Page 5 - The Game May 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, May 2006 5
An exciting opening weekend at Stampede Park
By Cody Gregory
It’s that time of year again when a buzz of excitement fills the air. It’s not the spring weather people are talking about this year, rather the kick off of the Alberta Thoroughbred racing season at Stampede Park. From what it’s shaping up to already, this year is going to be red hot.
Friday March 31 saw the harrows groom the track just one final time as the gates opened up to an enthusiastic crowd. The first race got underway as scheduled, a four furlong race that saw Seaslastcore trained by Joan Petrowski come across the finish line first. Riding Seaslastcore was Shannon Beauregard, a smile a mile wide graced her face coming into the winners circle, a nice way to start the season for sure. As for both Joan and Shannon, the first race was just a taste of what was to come the rest of the weekend.
Joan Petrowski enjoyed five trips to the winners circle on opening weekend.
“It’s an exciting feeling for sure but you just have to live one day at a time” said Joan with a smile, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Her ever graceful, humble, keep truckin’ attitude is one that is inspiring and respected among her peers at the track. “Just be thankful for today.” she adds.
Now in her fourth year racing, Shannon Beauregard has come a long way from her roots and family that still live in Quebec. Her first win of the season would ignite a win streak that would see her in the winners circle on three more occasions before the weekend was over.
“It was an awesome experience, my horse ran really well and I was so proud of her.” says Shannon as she recalled the first race. “I always strive to win, when on the track you just have to stay focused and keep riding to the wire.”
Meanwhile in the grandstands a group of young fans cheer for Shannon. “It’s a neat feeling to have fans.” she
a father. Réal is a devoted hockey dad to his fifteen and twelve year old sons Chase and Jordan. This weekend was just a testament of Réal’s hard work ethic and devotion to the sport of horse racing.
This past winter Réal coached students at a jockey school in association with Olds College. “It was an excellent learning experience for all of us.” he says, “There are a lot of good jockeys and new faces this season. It is great to have more jockeys on the track, it just adds a new level of competition.”
When asked about his expectations for this season Réal replied, “I would like to keep up a good pace and get on some good horses and hopefully win a few stakes.” then, with a smile, he adds “I’d like to keep going for as long as I can.”
The opening weekend at Stampede Park lived up to all the hype and expectations with exciting fast action and nail biting photo finishes. Those who attended also had to pleasure to see a horse named Tricky Thinker and jockey Stephan Heiler break the track record at 43.40. Tricky Thinker is owned
by Danny Dion’s Bear Stables
and trained by Dale
Greenwood. The previous track
record was set by
Adventuresome Love at 43.80
on April 3, 1993 for trainer
Janet Wig.
To hear the thundering of hoofs pounding across the track once again gave the die hard fans goosebumps. Trainers, owners and spectators alike anticipate this year as one of the most competitive and exciting racing seasons to come with action every Wednesday,
adds. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Her advice for those who dream to one day be riding
in her boots, “Always work hard and never give up.” adding that being a female jockey in Alberta is a great experience in itself. “I think female jockeys are given the same equal opportunities as the male competitors, everybody works hard. It all pays off in the long run.”
As for the rest of the season.
“I’m just going to work hard and keep on improving and hopefully win lots of races, this truly is the best job in the world.”
Now in his 20th season as a jockey, Réal Simard shows no signs of slowing down. Réal got his start in the industry when he rode his first race in 1986, for a year and a half before that he groomed for Rod Haynes.
Opening weekend was especially busy for Réal as his wife Ronda, a flight attendant had to leave for work, this left Réal juggling his duties as a jockey and as
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