Page 22 - July 2005 The Game

22 The Game, July 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Rising NHL Star takes centre “Staj” at Woodbine
By Chris Lomon
Although admittedly not an expert when it comes to the Sport of Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Stajan was at the top of his game when he recently visited Woodbine.
It appears that making a good first impression just seems to come naturally for the 21-year-old Mississauga native, who guest-hosted on Woodbine's Toronto 1 television broadcast on May 28.
"It was a blast having Matt on the show," said host commentator Jeff Bratt, of the former second-round selection (57th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2002 Entry Draft. "We were joking with him during the show that he scored in his first NHL game, so the pressure was on to pick a winner with his first selection. He didn't pick any winners, but he seemed to have a great appreciation for what the riders and horses do.
"In fact the last race on our show was for two years olds, many of who were starting for the first time in their careers," continued Bratt. "He spoke of what it was like for his first NHL game and the comparisons, even though horses are animals, they were very similar."
As for his first taste of thoroughbred racing, Stajan, a graduate of the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls, came away extremely impressed with every aspect of the sport.
"I really had a great time," said Stajan, who, in three seasons with Belleville, recorded 76 goals and 206 points. "To see the horses up close and to see how much effort it takes to win a race was really exciting."
Just don't expect the member of Canada's silver medal World Junior Team in 2003 to trade in his hockey sweater for jockey silks any time soon.
"No way," said the rising National Hockey League star, who saw his first professional action in the latter stages of the 2002-03 AHL and NHL seasons. "I was watching the jockeys come off the track and I realized that they don't wear very much equipment. When you're going that fast, anything can happen. I have a lot of respect for what they do. They're as tough as any athletes out there.
"I was also speaking with Sandy Hawley and he was telling me some of the injuries he's had to deal with over the years. And I don't think you'll find any sport where an ambulance follows you around."
In terms of similarities between hockey players and jockeys, Stajan, who earned a regular roster spot with the Leafs for the 2003-04 season, says a few do come to mind.
"Both are definitely tough sports," said Stajan, who notched 14 goals and 13 assists in his rookie campaign and was named to the 2004 NHL All-Star Young Guns Game. "We get hit pretty hard at high speeds and things can get rough out on the racetrack for the jockeys, too."
For more on Matt Stajan, check out NHLPA.com.
Matt Stajan
Champions Annual Golf Tournament a Day of Fun & Sun
By Pauline Block
The 11th Annual "Tournament of Champions" was held on Monday June 13, 2005 at Deerfield Golf Course with approximately 142 people participating in this year’s event. There were golfers from all walks of the horseracing industry including stewards, teletheatre owners, contractors and back stretch workers as well as players from Woodbine Entertainment Group’s race offices and mutuels, along with retired employees, friends ,relatives, and ex-jocks (Tyler Gaskin, Gunnar Lindberg, Paul Souter).
Winners, Prizes and Sponsors were:
Tournament Winners: Jeff Gardiner, Ted Mitchner, Kent Lounds, and Roy Slamersek
Each received a golf bag and a Champions t-shirt Hole Sponsors:
Winner of Mens Closest to the Pin was Peter Little
winning a 27" TV sponsored by Universal ATM Services
Winner of Mens Longest Drive was Derek Irwin (Mutuels) winning a JVC Home Entertainment Centre also sponsored by Universal ATM Services
Winner of Ladies Closest to the Pin was Glorie Schulz (Telecommunications) winning a $100 Bay Gift Certificate and a Champions Fleece jacket spon- sored by Champions Off-track Wagering
Winner of Ladies Longest Drive was Tania Zink (Human Resources) winning a $100 Bay Gift Certificate and a Champions Fleece jacket sponsored by Greenwood
Winner of the $200 Scavenger Hunt/Trivia Contest was Andy Bankuti (Agent for jockey Dino Luciani)
and the $50 second place prize went to Andrew Fiqueli (HPI).
A Golf trip which was donated by Golf Scotland was won by Mike Wilson and includes prepaid green fees for two at four of the top-rated golf courses in North America along with 5 nights accommodation at a wonderful selection of Maritime resorts.
The annual Champions Tournament is always a lot of fun and some teams showed up prepared with team names: Paul Wilson, Mike Wilson, Rob Wilson and George Agius were known as W.W.W.George.
Another team called themselves "3 Pork Chops and Ralph".
Horseplayer Interactive was one shy of 2 complete foursomes and therefore called themselves HPI and Peter Spoar.
Recognition of a job well done (AGAIN) should go to Wendy Muir of the Mutuels Department and her assistant Brian Brett.
The next tournament will be the Peter Murray Memorial to held in the fall however exact dates and location are still being determined.
Team HPI & Peter Spoar (l-to-r) Back Row: Chris Hale, Mike Eves, Glen Vales, Klaus Ebner: Middle Row: Peter Spoar,Tracy Peircey, Andrew Fiqueli. Front; Edward Plodinec
TeamWWW.George (PaulWilson,Mike Wilson, Rob Wilson and George Agius
Four Generations at Wallace Thoroughbreds
The following photo was sent in to The Game
by Brian Wallace of Wallace Thoroughbreds who writes:
I recently decided to take a 4 generation photo of my old mare Reputed’s family. She is now 29 and hopefully lives on.
I thought I should get the family together in one shot....
Far left is Reputed, next is her daughter Reputed Style
and her 2005 A Fleets Dancer filly,
then you have Reputed Style’s daughter Prudent and her 2005 Cat’s At Home colt. Hence 4 generations.
Did You Know....
That Fort Erie will be scheduling one turf race per race day until the end of September. In previous years, two turf races a day had been scheduled. According to a press release from Fort Erie Racetrack, the reduction in turf races should make the surface easier to maintain throughout the season and track superintendent Ken MacSweyn was quoted as saying, “In past years we would take a two or three week break in mid season – racing once a day should allow us to go straight through – lets hope the weatherman co-operates.”
The first turf race of the 2005 season was run on June 4 and the Pierre Crete owned and trained, Decadent Dash with Daniel Boudreau aboard was the winner of the five furlong race.