Racing is all about entertainment for me — Don Wehby
FOLLOWING Hilly’s Halo expected win on Saturday in the $1.25 million Thoroughbred Racing Hall-of-Fame Stakes Trophy feature, owner Don Webhy Jr of Oakridge Farms believes his four-year-old chestnut filly can continue her progress to be competitive at the top level.
Speaking after the win by his imported filly, Wehby shared his association with his horse and his personal involvement in racing.
“For me, it is all entertainment. It is all entertainment and personal satisfaction. My dad (Don Webhy Sr) started to own horses from 1959 and I am just continuing the tradition.
“My involvement in this sport is not for money. It is all entertainment for me, for if you take stock of the money you spend on horse racing, you will not be in horse racing,” Webhy said.
Commenting on Hilly’s Halo in particular, Wehby said: “Yes, she’s ( Hilly’s Halo) a really nice horse and I think she has a lot more to offer in terms of winning. Yes, that is the main reason I bought her. She has a great bloodline. She is four this year and at the end of the year we will take a decision whether or not to retire her to the bred shed.”
With Anthony Thomas in the saddle, Hilly’s Halo was an even three lengths winner in the Open Allowance event over 6 furlongs (1,200m). She easily beat the field as the odds-on favourite to register her second win of her four-year-old campaign.
The Gary Subratie trainee came home ahead of long-time leader Patriarch (Robert Halledeen), Exhilarate (Tevin Foster) and Uncle Vinnie (Kiaman McGregor) in that order.
“ Hilly’s Halo has won a few races for us and you know that she is an imported filly. I bought her at a sale aboard and brought her to Jamaica as a yearling, so she actually grew up in Jamaica.
“Last year she won four straight races and this year she has won two already and with further improvement, I expect her to graduate to the Grade One class sometime during the year and we will take it from there.
“I personally believe that she can go on to win between seven and eight furlongs as she is not what you call an all-out run on sprinter.
“I am hoping for good things in the future from her,” Webhy told The Supreme Racing Guide.
