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T1IE HERALD November Page 17 ONLY PER WEEK 1989 HONDA CIVIC GEORGETOWN QGE3QES GlMlph St Hwy LOW COST Gaorgttown LEASING SALES SERVICE 8731 81 8 Sports and I Recreation iHKON Sports DOWNTOWN FAX SERVICE Evenings Saturdays Too ill VOtmCI ITO Downtown Georgetown 8772761 Hugo Dittfach Chasing a dream By COLIN GIBSON Herald Sports Editor Intense might be the best way to describe the racerider provid ed of course he is in a good mood The mans intensity in relation tO Sport W fa can slightly intimidating It is the mark of the man He wouldnt want to be perceived in any other light as he nears the end of his quest Jockey Hugo Dittfach is about to enter the realm of legends in the world of thoroughbred racing As this story is written Dittfach had ridden proudly into the win ners circle 3996 times He intends to achieve the magical pin nacle and then retire from active riding Only 20 riders in the recorded history of thoroughbred racing have achieved this mark of ex- and take his place alongside Willie Shoemaker Bill Hartack Eddie Arcaro and Johnny is in his season of thoroughbred raceriding A testa ment not only to his determination but also his will to succeed He freely admits that this will to succeed has been the driving force in his life At years of age and looking years younger Dittfach has a treasure trove of memories Some like Pandoras Box are better left unopened Born in what is now West Ger many Dittfach along with his mother sister and brother was in terned by the Russians for three years in Poland following the Se cond World War His father had served in the German army On his release frpm the intern ment camp weighed pounds He weighed pounds when he entered the camp father brought the family to Canada in 1953 and settl ed in Calgary Slight of build but husky he stands 4iiVfe tall and weighs no pounds was a busboy in a Calgary restaurant earning a week friend put the idea in his mind that he could make a lot of money as a jockey No stranger to an haJ on farm Dittfach decid to pursue the suggestion The idea also appealed to his ego in the sense that success or failure would rest on his own shoulders And he was determined to succeed He walked through the gates of Calgarys Victoria Park racetrack and his career in thoroughbred racing was under way with a slight delay For three years he performed every job imaginable around the racetrack and earned the rich sum of 50 a month In he was offered a chance to ride in a race and as the c goes he never looked back In his first race his horse placed third and Dittfach won his second race His career has taken him around the world several times and he has accrued his share of honors as well as stories He reports that renowned bandleader Harry James once wanted to buy his contract and his first two wins on California tracks were on horses owned by legen dary screen star Betty Grable In every racing venue in which he has competed has garnered top honors He topped the jockey standings in Alberta Manitoba and Saskat chewan then moved to Ontario and Woodbine racetrack in He was the top jockey in Canada in 1961 with 195 wins and won the Queens Plate that year aboard Blue Light In 1965 he once again finished on top of the Canadian jockey stan dings with wins Dittfach has resided on the Eighth Line south of Georgetown for years and also owns prdperty in Calgary Once the magical 4000 win number is he plans on RIDE LIKE THE WIND Hugo Dittfach faces the challenge of a race as he faces the challenge of life Success Is what counts and second best is Just not good enough He is within reach of wins in thoroughbred racing a pinnacle achleed only by legends In the sport He consider himself a legend only a man dedicated to his chosen sport and determined to be remembered as a racerider who gave his all even time the starters bell rang Photo submitted becoming a trainer and hopefully one day owning and racing his own string of horses He claims the highlight of his racing career was winning his first race but also mentions that he was selected to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Asked if there is a possibility that his training venture might not succeed Dittfach s demeanor sud denly changes and with a flinty glare declares it will succeed end of conversation on this topic In describing himself and his longevity not to mention success in thoroughbred racing Dittfach states simply I Was determined to be someone to belong I admit I might seem driven but there is a need inside me to be successful at everything I do I m also a man of my word Divorced now after a 20year marriage Dittfach has two sons and two daughters each suc cessful in their own right His oldest daughter Michelle teaches in Arizona and a second daughter is attending high school His oldest son Hugo Jr works for Rockwell International while the younger son Eric attends col lege in Arizona Dittfach is involved in what he terms a serious relation with aJ- prentice jockey Jessica Devlin and although there is a large difference in their ages according to Its the relationship that counts The win will come to Hugo of that there is no doubt Then there will be other worlds to conquer Should anyone doubt that Dittfach might falter along the way one suggestion dont bet against him A wiser investment might in volve betting on a horse race EP a legend in Canadian thoroughbred racing presents Hugo Dittfach with a com memorative plate celebrating the jockeys 2500th fach as a man with vision in thoroughbred racing In Canada and one who deserves Ihe lions share of the credit for the success he Sport of Kings Is now win Now deceased Taylor Is remembered by DItt- realizing nationwide Photo submitted A LITTLE HORSE SENSE goes a long way in terms of a jockeys success In his 20s Hugo Dittfach was still learning the ropes of his chosen trade and most certainly wasnt about to look a gift horse in the mouth Especially when the horses mouth was so close Photo sub mitted