Page 7 - April 2017 Thoroughbred Highlight

Getting Set for Racing at Fort Erie Race Track
The rst day of live Thoroughbred racing at Fort Erie Race Track for 2017
is set for Tuesday May 30, with rst race post time at 4:20pm. The race schedule has changed for 2017
with Tuesday and Sunday racing for May and July then switching to Tuesday and Saturday for the remainder of the meet which runs through to October 17.
First race post time
on Tuesday along with Saturdays in August is 4:20pm then rst race post time will switch to 1:20pm for both Tuesday and Saturday racing for September and October.
Sarah Collicutt, with Witchs Bourbon at Fort Erie Race Track
the Canadian Triple Crown series, is scheduled for July 25. In August, the Molson Cup & Andy Passero Memorial Cup will be run
on August 19, the Rainbow Connection Stakes is tentatively set for August 22, and August 26 will be the Bob Summers Memorial Cup. The historical Puss
N Boots Cup is set to take place September 2.
Fort Erie Race Track
also plans to continue with their free concert series at the Tiki Patio bar after the races from June to August along with the local farmer’s market on weekend race days from June 11 to October 14. June 18 is Father’s Day at the Races
Fort Erie Race Track
opened their backstretch
three weeks earlier than last year. Trainers could begin moving their horses into the barns on April 9. The racetrack installed a new equisizer for all to use with the main track opening for training beginning April 29. The starting gate will be made available for training beginning May 14.
Fort Erie’s feature race, the 82nd edition of the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of
William Gierkink Passes Away
and Family Day at the track is scheduled for Sunday, July 2. A Fall Festival is planned for September 16 with a Closing Day and Fan Appreciation Day on closing day October 17.
For more information visit Fort Erie Race Track’s website http://forterieracing.com
or call (905) 871-3200 / 1-800-295-3770
Longtime BC Horseman Doug Clyde passes away
Owner and Breeder Doug Clyde, the father of Hastings Racecourse based Terry Clyde, passed away April 12.
Longtime Ontario owner-breeder William “Willie” Gierkink, passed away peacefully on March 26 at Markham-Stouffville Hospital at the age of 85.
The father of Daily Racing Form handicapper Ron Gierkink, Rob (Tia) and grandfather to Addison, Kendra
Moonlit Beauty Michael Burns Photo
and Wesley, William had managed James Sabiston’s Longview Farm for 30 years before retiring in the mid- 1990s.
A successful breeder and businessman, his most recent racing notoriety came with his talented Moonlit Beauty, a six-time Stakes and
Grade 3 winner of close to $900,000; Rocket Plan and now 3 year-old Kadley, a winner in his last race in December 2016, whom he owned in partnership with son Ron.
William was also the breeder of stakes winning mare Bodust (1987) and 13 time winner (including the 2004 Overskate Stakes) Barath.
A funeral mass took place followed by a private internment on April 1.
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 7 - April 2017