Page 25 - March 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, March 2005 25
And the winner is?
Among the many titles up for grabs at this year’s 2004 B. C. Thoroughbred Awards Banquet, scheduled for March 26 at the Westin Bay shore in Vancouver, it is the title for Horse Of The Year (Open Division) and B.C. Bred, attracting most of the attention.
With a long list of horses nominated in both categories, you can be assured every owner or trainer will be making a case for their horse. In this category, there are two equine stars that stand out over this field.
R J Bennett’s, Lord Nelson trained by Dino Condilenios, who should capture his third consecutive Older Horse Title, definitely will be named among the final two finalists.
If there is one thing worth noting, those who vote are not voting for what a horse had done in the past, it is the present that counts.
It is their racing records from 2004 that has to be taken into account.
As he has done for the last three years, Lord Nelson again dominated his age group. Following the same race schedule as in 2003, his trainer limited his horse, to five starts. (All stakes or handicaps races)
He finished the season winning three of his only five races included the George Royal, Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes and the S W Randall Plate. In his other two starts, the B C Cup Classic and Lt. Governors Stakes, he was beaten a nose and a neck respectively.
After his win in the aforemen- tioned S W Randall Plate, trainer Dino Condilenios, retired him for the season at his owners farm in Kewlona, B.C.
Lord Nelson finished the season in September, with earnings of $116,528 and life- time winnings of $572,932.
As for why, Lord Nelson should be a named Horse of the Year, we asked Condilenios, to do some lobbying for his horse?
Now with so much at stake, we thought it only fitting to ask both trainers of Lord Nelson and Regal Red to do some lobbying for why their horse should be named Horse of the Year?
“I think the fact that only a nose and a neck kept Lord Nelson from remaining unbeaten for the season should be a factor. Plus the fact, he continuously was giving away weight in his races, should also be taking into account.” said Condilenios “Not to take anything away from the filly (Regal Red) who is a top runner and stayed unbeaten, she was sent home in August. Yes my horse did retire after winning the SW Randall Plate in September, but he did race against horses that did come here from down south.
So who could win? “It could be a toss up and I could see it going either way, but for me, it would be nice to see the old horse win. As he twice was named Older Horse of the year, and I
think he is deserving of being named overall ‘Horse of the Year‘, for sure.“ adds Condilenios.
So what about Regal Red? This year, the filly by On Target/Sophie J was unstoppable in all five of her races. And when you add up the distance, she defeated her rivals by; the total was an amazing 27 lengths. She finished off 2004 with 5 wins in five starts and lifetime earnings of $156,381.
Her victories all came in stakes company included, the Fair Lady, Supernaturel, Emerald Downs, Liberation and B C Stallion Stakes (Fillies). In layman‘s terms, Regal Red was a monster.
So who should win? “She (Regal Red) completely dominated her field by remaining undefeated all season. She ran faster then all of the three year colts all year. She even carried more weight then Lord nelson and any of the
older horses.“ said Anderson.
“It’s generally
is a criteria for a
horse to be even
considered for
Horse of the
Year, to have
carried the weight and also dominate their field and remain unbeaten, to me that would be enough reason for me to choose any horse to be named Horse of the Year. As for Lord Nelson, he sure has been an amazing horse over the years. But when you get a standout like Regal Red, you might have to think a little on who you vote for?”
Who will it be?
We will just have to
wait until March 26.
Tommy Wolski
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