Page 14 - February 2005 The Game

14 The Game, February 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The 2005 "Live" Season -They’re Off and Running Sunday, May 1, 2005
Stanley, successful in Cleveland
It’s Post Time at Assiniboia Downs
Another exciting season of thoroughbred racing begins at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday, May 1 and signals the starts of 75-days of live racing for the 2005 season. The season will end on Sunday, September 25.
Post Times are 1:00 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays. Because Friday, July 1 is a Canadian statutory holiday, post time that day will also be 1:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings’ post time is 7:00 p.m. During the 2005 season Tuesday evening racing will also be featured on June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, August 9, August 16 and August 23 with a post time of 7:00 p.m.
The 2005 season will witness a total purse distribution of $5.5 million and includes the $100,000 purse offered for the 57th annual running of the Manitoba Lotteries Derby on Monday, August 1. The Manitoba Lotteries Derby Day will also feature the Winnipeg Futurity, Jack Hardy Stakes and Wheat City Stakes, providing all race fans with another action packed afternoon of thorough- bred racing excitement.
A total of 30 stakes races will be featured during the 2005 season and will offer over $1.2 million in purse money. The 2005 stakes races schedule begins Saturday, June 4 with the six-furlong $40,000 Golden Boy Stakes for three-year-olds. The six- furlong $40,000 Chantilly Stakes for three-year-old fillies is scheduled on Sunday, June 5. The stakes race schedule will conclude with the annual running of the $65,000 Matron Stakes for three-year-olds & up (Fillies & Mares) over a mile and an eighth on Saturday, September 24. The $65,000 Gold Breeders’ Cup for three-year-olds & up over a mile and an eighth runs Sunday, September 25.
Assiniboia Downs is also pleased to bring you the 2005 Triple Crown simulcasts. The exciting three race series begins on Saturday, May 7 with
the 131st Kentucky Derby, followed by the 130th Preakness Stakes from the Pimlico racecourse on Saturday, May 21st and the 137th Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park on Saturday, June 11.
Be sure to check the racetrack’s web site year round at www.assiniboiadowns.com for the most current information from Assiniboia Downs. Throughout the live season there are detailed summaries on all of the 2005 stakes races and other racetrack stories, an events calendar, information on Club West Gaming Lounge and handicap- ping contests and information on the great dining opportunities available in the Terrace Dining Room.
Horsemen’s Key Contacts Information for Assiniboia Downs 2005 Live Racing Season
Owners, trainers and jockeys inter- ested in obtaining more information on the 2005 live racing season should contact Assiniboia Downs Director of Operations, Darren Dunn or Race Secretary Ray Miller. Please call Darren Dunn at (204) 885-3330 extension 203 or email Darren at ddunn@assiniboiadowns.com.
Race Secretary Ray Miller can also be reached at (204) 885-3330 extension 247 or you can email Ray Miller at rmiller@assiniboiadowns.com
Stall Application forms will be available for downloading off the Assiniboia Downs web site by looking in the left hand column on the main page of the web site. Click "Stall Applications" in the bottom left hand corner under the Horseman’s Services listings and follow the instructions on the application form.
Mail or fax the completed stall application form to Ray Miller, Race Secretary, Assiniboia Downs, 3975 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3K 2E9. The facsimile number is (204) 831-5348
Trainer Stanley Smith has just returned home for the winter, coming off of a successful end to the 2004 racing season.
After the early closure of Fort Erie racetrack in September, Stanley ventured to Thistledown in Cleveland, his second year making the trip. The meet finished on December 31 and Stanley’s trainees had accomplished 5 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds in 30 starts. He had 4 horses claimed and another 5 horses sold privately. He made more than $46,000 in earnings.
His winners include: Taryn’s Belief, who was claimed, was the winner on October 22 for $7,900 and November 13 for $8,900; Tinker’s Hope, winner on October 10 for $6,700 and October 25 for $6,700 for Ed Walton’s Southgate Farm; and the Raymond Kong owned, Creek Executive, who broke his maiden in August at Fort Erie and ran twice at Woodbine, for another trainer before being sent back to Stanley where he won on November 15 for $7,200. Sadly, in December, during his second start at Thistledown, he broke down during the race. The mare Miss You Dearly recorded three second place finishes before being sold as a polo pony.
Stanley was born in Jamaica and his Mother immigrated to Canada with her two sons in the early 1970’s. A few years later he began working at the Scarborough GM Van plant on the assembly line. A job he held for seventeen years before the plant was closed in early 1990.
During that time Stanley had become a horse owner and Rudy Van (That’s what everybody called him) was his trainer. He eventually became more involved with the horses and began taking care of his own “claimers” with trainer C.R. Johnson.
Stanley says he mainly purchases cheap claimers from Woodbine and turns them around to run them at Fort Erie. It is a successful strategy for Stanley who recalls the horse, Illegal Storm, who won 2 races at Woodbine and 4 at Fort Erie before being claimed for $12,500.
Stanley has been a licensed trainer for more than ten years now and is stabled at Fort Erie. He received his trainers license at Philadelphia Park in the off season and recorded his first win as a trainer in his first start shortly after.
Stanley stays in Fort Erie and commutes to his home near Woodbine racetrack once a week where his wife of 20 years, Norma, and their nineteen year-old daughter Shante reside.
Stanley will begin the 2005 season at Woodbine with his own horses as well as for owners Southgate Farms, Raymond Kong and Castle Ridge. He is also hopeful that his success at Thistledown will continue as he welcomes a new owner from Cleveland.
Trainer Stanley Smith
DidYou Know....
That Champion, Azeri, has been retired. The six-year-old mare, by Jade Hunter - Zodiac Miss(AUS), by Ahonoora(GB), was bred by the late Allen Paulson and was campaigning under the ownership of the Paulson
Living Trust run by his son Michael. Azeri was named Horse of the Year in 2002 and was Champion older mare in 2002 and 2003 after winning the 2002 G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and 2002 and 2003 editions of the GI Apple Blossom H. She also won the 2002 GI Santa Margarita Invitational H. and back-to-back renewals of the GII Clement L Hirsch H., GI Vanity H. and GI Milady
Breeders’ Cup H.
Azeri is North America's all-time
leading money-earning female and retires with earnings of $4,079,820 from 17 victories, 14 coming in stakes, in 24 starts, along with four runner-up finishes. The owner declined to announce who the mare will be bred to in 2005.
2004 Notable Quotations in Sports
‘Good luck Smarty Jones. Go forth and multiply.’
- Philadelphia billboard after the Derby and Preakness winner was retired to stud.
Red Oak Training Centre
• Consideration given to Multiple Bookings
• Customized Programs • Trainer Les Baker -
Over 40 Years of Experience
Located One Hour from Woodbine
Call Today for More Information
Training Rate $40/day Lay-Up Rate $20/day
905-473-6584
Sam DiPasquale
Public Trainer
Now Accepting New Owners for 2005
Call 416-806-8385