Page 2 - The Game September 2006

2 The Game, September 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Polytrack unveiled at Woodbine
Woodbine unveiled its historic state-of-the-art Polytrack racing surface for training on Sunday, August 27.
Hundreds of horses galloped, jogged or walked while 84 recorded timed workouts, ranging from two furlongs to seven furlongs,
during the morning
session, which went from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Executive Flight, trained by Darwin Banach, was the first horse on the track, while Stephen Edwards sent out Brattitude for the first timed workout, a three- furlong drill in :35 2/5, breezing.
"We were first on the Polytrack and hopefully we'll be the first to win a stakes race over it," said Banach, who will saddle Executive Flight in the $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes on the first Polytrack race card, this Wednesday, August 30.
"I trained six over the
Polytrack (Sunday) morn-
ing and every one had never trained better," he said.
Banach's enthusiasm for the Polytrack appeared universal on the Woodbine backstretch.
Emma-Jayne Wilson, Woodbine's leading rider, worked two Tom O'Keefe trainees shortly after the track opened and offered her endorsement. "As far as
I'm concerned it's phenomenal," she said. "It's amazingly consistent. It's the Nike Air of horse racing."
Kevin Attard, who saddled Leonnatus Anteas to a win in the Vandal Stakes earlier this month, says his horses trained well over the Polytrack. "The horses seemtogetalotoutofit.
They appreciated
the surface. I think it
will help the older horses." Chris Evans, Woodbine's Vice-President of Thoroughbred racing, was part of a group of Woodbine officials situat- ed at the rail on Sunday morning gathering
feedback on the Polytrack. "Everybody was raving about the Polytrack," he said. "The feedback was better than we expected. The track seems to be producing the same times as the traditional main
track did."
Wednesday's first
Polytrack card was drawn
that same morning and trainers immediately displayed their enthusiasm for the surface, entering 63 horses for the seven-race
programme.
The Polytrack launched on Wednesday, August 30
and featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the first race went off at 6:50 p.m.
Woodbine extends
2006 Thoroughbred Meet
Woodbine Entertainment Group has received Ontario Racing Commission approval to adjust its 2006 live Thoroughbred racing calendar.
The 2006 meet was slated to end Sunday, December 3, but five dates, Wednesday, December 6 through Sunday, December 10 have been added.
Post-time for Wednesday, December 6 will be 6:45 p.m., while the Thursday through Sunday race cards will kick off at 1:10 p.m.
The Valedictory Stakes, Woodbine's traditional curtain- closing added-money event, will be moved from December 3 to December 10.
Shoe Restrictions on Polytrack
In a memo to Woodbine horsepeople sent out in August, it announced that effective September 13, 2006 there will be limitations to the shoes which will be allowed on the new Polytrack main track at Woodbine.
Siting the minimizing effect of sheer factor on the Polytrack compared to a traditional sand
track therefore the added traction caulks and toe grabs etc. should not be needed and may actually be a hazard. Therefore no caulks, trailers, stickers, inserts, blocks or turn- downs will be allowed on front or hind shoes. Only flat, Queen’s Plate, Queen’s Plate XT or equivalent will be allowed.
Did You Know....
That Cat’s At Home, who stands at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, was number 3 on the North American
Freshman Sire List through August 17, 2006. Cat’s At Home (Tobasco Cat - Homewrecker, by Buckaroo) was represented by leading earner, Spread the News ($138,400) with total progeny earnings of $246,028 behind first ranked freshman sire Johannesburg ($484,684) and Officer ($363,142).
(earnings in US$).
Third Annual CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
You’re Invited
to attend CARD’s
Magical Moment in Time!
A special gourmet luncheon
& magical demonstration by CARD riders
Date: Thursday, September 21, 2006
Time: Tent opens 11:30 am
Location: Tournament of Champions, VIP Tent Caledon Equestrian Park, Palgrave, ON
Your ticket includes a delectable gourmet lunch prepared by Amazing Foods, an incredible silent auction throughout the event and a magical demonstration by CARD riders mounted on their trusty therapy horses.
Individual Tickets: $100 per ticket Table of eight: $800 per table Ticket Purchase Deadline: September 7, 2006
This event is generously supported by the Krembil Foundation
To purchase tickets or for additional information contact: CARD
Community Association for Riding for the Disabled
416-667-8600, ext 70 card.info@sympatico.ca