It’s only fitting that jockey Tom Garner, who became a real-life hero last week, would be rewarded with a longshot victory on the track in Wednesday’s $48,000 steeplechase allowance at the Spa. Riding 13-1 Court Ruler for Leipers Fork Steeplechasers and trainer Leslie Young, Garner rallied his mount through the stretch to overtake Rosbrian Farm’s Global Freedom with favored Zoom Zoom Zoe a gutsy third, just 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. It was the second win in three lifetime starts for the 6-year-old Irish-bred, who finished second, beaten just a length, by Eve Ledyard’s Go Get the Basil at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in June. As for Tom Garner, the 29-year-old made international headlines when he and three friends participated in a dangerous water rescue outside of Philadelphia that was caught on camera. Garner and his pals saved a father and four children from a vehicle sinking in floodwaters when he formed part of a human chain pulling the victims from their partly submerged car in terrible weather conditions. Wednesday’s race was a little less dramatic, but still exciting. Tod Marks has the photo recap.
Photo Credentials: Tod Marks Photography
