Shanisty Andres, a woman who didn't come from a horse racing background, has defied the odds and found success in the sport. Her journey began with a simple Google search and led her to the racetrack and the world of standardbred racing.

Unconventional Path to Standardbred Racing Success

Introduction to Racing

While the odds weren't always in her favor, Shanisty Andres has managed to make a name for herself in the world of standardbred racing. She didn't have a traditional introduction to the sport. It all started with a Google search for "Jobs with horses" around five years ago. This led her to the racetrack in her home province and eventually to the barn of trainer Dave Kelly. Starting as a caretaker, she was given the chance to sit in the sulky one morning.The first horse she jogged, HF Thegreatpumpkin, was a runaway. And the first horse she trained on the track, she was supposed to go :30 but ended up going in :20 and was heartbroken. But through encouragement and understanding, she learned and got the hang of it.

First Training Win and Beyond

Since 2022, Andres has been training standardbreds and her nomadic experiences have taken her across Western Canada and into the U.S. She was asked by Tammy Murschell to take over the reins of Marlons Magic after her father, Bill Collins, passed away. It was this horse that gave her her first official training win on April 1, 2022, at Cal-Expo. Nine days later, the bay gelding was back in the winner's circle at the same distance and racetrack.This horse wasn't super-fast, but he was an endurance type. Andres, too, has shown endurance in her career. As of Nov. 15, she has 25 wins, 47 top three finishes and $134,385 in purse earnings. She doesn't focus on these numbers too much as she was a gymnast and has high expectations for herself.

Favorite Horses and Challenges

When it comes to favorite horses, Andres pointed to Cease Fire and Daisy Corvette. Her first encounter with Cease Fire wasn't love at first sight. She didn't like the horse when she was working for Dave Kelly and had a hard time catching him. But through some adjustments and building trust, their relationship grew stronger.She also had a brief period away from the barns when she got a job line locating. But she missed the horses and came back to clean stalls for trainers Dave Kelly and Kelly Hoerdt. Now, as a trainer, she is enjoying a career-best year.

Looking Forward

During a memorable year, Andres has many successes to look back on. She also points to Crazy I M, now retired, as another beloved horse she trained and co-owned with Murschell. The next chapter of her racing career will see her head back to Cal-Expo.She didn't want to be a female in the industry with a man doing everything for her. So, if she was going to be a trainer, she wanted to do it all. And she has lived up to those words and beaten the odds along the way.