He shrugged off the victory in the 1.5-metre jumping competition at the second day of the National because there are other things far more important.He was shaken and withdrawn when he received his diagnosis. He was unsure if he would ever return to Spruce Meadows, where he has won more show jumping titles than anyone else.“I’d be lying if I told you I was 100-per-cent myself,” Lamaze said. “This keeps me happy and gives me a great reason to get up every morning and do what I love doing.
He was unable to ride most of the winter and the first time he got on Fine Lady 5, she was very rusty.“I wasn’t riding well myself and she felt some insecurity from me and it made for a poor result." They fared poorly in an outing in Miami and then he turned Fine Lady 5 over to train with others. They are just finally back in the saddle together now.Nobody was complaining on the lush green grounds on the south side of Calgary that lure horses and their riders from all over the world. The National runs through Sunday.“It makes me happy to be here jumping,” Lamaze said. “I have so many memories here I will never forget.