Page 12 - September 2005 The Game

12 The Game, September 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
With so much activity during the summer months it’s hard to keep current with weekly events in a monthly column, so with that in mind I’ll simply try to record some racing highlights and interesting events since the last issue...in other words I got nothin.
The big story of the month, of course, was BC Cup Day at Hastings where $400,000 in purse monies was put up for grabs. I estimate the largest crowd in over twenty years fed over $670,000 through the machines on the 9-race card. Total handle from all tracks throughout Canada and the U.S. totaled $1,367,287. Not a record breaking day but a good one for our recession plagued industry and perhaps a sign of what’s to come in the rebuilding of our sport being undertaken by Great Canadian.
Pre-race highlights included the post position draw that took place on the paddock lawn on a beautiful and sunny afternoon where brunch was served for trainers, jockeys, media and celebrities. On hand to assist race secretary Lorne Mitchell were BC Lions great place kicker Lui Passaglia and Lions all-star slotback Jason Clermont.
The highlights of the BC Cup day started with a wonderful rendition of Oh! Canada from our own Teresa Fiero who’s dulcet tones rivals (or rather shames) those of her brother, Hastings race caller Dan Jukich.
The $65,000 B.C. Cup Classic was won handily by 2003 Champion Roscoe Pito who ran the 1-1/8 mile in 1:49.54 which was considerably longer than it took track photographer Larry Goulding to organize the win picture. With so many of Roscoe’s owners and entourage on hand the group had to be moved out of the winner’s circle and on to the track for the win picture.
Results of the other B.C. Cup races were as follows:
The Debutante for 2-year-old fillies - Excited Miss The Nursery for 2-year-old colts - Lukin Awesome The Stallion S. for 3-year-old fillies - Slewpast The Stallion S. for 3-year-old colts - Alabama Rain The Distaff for 3-year-olds and up, f & m - Socorro County
The Sprint for3-year-olds and up - Commodore Craig
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Kudos to Hastings’ general manager Michael Brown who has shown leadership and initiative in promoting our sport.
"The old guard have to realize things have changed, that we have to try new things, new approaches," says Michael.
Among these new approaches are a partnering with AM 1040 Sport Radio, and the BC Lions, the hottest sports team in town. Friday nights have become popular thanks in part to a later Friday post time and a band, which plays between and well after the races drawing a younger crowd to dance on in front of the new bandstand next to the paddock.
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I recently had an opportunity to see an old favourite from the past, the good stakes winning mare Screaming Sue, who is healthy and retired at the farm of Joel and Karen Mena. It brought back memories of her owners and their friends who had bright red t-shirts made with the name SCREAMING SUE in bold silver letters across the front standing up and screaming when she won and racing noisily down the steps of the clubhouse restaurant, living
up to her name much to the consternation of the rather more subdued and staid horse owners in attendance.
Hastings Racecourse, October 15 - British Columbia’s artist emeritus Raymond Chow will be displaying his newest collection of horseracing art at Silks Restaurant.
A realist/figurative painter Vancouver born artist Raymond Chow graduated from the Department of Art Education at the University of British Columbia in 1965 where he studied etching and portraiture. Mr. Chow is perhaps best known for his witty and sensitive drawings of Canadian houses in locations ranging from B.C. to the Maritimes. He has exhibited extensively in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal as well as San Francisco and London,England. Collectors of Mr. Chow’s work include the late Mrs. Indira Ghandi, Raymond Burr, Art Phillips, Paul Anka, Cher, Gordon Lightfoot, and Samantha Eggar and Supreme Court justice Mr. Stewart Leggat.
He has done commissioned artwork for corporations such as Scott Paper and Touche Ross, organizations like Ronald MacDonald House and privately for such prominent British Columbians as RJ Bennett. His art is displayed in over eighteen major cities in North America.
Artist emeritus at the university of British Columbia Mr. Chow was recently made a Knight of Saint Johns of Christ Church Cathedral.
Besides painting he also spends considerable time playing one of his antique grand pianos, composing music, and working on his vintage cars.
A Look at Racing in British Columbia
By Jim Reynolds
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Hastings Groom of the Month
Reena Mayer
Reena is from Langley, B.C. and began working for her neighbours at the Clyde family farm at age ten because she wanted to be near horses.
"I just went to them and said I wanted to help," says Reena." Almost ten years later she's
still there.
"Reena has an great work
ethic." says trainer Terry Clyde. "She's an excellent worker who loves her horses,"
Photo by Jackie Humber
Twenty-five year old apprentice jockey Justin Stein visited Woodbine in August and rode a few races, winning the last race on August 10 aboard the Tino Attard trained, Prized Deed.
Justin, who will remain an apprentice until August 2006, was getting a feel for the racetrack with Jockey Agent Tom Patton showing him around the backstretch and introducing him to various trainers.
Justin is currently leading rider at Hastings Racecourse in British Columbia with a record of 71-83-52 and $1,143,386 in 353 starts, just in front of habitual leader Pedro Alvarado who tracks in second with a record of 65-51-43 and $1,135,449 in 311 starts.
Justin told The Game that he is considering a move to Woodbine at the end of October however no definite plans have been made at the time.
Did You Know.....
That Lukin Awesome, winner of the BC Cup Nursery Stakes & the New Westminster Handicap at Hastings in August, was very lucku to survive an attack by a black bear when he was four months old.
He was bred and raised by Leo and Norma Shaw in Barnhartvale, the heart of bear country. The young foal impaled himself on a fence after a mother bear protecting her cubs, chased him through the paddock. Surgeryandaalotofnursing,alongwithhiscantankerous nature helped him pull through.
Photo by Pauline Block
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