Our journey into the world of a particular sport is often a tale filled with passion and discovery. In this article, we delve into the stories of how some notable individuals became hooked on this sport and how it shaped their lives.

Discover the Origins of a Sporting Affection

Annise Montplaisir: From a Movie to a Lifelong Passion

At the tender age of 12, Annise Montplaisir's life took a turn when she watched the 2007 movie "Ruffian." Already having a love for horses through the 4-H horse project, this film opened her eyes to the world of racing. Growing up on the ND/MN border, she had little prior exposure to the sport. However, Ruffian's racing career and the stories surrounding her captivated her imagination. She became obsessed with reading racing books and declared that one day she would work in the Thoroughbred industry. Just a few months later, her mother planned a surprise 13th birthday party at the North Dakota Horse Park, a small racetrack near her childhood home. The track executive director made her feel special, taking her and her friends to the starting gate and showing them around the stable area. This simple experience made her feel part of something big and important. On that day, as the final race of $5,000 claimers with a purse of $2,800 took place in the pouring rain, she stood at the finish line with her friends, cheering for the two geldings. It was a moment that solidified her love for the sport and set her on a path that would lead to a career dedicated to introducing youth to the Thoroughbred industry.

Tom Amoss: From Handicapping to a Racing Career

Tom Amoss attended the same school as Al Stall Jr., whose father was the chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission. They both graduated from Isidore Newman and roomed together during their freshman year at LSU. Through Al, Tom became interested in handicapping races. One day, Al invited him to go to the track with his dad, and he went on a whim and fell in love with it. His oldest brother, a reporter for a local paper, connected him with a sports writer who understood racing. This person took him to the Fair Grounds and taught him what to look for when handicapping. From that moment on, he was hooked. He would get off the street car one stop early to buy the Racing Form at a newsstand and bring it home to handicap the races. Racing was so popular in New Orleans in the '70s that the nightly news would cover the results at the Fair Grounds. Tom started reading books about handicapping and by ninth grade, he was fluent in reading the Form and enjoyed it immensely. It was during a sleepover at Al's house that he was introduced to the backside of the track, which was like a revelation. He decided then that he wanted to be a part of the racing world. During summer breaks from college, he worked alongside Al at the track in Shreveport. After graduating with a degree in business, he went straight to the racetrack, considering it his graduate school. He wanted to learn different jobs to understand how everything worked. In 1987, he started his own training career, facing challenges but with confidence and a determination to succeed.