Olczyk Gives Emotional Keynote to OwnerView

Hockey and horse racing analyst Eddie Olczyk delivered a heartfelt keynote address Nov. 2 at the OwnerView National Owners’ Conference at Santa Anita Park, telling several hundred attendees that “you’re in a great game with amazing horses.”

Olczyk, who currently owns four horses in partnership and frequently talks about the sport during his work as an analyst for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League and on national games for the NBC Sports Network, told the audience of his falling in love with racing as a kid going to Arlington International Racecourse in his native Chicago.

When he joined the Blackhawks as a player in 1984, Olczyk also entered horse ownership, and said when he got to see the hard work done around the stables, his love for the game rose to a higher level. He told of talking his way out of playing an exhibition game in Winnipeg so he could drive to North Dakota and watch his horse Mr. Bow Tie run. His coach excused him from the game only on the promise of Olczyk betting and hopefully winning money for them. Mr. Bow Tie cooperated by winning, and Olczyk told of cleaning the small simulcast parlor out of money and taking an IOU from it.

Olczyk currently owns stakes-placed Ray's The Bar with Pete Bradley’s Bradley Thoroughbreds.

The most poignant moment of the address, however, came when he spoke of Diana O, a horse he named after his wife. Diana O won the first two races of her career before breaking down in the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. With his emotion rising to the fore, Olczyk told the crowd that while there are great days at the races, horses were very delicate and that owners needed to be prepared for “both sides.” Olczyk said he scored a goal on the night of the Pocahontas, and to this day the puck sits on his mantle with her name affixed to it.

“I love having the action as an owner, but also meeting the incredible people throughout the sport,” he said. “It’s a thrill to tell the stories on NBC, and I always want to be an unofficial spokesperson for the sport. Horses are definitely part of my family.”

Olczyk, who won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, proudly told of bringing the Stanley Cup to Belmont Park and allowing racing fans to take photos with it. He also took the Cup to Nick Zito’s barn, and had a photo taken with Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Go For Gin.

“We have to sell the game to others and bring new people to the racetrack,” he said. “Look at fantasy sports the last couple of years and how popular they are. We’ve been doing fantasy sports for years with the horses.

“I love horse racing and love being an owner. It’s in my blood and I get more nervous watching my horses run than anything else.”

Retired race caller Tom Durkin introduced Olczyk while wearing a Blackhawks uniform.