Page 38 - June 2005 The Game

38 The Game, June 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
Emile also trained 3-year-old filly Ericka’s Lass. She won the Chantilly and the Assiniboia Oaks stakes for her owners the Empire Stable. Emile also had the HBPA top sprinter last season, in Florida- bred Iwouldificould, who ended up winning 3 races including the Free Press Stakes and over $50,000 last season for his owners who include Emile and partners Murray Howell and Joan Wright. Emile will have over 25 thoroughbreds in his stable this season with some new talent in his barn that he has high hopes for this season, including his Manitoba Derby hopeful, a 3-year-old named Kiss A Plenty.
Also back are Chad Torevell who was 5th in the standings last season and Blair Miller who finished 4th last season. And despite now being in his mid-80’s Bert Blake whose training career goes way back to the old Polo Park days is also back.
Blake’s top-3-year-old Shanghied had a great early season in 2004 and with an
impressive seven lengths plus victory in the Manitoba Derby Trial and was our best “local hope” for the Manitoba Lotteries Derby. But, Shanghied came up short and finished third behind Skipper and the eventual Derby Winner, Alberta-invader Royalty Boy. Shanghied will not be back as he was retired to stud this year.
In addition to the top 5 trainers returning, many of the veteran trainers who competed here each season are returning. The list includes Jack Robertson, Jerry Gourneau along with Carl Anderson who won the Gold Breeders’ Cup with Deputy Country. Anderson will have a much larger stable this season, which includes a former Manitoba Derby winner Lord Shogun from the Canyon Farms in BC.
Other notable and veteran trainers include HBPA President Harry Kube, Lorna Gray, Gordie Marsh, and Caesar De Marni just to mention a few. De Marni enjoyed another good season in 2004 thanks to the performance of Manitoba-
~ Manitoba Racing ~
bred Coal Smudge who won 2 races including the Manitoba Stakes and earned over $53,000 and upped his career earnings to over $125,000. Coal Smudge was purchased at the annual yearling sale a few years ago for just $1,700.
Also back this season is a very promising young trainer Tanya Lindsay. And Arizona trainer Clay Brison has returned this season. Back in 2002, Brison made a short stop at Assiniboia Downs and proved to be a top conditioner. He recorded seven wins, seven seconds and one third in just 25 starts for a win percentage of 25%.
The top jockey in 2004 was Arkansas veteran Travis Hightower. In his second season of competition in 2004, Travis enjoyed 456 starts, won 98 races including 7 stakes races and had total purse earnings of over $849,000. Travis left every other jockey “in his dust and finished 32 wins ahead of top apprentice rider Larren Delorme. Delorme was second in the standings with 66 wins in 456 starts. Beth Butler is also back. She was the top female rider in 2004 and tied Jerry Pruitt for third
place in the standings with 57 wins.
Among the veteran jockey’s returning is Tim Gardiner. Tim is a four time riding champion at the Downs and is now second overall in career wins with 1339 victories in 18 seasons. Tim only had 21 wins last season due to an early season injury Tim had to miss most of the season. Knowing Tim, he will make up that shortened season this year.
Also back is Ken Hendricks. Hendricks is the “all-time career- wins” jockey at this racetrack with 1619 wins in 29 seasons. The rest of the top riders returning include Jason Leacock and his brother Paul. Paul was on board Remeiwaterbluz for her victories last season. Larry Munoz and Doug Jones are back.
We are pleased that Phoenix based Turf Paradise riders Vince Guerra and Tony Matteucci are returning. Vince enjoyed 52 wins last season and tied Travis Hightower with seven stakes race victories as well. Matteucci recorded 33 wins last season.
And the 2000 and 2001 season riding champion Rohan Singh has returned this season, after try- ing his luck at Woodbine for a short period in 2004, but has decided that Assiniboia Downs is his “real home”. We expect Rohan to give Travis Hightower and Larren Delorme and the rest of the jockeys a real run for the money this season.
Another returnee who was here a few season’s ago is Anderson Ward. In total there are 24 jockeys on the grounds to start the season including Keveh Nicholls. Some of the new riders this season hailing from Trinidad and the Barbados, other tracks in
Canada and the United States include Renaldo Cumberbatch, Felipe Valdez, Lenny Frazzitta, Carlos Marquez, Mikhail Carmichael, Jose Rivera Jr. and Marijo Terleski.
Manitoba Lotteries Corporation and Manitoba Jockey Club Announce New Agreement Negotiated
The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC) announced April 28, 2005 that a new five year electronic gaming agreement will be signed with the Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC), to further ensure the future viability of Assiniboia Downs while maintaining hundreds of jobs in related tourism, agricultural and thoroughbred industries. This agreement will strengthen the one signed last year by extending MLC’s commitment by another two years to 2008.
The MJC will receive an additional $250,000 for a total of $5.0 million in 2004. For the years 2005 – 2008, they will receive $5.0 million annually, as pre- viously agreed upon, plus an additional 20% commission, similar to commercial siteholders, on net VLT revenues over $5.0 million. MLC will continue as title sponsor of the Manitoba Lotteries Derby.
“Throughout North America, racetracks rely on similar gaming sources in order to continue to be viable,” said Scott Smith, Minister responsible for Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. “Today’s announcement furthers our commitment in helping to ensure the future of Assiniboia Downs, an important segment of Manitoba’s agricultural industry and a major employer in Manitoba.”
“The Terms of Agreement have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Manitoba Jockey Club and we are very pleased that we have been able to build on the positive relationship we enjoy with the MLC and the Province,” said MJC President Harvey Warner.
There are 140 video lottery terminals located at Assiniboia Downs. These machines feature state-of-the art responsible gaming technology which provides players with time and money control tools and educates players as to how gambling works. The MLC recently announced a two- year study, which will assess the impact and effectiveness of these features.
The Province of Manitoba reinvests in local communities by sharing 10 % of MLC’s VLT net revenue. Another 25 % of VLT net revenue are invested in community economic development initiatives through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) and the Urban Economic Development Initiative (UDI) programs. The remaining 65 % of MLC’s VLT net revenue is allocated toward government programs in areas such as health care, education and social services.
- Ernie Nairn, Director, Media Relations
$49/month with a
12 month commitment
Professional Directory
Dave King Fencing
Specializing in Horse Paddocks Oak • Pole • Farm Fence Quality Workmanship
Ken Button
905-775-6499 Bradford, Ontario
To Advertise in the Professional Directory call Stacie Roberts at The Game
toll free 1-866-886-5827
or email info@thehorsegame.com
$49/month with a
12 month commitment
WILLSON LEWISLLP
Barristers & Solicitors
•EQUINE LAW • TAX ISSUES
• WRONGFUL DISMISSAL
• CIVIL LITIGATION •CONSTRUCTION •FAMILYLAW
Telephone: (416) 534-9504 Fax: (416) 534-9503 www.willsonlewis.com
MEREDITH LUMBER CO. Inglewood, Ontario
Oak Lumber, Fencing & Barns Cedar Posts & Rails
519-927-3486 416-339-6861 Numeric Pager
Looking to get Hitched?
We have the Best Selection and a Knowledgeable Staff for all of your Trailer Needs
RR#3 Rockwood, ON, N0B 2K0 1-800-283-6966 519-856-2451 • 519-856-2391
“Full Service Facility” www.wellingtontrailers.com
Arrive “Ready toRace” i in n a a Thoroughbred Special “Walk on/Walk off”
905-939-2279 www.hepburnsales.com Hwy.9 (just east of 27) Schomberg, ON
H awk Trailers epburn Sales
$0Down
$225/120 per mth