Michel Not Horsing Around
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Between April 20 and July 15, Michel's two-year old filly, Miss Della Rey, and three-year old filly, Sheza Classy Leader, will compete in quarter-mile races at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, making racing a summer-long venture for Michel.[[In-content Ad]]"It's not like the Kentucky Derby, but there are a lot of people at the races," said Michel, a Claypool resident.
Originally raising pigs, Michel gradually began to turn his attention to horses, and the switch has been a fruitful one for him.
"It's not really a hobby or a business," he said. "It kind of started as a retirement plan. I don't golf and don't fish, so this is what I chose."
Originally just raising the horses, Michel has decided to keep horses for himself after having sold one in 2004 that turned out to be a winner.
"That one came out and won its first three races in 2005," he said.
He does receive a percentage of the winnings for having raised the horse, but according to him, there's more than monetary gain to the sport.
"It's a little like seeing your grandkids win," he said. "You want them to do well."
After raising the horses for about a year-and-a-half, Michel sends his horses to Mt. Pleasant, where trainer Dicky Wayne Benton takes over.
On May 8, Sheza Classy Leader won a race, with Miss Della Rey turning around and winning the next night, but Michel is looking for even more.
On May 22, Miss Della Rey will compete in a trial race, with the 10 fastest of 30 returning for a chance to win $75,000 on June 6.
Sheza Classy Leader will also compete in the Blue Ribbon Derby later in the month, but in a race that only takes about 15 seconds, the victor must have everything going the right way.
"In longer races, there might be a cluster, but eventually, they'll break up," Michel said. "In these races, they're 10 across, and each horse stays in its lane all the way to the line. It's usually a photo finish, with about six inches separating the winner from second place."
With not much margin for error, Michel knows you can't win every race, but after his two horses enter retirement, he'll continue his "retirement plan."
"I'll be keeping these two to breed when they're done racing," he said.
And with a few more wins, and some good breeding, Michel wouldn't mind seeing his time as a machinist at Zimmer cut a little short.
"I'm hoping to take an early retirement," he said.
Between April 20 and July 15, Michel's two-year old filly, Miss Della Rey, and three-year old filly, Sheza Classy Leader, will compete in quarter-mile races at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville, making racing a summer-long venture for Michel.[[In-content Ad]]"It's not like the Kentucky Derby, but there are a lot of people at the races," said Michel, a Claypool resident.
Originally raising pigs, Michel gradually began to turn his attention to horses, and the switch has been a fruitful one for him.
"It's not really a hobby or a business," he said. "It kind of started as a retirement plan. I don't golf and don't fish, so this is what I chose."
Originally just raising the horses, Michel has decided to keep horses for himself after having sold one in 2004 that turned out to be a winner.
"That one came out and won its first three races in 2005," he said.
He does receive a percentage of the winnings for having raised the horse, but according to him, there's more than monetary gain to the sport.
"It's a little like seeing your grandkids win," he said. "You want them to do well."
After raising the horses for about a year-and-a-half, Michel sends his horses to Mt. Pleasant, where trainer Dicky Wayne Benton takes over.
On May 8, Sheza Classy Leader won a race, with Miss Della Rey turning around and winning the next night, but Michel is looking for even more.
On May 22, Miss Della Rey will compete in a trial race, with the 10 fastest of 30 returning for a chance to win $75,000 on June 6.
Sheza Classy Leader will also compete in the Blue Ribbon Derby later in the month, but in a race that only takes about 15 seconds, the victor must have everything going the right way.
"In longer races, there might be a cluster, but eventually, they'll break up," Michel said. "In these races, they're 10 across, and each horse stays in its lane all the way to the line. It's usually a photo finish, with about six inches separating the winner from second place."
With not much margin for error, Michel knows you can't win every race, but after his two horses enter retirement, he'll continue his "retirement plan."
"I'll be keeping these two to breed when they're done racing," he said.
And with a few more wins, and some good breeding, Michel wouldn't mind seeing his time as a machinist at Zimmer cut a little short.
"I'm hoping to take an early retirement," he said.
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