Page 21 - The Game June 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, June 2006 21
Internet Gaming a Threat - Finally Making the News
The message about the serious negative impact of on-line gaming is making headlines with some action finally being taken by the Ontario government.
A very insightful article in the Toronto Star outlined the serious threat to the horseracing industry caused by the unregulated on-line gaming and book- making operations.
According to the article, Woodbine Entertainment Group estimates that on-line gaming is negatively impacting its wagering by as much as $100 million a year with as many as 100 on-line sites conducting bets on WEG products without authorization.
Horsepeople are faced with declining purse revenues which threaten the industry as a whole.
According to WEG’s Backstretch News newsletter, Mr. Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, has recently brought
forward a private members’ bill in the Ontario legislature to address the issue of advertising unregulated internet gaming operators in Ontario.
Bill 60 - “An act to Amend the Consumer Protection Act 2002, to Regulate the Promotion and Advertising of Internet Gaming in Ontario” is before the Standing Committee on Justice Policy for review and public input.
The horse racing and breeding industries are the second largest agricultural sector in Ontario, generating more than 60,000 jobs. Together we can let our voice be heard by the politicians:
Contact Anne Stokes, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, at room 1405, Whitney Block, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A2. 416-325-3515.
Email anne_stokes@ontla.ola.org or contact your local M.P.P.
Lance Giesbrecht: A Country Boy Through And Through
By Jackie Humber
Born in Bentley, Alberta and raised on the family farm in Rimbley, Alberta, young Lance Giesbrecht lived the life of a typical country boy. He spent his mornings doing chores around the farm and afternoons riding horses.
In 1980 he packed his tack and 10 head of horses and headed West to try his luck at Hastingsracecourse.
Since that time his familiar cowboy hat and buckskin jacket have been permanent fixtures at the Vancouver track. "Well, I was thinking about Winnipeg or Vancouver and trying my luck there and I
"I even rode my claims Giesbrecht.
It was during one of those country road rides that he made a decision that would change his life forever.
"I didn't like school
much so I quit and
went to the track at
age 15. Northlands,"
said Giesbrecht. His
brother Gene was a jockey who rode the western circuit . "My brother Gene "Slugger" Giesbrecht was at Northlands, so I followed him there and started working for his boss Bud Mathes."
According to Giesbrecht, life on the backstretch in those days was not as comfortable as it is today. "There were no tack rooms so we slept in the stalls with dirt floors. That's just how it was," he said. "We didn't know any better in those days."
Lance started at the track like most people do, walking hots and learning the art of horsemanship under the guidance of Bud Mathes. In the summer of 1965 at the age of 17, when most teenagers are in school, Giesbrecht chose to try his luck at race riding.
"It was different in those days, we rode a circuit from Calgary to Edmonton then Saskatoon, Regina and Lethbridge. I only rode that one summer," said Giesbrecht.
After about 50 rides and only two wins, he knew that the life of a jockey was not in his future. Although it was many years ago since his first win, his face still lights up with pride as he recalls the win. "I do remember breaking my maiden. It was in Lethbridge on a horse named Pound Maker," he said as he sits in silence remembering his shining moment of glory in the saddle.
After many years at Northlands Racetrack, learning the racing industry and the world of horses, Lance applied for and received his Thoroughbred Trainers license in 1969. "It seemed like the natural thing to do," he said.
horse to school,"
chose Vancouver," said Giesbrecht.
Luck has proved to be on his side since he arrived. "I did do pretty good right away. My owner Ed Sweeney bought a horse named Grey On Grey and we won a lot of stake races. I'm very fortunate to have
had good owners then and now," said Giesbrecht.
During his career Lance has trained many successful horses for many owners including Mr. Redekop as well as his father-in law Cecil Peacock, the owner of Brother Derek who most recently raced in this years Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. "I'm training four horses for him this year, but he has been busy with Brother Derek this year so we only talk by phone," said Giesbrecht who has been training horses for Cecil for more than 10 years.
Indeed Lance has been fortunate to train for some good owners over the years however his owners are fortunate that he has trained for them also.
Lance’s accomplishments as a trainer are outstanding.
He was the leading trainer at Hastings for four consecutive years (1994 to 1997) winning 76 races in 1997, which remains the record for the most number of wins at Hastings by a trainer in one season.
He won the Alberta Derby with Digital Dan, the B.C. Derby with Bobbin For Stars and to date has recorded 51 stakes wins.
A remarkable accomplishment.
Lance ended the 2005 season at Hastings with a record of 20 wins, 19 seconds and 22 thirds from 114 starts. He hopes to surpass last seasons totals in 2006, "Well, I have a promising two-year- old and I'm just hoping for a stakes winner," he said with a knowing smile.
Trainer Lance Giesbrecht
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