Archive for August 2019

The owner of Explode, Ole Nielsen was just a small boy when he used to collect pop bottles so that he would have enough to go bet on a horse at Northlands Park when he first began dreaming of participating in the Canadian Derby. He guesses that he was just 14 years old at that time. After sixty-years of dreaming of the Canadian Derby, he has finally won a race with his three-year-old horse, Explode and his rider, Amadao Perez. Explode finished second after Journeyman, ridden by Dan Nelson, in the mile and eighth in the 90th running of the race.

However, it was ruled that Explode was blocked when coming down the stretch, which caused him to come in second, beating out favorite, Final Jeopardy, which landed Journeyman 7 to 1 in the place position.

Nielson saw Explode’s win as the highlight dream day of his career, after so many years of horse racing. He was born and grew up in Edmonton and went to school at Scona. He still feels strong connections to his hometown of Edmonton although he now lives in Vancouver. When he began his journey he had the goal of winning the Canadian Derby. He admits that he wanted to win this one more than the B.C Derby.

He said that he began collecting pop bottles on the weekends and cashing them in for money that he could then use to go to Northlands to play a show parlay. He would at least get six or seven bucks as a result of his efforts. He remember Chariot Chaser winning the Canadian Derby. Back then he betted a hundred dollars on her and it paid off with a nice amount of money. He bought a ticket bound for Vancouver as a way to treat himself. He eventually went to U of A and received a law degree, went to a horse sale, and bought a yearling. He eventually won three B.C Derby races and also won the Longacres.

This was the first time he has run in the Canadian Derby. After his win at the Longacres in B.C he decided that he wanted to win Oaks because it was worth more money once their careers end. He has been fortunate enough to win six Oaks Derby. He admits that he had given up his dream of winning the Canadian Derby. However, after going to a horse sale to improve the population of horses, he wound up with his horse, Explode.

They were attempting to increase the population of horse in Vancouver and therefore, several owners decided to visit the Kentucky sale in Keenland last November. Nielson walked away with five horses for cost reserves. The reserve for Explode was $15,000. The twist is that Vancouver multi-millionaire, Peter Redekop spent approximately $450,000 to buy the horse, Final Jeopardy, which he would race in the $250,000 Canadian Derby and the B.C. Derby only to get beat by a fellow Hastings Park owner.