Meta data from Jason Libby keeps his Lady Speaker co-owners in the loop

by Matthew Lomon

When Jason Libby added veteran pacer Lady Speaker to his racing roster in late June, he knew he was getting a reliable competitor with a proven track record on the grassroots circuit.

What he didn’t know was that he’d soon be training the fastest older pacing mare in the history of Dresden Raceway.

“When Nathan [Bain, Dresden track announcer] said it was a track record, it really surprised me,” said Libby, reflecting on the landmark July 12 result. “And the way she did it — she left from the 7-hole, landed in the 4-hole, and then popped first up and just kept coming — I was very impressed.”

Lady Speaker’s final time of 1:54.4, capped by a personal-best :27.4 final quarter, toppled the three-week-old record of Jewels Diamondeyes by three-fifths-of-a-second.

For Libby, who had not yet acquired Lady Speaker when the previous mark was set (June 21), the remarkable feat with driver Austin Sorrie in tow reinforced everything he and his fellow owners had admired from afar.

“Coming into the race she was really good, she was brave,” Libby said. “Paul MacKenzie drove her first two starts and just loved her. Going into this third one with Austin, I thought from the 7-hole that we’d have to hope for some crazy fractions and then clean up the shrapnel, but he [Sorrie] did it on his own and she was awesome.

“All she’s done is make money. She was a check-getter, and she’s been exactly that so far.”

Sorrie’s deft driving set a high bar moving forward – perhaps a little too high.

“A new lifetime mark and a track record for your first time sitting behind her? I don’t know where you go from here,” Libby said with a laugh.

Lady Speaker now joins Dreamfair Vogel (Elmira Raceway) and To Helen Back (Kawartha Downs) on Libby’s list of trainees to rewrite the record books.

“‘Vogel,’ that’ll never get beat because there’s no Elmira anymore,” he said. “To Helen Back was beat a while back, but those were two very special horses. They were young 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, so this one with Lady Speaker was different being my first with an aged mare.”

The pride Libby feels from seeing the 6-year-old daughter of Artspeak—Lady Mach in action is not exclusive to him.

Each member of Lady Speaker’s hands-on ownership group, made up of Ronnie MacLean, Tim Flynn, Doug Dunbar, and Libby, shares that same pride, while contributing to her success in their own unique way.

“Ronnie used to train horses, he’s like the bloodhound,” Libby said. “He’s the one who does all the scouting on onGait, he sniffs everything out. Then we have Tim, a retired school teacher. He’s our money guy. Then myself, who does the training, and Doug, our super senior. He’s 80, and he comes to the farm to help out, clean stalls, and walk horses.

“Between the four of us, we have everything we need. It’s not a ‘sit back and watch’ type of dynamic. We all have something to do.”

In a sport where familiarity and routine are key, an abrupt change in environment is risky.

Fortunately for Libby and Co., their cohesive approach, coupled with the foundation built by her previous connections, helped ease Lady Speaker’s transition after spending five years with trainer Jamie Doig.

“I’ve had horses that are homesick, but she hasn’t really changed since we claimed her,” Libby said. “She was a good-looking horse and was well taken care of. Jamie’s a stand-up individual in the horse business, so what you see is what you get.

“She’s a nice, tough old mare. She’s a lovely horse to be around and she’s got a paddock buddy [Joyce] that she goes out with for an hour or so in the morning. We got quite fortunate that all the stars aligned, and Ronnie’s homework paid off.”

A unique part of the endeavor’s success is that each member of the quartet has been able to see Lady Speaker’s progress through Libby’s eyes – literally.

The Dorchester, ON-based conditioner upgraded his training toolkit with what he anointed the “greatest invention ever for a horse trainer,” Meta Glasses.

The spectacles that record video and audio from a first-person perspective have added an immersive element to the ownership experience.

“It’s the best tool for a trainer to interact with an owner,” Libby said. “Ronnie, for example, is in P.E.I., so I’ll shoot a quick 30-second video of Lady Speaker jogging or when I turn her out with her paddock buddy.

“I’ll give a little rundown, like ‘Oh, we’re at the quarter in 36 seconds; she’s on the right line a little bit.’ Before, a trainer used to call the owner to say if a horse was good or bad or whatever. Now, twice a week, they’re getting videos of their horse training down.”

Call it an effective value proposition for Libby’s services.

“I use that to get everybody involved,” he said. “I figure if they’re going to spend some money, they might as well get a little bit extra, instead of just weekly simulcast feeds.”

Going the extra mile, as Libby noted, is all part of a life in the horse business.

Between taking training videos, watching simulcast feeds and race replays on YouTube, and studying race lines on TrackIt, the scouting process is a never-ending, yet natural, pursuit.

“The homework part is everyday life; that’s our life,” Libby said. “You see a horse, it’s something that catches your eye. ‘Fifth race number seven, who’s that?’ Just like Lady Speaker, I watched the replays and saw she was good-gaited, can win any style – I’ve seen her on the front end, first up, three wide, she was just a very good racehorse.

“Looking for horses is part of our DNA; it’s in our blood. It’s not a chore, it’s not a big deal, it’s not a job – it’s just what we do.”

A fresh catch is never too far out of sight for Libby.

“I’ll go fishing in Lake Ontario and I’ve got either my phone or my iPad propped up with the races going,” he said. “You got the CN Tower off in the distance and [track announcer] Gary Guy’s voice in the background.”

With racing always within reach, it’s no surprise to see Lady Speaker emerge as the latest beneficiary of Libby’s expert horsemanship.

Backed by MacLean, Flynn, and Dunbar, the trainer with three decades of service under his belt will continue to express his gratitude as only he knows how.

“The more information I can give them about their horse, the better,” Libby said. “It’s what I provide as far as my training bill. You get the horse looked after, plus you get lots of documentation in videos, texts, and pictures.

“I appreciate their investment with me, and in return, I try to give them as much knowledge, fun, and an experience of their own.”