Page 25 - June 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, June 2007 25
Hastings Opening Day - April 28, 2007
New Faces in the Jock’s Room at Hastings
Two new Bugs Ready to Fly at Hastings
According to his agent Wayne Snow, Jockey Fernando Perez was born in Jalisco, Mexico. The 20-year-old apprentice Perez tacks 107 pounds. He began his riding career in July 2006 and has already amassed 24 wins in Mexico.
Perez won his first race at Hastings on May 12 aboard the Rob Gilker trainee, Alfarrimiss.
Snow is confident in the ability that Fernando has shown and can see great things ahead for the young rider. “As soon as peo- ple realize how capable a rider he is, he’ll get a lot more mounts,” said Snow.
Rocco Bowen is the other new apprentice to arrive at Hastings this season. Now into his third year of race riding, the 18-year-old Barbados born jockey began riding in his native country and finished off the 2006 season as the top apprentice jockey and third overall in the standings.
Rocco observed that the small tight turns at Hastings are sim- ilar to the turns at the track in Barbados. “I’m already used to Hastings and the tight corners. I have a record of 19 wins so far and I’m looking forward to more.”
Rocco is a natural light-weight at 112 pounds is sure to be popular with the Hastings trainers. He has hired Leilani Collins as his agent.
Ismael Mosqueira
Mosqueira began his riding career three years ago at the young age 18 at the Hipodrome de Las Americas in Mexico. It was his father, Mexican Jockey Eluid Mosqueira, who helped him discover Vancouver’s Hastings racecourse.
“Well, my father rode at Hastings when it was called Exhibition Park.” Ismael explained.
Upon his arrival in Vancouver, the 110 pound Mosqueira has hired Paul Mabbot as his agent.
Journeyman Kevah Nicholls Arrives at Hastings
Twenty year-old journeyman rider Kevah Nicholls began rid- ing five years ago. Although he was born
in Barbados and began riding in Trinidad.
Kevah had heard of an opportunity to ride in Canada from his half brother, Quincy Welch, a prominent jockey in Alberta.
Nicholls began his apprenticeship at Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, “Well I rode in Winnipeg as an
apprentice for two years and this will be my third year as a journeyman.” said Nicholls mentioning that he lost count of the total amount of wins after reaching 60 wins. Kevah tacks 114 pounds and has hired Leilani Collins as his agent at Hastings.
Did You Know....
That a jury in Pasadena, California awarded $2.7 million to Hall of Fame jockey, Laffit Pincay Jr. in his lawsuit against Huntington Ambulance. At Santa Anita Park on March 1, 2003, Laffit suffered a broken neck which resulted in his retirement from racing. Pincay’s attorney argued negligence on the part of the Ambulance company and its personnel because they allowed him walk to the ambulance and later dropped him off at the track’s first-aid station.
Subsequent evaluations revealed a bone in his neck had broken in two places and Laffit should have been immobilized at the site of the accident.
At the time of his retirement, Pincay was racing’s all-time lead- ing rider with 9,530 wins. Russell Baze has since passed that record.
Anderson Ward patiently awaits the first race outside the jocks room
Fernando Perez (left)
and Rocco Bowen
Ismael Mosqueira (left)
and Kevah Nicholls
Hall of Fame trainer Harold 'Bunny' Johnson and wife Gail married to each other and racing for 52 years
By Jackie Humber
New Hastings steward Herb Olive
Hastings new official starter Joe Grey is ready
Random celebrity agent Wayne Snow
Left - Horse owner and astute handicapper Darlene Smith and granddaugh- ter Lauren Praill
Right - Security guard Linda MacDonald and friend Noreen White
Hastings racecaller Dan Jukich prepares for the prerace analysis
Trumpetter for opening day 16 year old Molly Goulding did a great job
Above - Stadacona Luck looks ready Photo Right - Management staff meet for a last strategy session