by Mark Ratzky, publicity, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Marty Garey has been a fan of the trotters and pacers since he was a teenager in his native New York, joining the ranks of owner as part of a partnership in 1977, some two years after moving to California.

While he has campaigned some very nice horses, including California champion Knead To Shine with Wayne Short and the current sharp customer Ivegotwhatuneed with trainer and co-owner Bob Johnson, he relates that it’s the lasting friendships he’s established in the game that provide the most satisfaction.

“It started out with a few friends that I had made out here who were also fans and we pooled our money to claim a horse,” Garey explained. “Through Alan Horowitz, we were introduced to trainer Jack Olsen and claimed a mare named Prairie Sunshine, and she ended up winning enough to cover her training bills.

“When her racing days were over, Prairie Sunshine became a broodmare and her second foal was Knead To Shine. He was the California 3-year-old of the year in 1986, and I remember Annette Funicello was in the audience at the ceremony, because she was married to trainer Glen Holt. Knead To Shine won over $300,000 and also went back East at one point and won at Yonkers and Freehold at a class just below the Open.”

Fast forward some 25 years and Garey has his name listed under three performers.

“One of the original partners I started out with in 1977, Hank Wieseneck, remains my good friend and we’re partners on Myra’s Hi Ho and Giles L S Hanover, and I also own Ivegotwhatuneed with Bob Johnson, who trains all three.

“Over the years, Hank and I and in some cases a few other friends and partners have also had horses at various times with Jack and Ruth Olsen, Wayne and Diane Short, Jim Lackey, Rick Plano, Bob Ritchie, Carolyn Lyons, Walter Bickford and Bob Wiley. Many have become good and long-standing friends.”

Garey has high praise for current conditioner Johnson.

“I had known Bob to be one of the top trainers for a long time, but didn’t have any horses with him until the last few years when I became partners in a few horses with David Neumeister. I’ve come to know Bob as a man of unquestioned honesty, integrity and work ethic.

“What actually sets Bob apart for me from trainers I’ve had on either coast is his skill at communication. Living 400 miles from Sacramento, but liking to stay closely involved and sometimes just talk horses as much as I do, a trainer that is easy to communicate with is very important. Bob answers the phone when I call, returns messages when I miss him, and calls himself to keep me informed and discuss things that are happening.”

One other important friendship that Marty wants to acknowledge is the one he has with Cal Expo track announcer Scott Ehrlich.

“Scott is an outstanding announcer, and soon after he came to California, we were introduced by a mutual friend and we’ve been close friends ever since.”

It must be nice to have a friend calling your horse down the stretch, especially when that one has its mojo working.

Live racing resumes at Cal Expo on Thursday (Feb. 10) and continues through Saturday (Feb. 12). Post time on Thursday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). Post time on Friday and Saturday is at 6 p.m.