After posting career-best numbers in 2021, Nathan Sobey wanted to test the waters outside of his home province of Alberta. A harsh winter in Ontario to start 2022 has done nothing to dampen his spirits and desire to return.
Last year, Sobey posted 68 training wins and earned $491,265 during a breakout season competing at tracks in Alberta and B.C. He shifted operations to Ontario earlier this year.
“It was January 18 when the horses arrived, so I got here on the 17th,” Sobey said to Trot Insider. “I showed up, got all set up. Ontario has been on my mind for the last few years, just COVID and everything's kind of delayed the process, I would say — it was kind of hard to make a cross-country move, not knowing if we're going to race. So finally, this past fall, with the year I had and how hard we work, I figured it was due time to come to Ontario and try it out.
“I felt if I waited any longer, I was never going to do it, and I was going to regret not doing it,” Sobey continued. “And that's the last thing a person wants to do is regret not having taken that shot — take the opportunity to try. Maybe you try and you know, it's not everything you want it to be, but at least you can say you've tried it and experienced it instead of that unknown factor.”
Sobey made his first pari-mutuel start in Ontario on February 3 at Flamboro Downs in a $7,500 overnight pace, finishing second with his pupil Uchasemikissm. He has made 11 starts since coming to Ontario and nabbed his first win on February 15, taking a $10,000 pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District with Uchasemikissm. Ontario's racing industry comes with a different pace and schedule than what Sobey's accustomed to, but he's adjusting to the tempo and the increased opportunities.
“Everyone's been very welcoming, very helpful,” Sobey said while thanking Nikki & Paul Davies for helping him get settled. “'If you need anything, give me a call if you want to learn.' And that was the other thing, too: I've been in Alberta for so long. I wanted to see something new, and try and learn something new. I always want to better myself as a horseperson and not just remain stagnant. There's different methods here, different trainers. This is a whole different way. I'm not used to the everyday grind. You know, this track Monday, this track Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday — like we can go seven days a week.”
Sobey came east with eight horses in his barn including stable star Icy Blue Scooter. And while he’s enjoyed his time racing in Ontario, Sobey’s plan is to not move to Ontario yet, but to try the grounds out east and conduct business before heading back west, where he currently runs an operation that has assumed many of the owners from Keith Clark’s barn before the Hall of Fame horseman retired.
“We brought out eight out of my barn. I only see a couple of them going home — at least that's the plan. And with Keith retiring, I got a bunch of very good horses,” Sobey stated. “So it kind of forced me — it wasn't a bad thing — but it kept me in Alberta to have a career year; I put up numbers that I never thought were possible. But, that being said, with the year we had — how hard it was, how hard the staff worked to put up those kinds of numbers — I felt that it was probably due time to get to Ontario and try it out. Especially to have such a good system at home — my family, my girlfriend [Amanda Barron], my staff and my business partners — they were all supportive of this move. And then when I do go back to Alberta in March or April, then I go back and we're looking at two- and three-year-old stock. That's where the money is in Alberta; that's where you really can make a living on the stakes. That's what Keith taught me. The money in the overnight program is starting to get better, but the way you're going to get ahead is stakes."
Thus, a move back west won't be an indication of a failed attempt at racing on a tougher circuit, but a calculated plan of attack for maximizing his return on investment thanks to supportive partners that can see the benefit in racing more stock in more locations.
“When stakes in western Canada are done, I'd like to come right back. The whole plan is to show up when racing here is not at its peak and its toughest moments, and kind of come in try to take advantage of the downtime. It's been good. I would get out there and be a regular — not saying I'm a great driver, but I think I'm capable, and I'd love to learn. And one of the easiest ways to learn and get better is to be out there driving. Hopefully I can pick up a few on the B tracks and maybe one day get lucky enough to win a race at Mohawk.”