Travelled to meet up in person with Spanky’s Barn. Thank you for inviting me around and taking the time out to chat with me. Some people treat the game like a business and take it very seriously. However it seems in stark contrast, you seem to have a much more relaxed approach to the game, that I respect. 

1. Mancave Alert! Spanky I am jealous. Every HRP player needs one of those to retreat and train our horses. Not sure if I am in a pub or a club. Walls adorned with racing memorabilia, overlooking your swimming pool. A little birdie told me you have racing pigeons, is correct?
   A. Yep that’s right Kevo, we call it poor man’s racing. I’ve had them since I was very young. I even won a couple futurities. The equivalent of the Kentucky Derby.
   
   
2. I checked your stats Spanky and noticed you joined just before myself in 2007 and you have just hit the 5000 race at HRP mark congratulations! Apologies, instead of calling you Spanky, what’s your name please? Where does the stable name come from? Tell us a bit about yourself
   A. Hey Kevo, It’s OK. So my name is Steve and I am 70 years young. The stable name comes from when I was little, there was a TV series called Our Gang. Spanky was the name of one of the characters on the show and the kids in the Neighborhood said I looked just like him, so it stuck.

I live here with my wife and my sidekick Cash, my big chocolate Lab. I worked as sales rep for 46 years that mined and sold Garnet Stone. But I’ve been a man of leisure for some time now. 

I have two brothers that play at HRP, first Invicta Racing. (Todd) was a real life jock and  worked for Jack Van Berg, a hall of fame trainer over here. My other brother is High Voltage, he recently retired and is now a man of leisure like myself. He has been playing here for the past few years.
 

1. Pleased to meet you Steve and Cash! What is your association with horses Steve?
   A. I first got into horse racing as a boy in the 70’s. The day that changed my world forever. We had baseball practice called off one day and we ended up going to the racetrack with the coach instead. And a lifelong passion was born.
2. How long have you been a gambler?
   Q. My gambling started when I was 11-years-old. I starting picking football games. But my father, who grew up in the depression really frowned upon it! He used to say ‘that won’t happen to my boys’. Whoops sorry about Dad 🙂
3. That coach sounded like he certainly liked his horses! Curious Spanky, when looking at your stats page you have no active sires or mares which is unusual and brings me to my next question about your approach to the game. I know successful players like Maxmillion have used that approach in the past i.e. private sales/auction/claimers as opposed to breeding heavy in house. Is that the same kind of game plan you use please?

1. As you may or may not know he and I are friends. His father and I went way back. We started playing the horses together. Years gone by and Max and I owned race horse at Santa Anita. Then Max and Jon of LaCanada racehorses got some horses and I stepped out of it. I am good friends with those guys. Getting onto your question Kevo, I see stables like Team 7 Illusions and Smokey Stover do great but it’s just not for me. I have a fairly small barn maintaining 50 – 60 horses consistently over the years. I enjoy trying to find a horse in the claimers and turning him around. Guess I am getting old and I just don’t like multi-tasking.
2. Mate, if it works for you, sweet. Different strokes for different folks as they say. There are so many different ways to play the game. What has been your highlight at HRP, the best moment?
   A. Tough one… I bought a horse from Barcelona Stables and it went on to win the breeders’ cup sprint on the Turf. The horse’s name was Midnight Prowler it cost about $35. Off the top of my head another couple of great moments was a horse I bought called Glorious. I bought him for $35 and ran second in the breeder’s dirt sprint. Controlled Power, I claimed him for about $35 also and had a lot of fun with him. Any time I spend under $50 and get results like that, I’ve got something going for me.
3. That’s the key, $35 is the lucky number lol. Newer and smaller stables reading this take note! It can be done. We talked about some great moments with horses you ran what about lowlights? Ever felt like throwing in the towel?
   A. I get frustrated once in a while when they make an engine change. It seems we have to adjust everything then you have all the arguments back and forth. Never felt like quitting no that’s not my style. The game for me is a pleasure when you sit around here 24/7, it gives me something to do.
4. Strong resolve I like it. So, who is your favorite horse of all time RL and HRP?
   A. Seen some great horses come and go over the years though, Secretariat all day long. HRP horse would have to be Five Fives. Old school legend.   
5. Old School legend a bit like you Spanky. What are your goals this season?
   A. The game of horse racing is hope. Even though it’s just a game, you make a claim or a purchase etc. and you hope they do well for you. A bit like you and your treasure hunting Kevo, always searching for that next gem or pot of gold. You hope you find something…   

Also, to have fun. You are right Kevo, I don’t take it as seriously as most people. I don’t know if it’s because I am just at that stage of life? I just like to have a joke and enjoy it. Sometimes it is not always perceived so well. Even when I post on the forums now and then, I wonder why I said that. But I don’t really have any agenda, I am just killing time and having fun. 

1. That was a good answer hope. Never thought of it that way before. You mentioned 50/60 Active Spanky any special ones? I would like to know a bit more about your racing operation.
   A. Probably out of my active runners there are 5 or 6 that can compete with the big boys. There’s a few I am looking forward to and a few getting old like Control Power, he is 7 now. I ran him a few days ago against a monster named Anoush Command. I had my horse on go and he didn’t break well and I was fortunate he ran 3rd. I have a horse called Bajan mask. I am excited about him and hoping he will spring to life. How good is he? I will find out in the Highlander.

1. Game improvements Spanky. What would be the one thing you would improve or new feature add into HRP if you were in charge for the day? Interested to hear your view.
   A. The one thing I would do would not be a new feature, but work at improving customer service response times.   
2. MB seems to be getting stronger and stronger over the years as I am sure you have noticed. Is there someone you think who could actually possibly challenge him in the future even take his crown? A. MB is the best. Max gives him a run, but Max doesn’t play at that level. Two guys maybe would be Fractious and Arindel. Talented trainers working their way up. Smokey is good but he seems to be focusing on the female side more. I am probably forgetting some others. Apologies but they are the guys that spring to mind.
3. Nice shout out to those two and you heard it here first! What advice would you give to new players please Spanky?
   A. I think a new player needs to come up and claim a couple of older horses. That don’t have to be expensive horses, just that have had a decent racing career. They may be slowing down a bit and dropped into a $5 claimer. Owned by some different but experienced stables would help. You can then look at how different stables trained the horse. What instruction used and you have some form of idea what to do.     

Better that than jump in buying horse for hundreds and feeling burnt. You know Kevo I have been around the horses since 1971 and it took me about 30 races till, I hit the board at HRP. Take your time, don’t go nuts and most importantly have fun.    

1. That is solid advice Sir. Anything to say to the community Spanky?
   A. Sometimes we all need to be a bit kinder together and remember to treat this for what it is. Just a game.     

One of the great things about writing for the SRF is meeting people like yourself Spanky. Really enjoyed chatting with you today and getting to know you a bit better. I want to wish you a fun season and please, keep on making me smile in the forums!    

Thank you for having the patience to read another trainer interview. Feedback constructive or negative as always welcome as both help me to improve.     

More interviews lined up so as ever

Stay Tuned 

Kevo/ El Primero Rodeo 

Categories: FEATURED STORIES, SRF Interviews