill and Cam both told the story of how Michigan had a habit of wanting to pee in the paddock before his races. Odd thing is, more often than not, when he did, he won. It got to the point where Shorty and his regular rider Todd Kabel would whistle to help set the mood.
Mercifully the end came on Day 28 of the 1989 season. June 16, 1989 was the final time that Michigan was asked to run. He drew the outside post in the 6-furlong race. Kabel got him out of the gate first, but that was all she wrote. He finished ninth in the ten-horse field.
Fast or off track didn’t matter – May 12, 1985
Did Michigan know he had bottomed-out in that $2,500 claiming race. Let’s go with, he didn’t. It’ll be easier on all of us. So yes, let’s go with that.
Michigan only knew one owner. Shorty owned and trained him for his entire career. Cam explained he worked for Gray since he was 10. Under Gray, he learned all about hard work and said this strong work ethic stayed with him. Cam admired and respected Shorty. It was that simple.
Final win of his career – September 23, 1988
Cam had a couple of thoughts that struck a chord with me. He was adamant that horses don’t get enough credit. He also believed in the phrase “if you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all.” I never said anything to Cam, but interestingly enough, Bert Blake shared that exact thought with me years ago during one of our whiskeys-in-the-den chats.
Michigan was retired to the farm. Cam couldn’t be sure of exactly what happened to the chestnut. He knows Shorty sold him and given what we know about Gray, he almost assuredly went to a good home to live out the remainder of his life.
You might be tempted to feel bad that we lost track of Michigan, I know I did but try not to. This was pretty much what happened in those days. It was rare when even the best got to live out their retirement with those they had known for most of their lives.
If you haven’t yet figured it out, I am a hopeless romantic. So let’s say the end of Michigan’s story went something like this… Following Gray’s death in July 1999, the man whose word was his handshake was reunited with his “special” ones in that place that awaits all horses when their time on earth is over and done. I’ll die a happy man believing that the bond between humans and equines transcends time.
The final word on our Michigan memories goes to Bill who looked after the big, quiet gelding for 18 of his 23 wins.
“Michigan was a winner…
And everyone loves a winner!”