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Groom's Dedication Shines in New Award
8 Apr
Summary
- Jodie Hiesinger received the inaugural award for Western Canadian backstretch workers.
- Hiesinger has worked with trainer Rod Cone for 13 years, now as assistant trainer.
- A severe riding accident in 2024 resulted in Hiesinger breaking 10 bones.
The demanding, often unseen, work of horse racing's backstretch personnel is being brought into the spotlight with new accolades. Jodie Hiesinger, an assistant trainer for Rod Cone, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Jockey Club of Canada's Outstanding Western Canadian Backstretch Worker award. Hiesinger, who has dedicated 13 years to working with horses, expressed surprise but emphasized her deep love for the demanding lifestyle.
Her dedication is matched by her skill; Cone describes her as indispensable, noting she "runs the barn" and is crucial to his training success. Hiesinger's journey began with a childhood passion for horses, leading her through programs like the Horse Racing Alberta/Olds College Exercise Rider Program. Despite a serious accident in 2024 where she broke 10 bones, her commitment to the sport and her equine charges remains absolute.
Backstretch workers like Hiesinger begin their days before dawn and finish long after others have left, tending to every need of the horses. Their efforts, from feeding and grooming to preparing horses for races, are fundamental to a trainer's success, though often the glory goes to others. This award aims to rectify that oversight, celebrating those who form the true foundation of horse racing.
