Page 4 - March 2005 The Game

4 The Game, March 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
WOODBINE 2005 SEASON - CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
The Queen's Plate, Canada's most famous horse race and North America's oldest continuously-run stakes event, will have its 146th running on Sunday, June 26 this year. The 1 1/4-mile Canadian classic is the first jewel in the Triple Crown of Racing and once again worth $1 million.
The Breeders' Stakes, third and turf gem of racing's Triple Crown, is set for Sunday, August 7 at Woodbine. The critical 1 1/2-mile turf event is worth $500,000 in 2004. The middle leg of the three-race series, the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, will be run at Fort Erie on Sunday, July 17.
The ninth edition of the Grade 1 Atto Mile celebrates its seventh running under John Atto's Atto Insurance flag in 2005. The $1 million event, one of the world's valued turf races, is set for Sunday, September 18.
Also receiving purse hikes for 2005 were the Dance Smartly ($150,000 to $300,000), Canadian, Nassau, Sky Classic ($250,000 to $300,000), Play the King ($150,000 to $200,000), Seagram and Seaway Stakes ($125,000 to $150,000).
"We were thrilled with the quality of horses we attracted for our 'International' day of races last year," said Chris Evans, Woodbine Entertainment's Vice-President of
Thoroughbred Racing. "We hope to continue that trend in 2005 by adding $500,000 to the Pattison Canadian International purse and $250,000 to the E.P. Taylor purse. By doubling the Nearctic offer to $500,000, we hope to establish the race as the continent's most important turf
sprint event."
The $500,000 Labatt Woodbine
Oaks, first gem in the Canada's Triple Tiara of Racing, is scheduled for Sunday, June 12.
"Other notable changes in 2005 include an increase of five percent in all allowance races including maiden special weight," said Evans. "In claim- ing races, the less than a mile (short) and mile and over (long) purses are being blended into one purse. For example, $20,000 claimers which went for $28,500 short and $31,400 long will now go for $29,300 at all distances."
In order to help to defray some of the expenses incurred when starting a horse, there will be a $400 starting fee paid to the owner for each horse in each race that finishes out of the money (sixth or lower).
The entire 2005 Woodbine stakes schedule, which is subject to Ontario Racing Commission can be viewed at www.woodbineentertainment.com.
Jockey Agent Charged with Murder
The RCMP arrested jockey agent, Michael Joseph Wilson, on February 4 in British Columbia and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder. The charges are relating to the deaths of trainer Glen Martin and Martin’s friend, Julie Smith in 2002.
According to reports, it is believed that Wilson murdered the pair and then left them on the side of the road
in the trunk of Smith’s car in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Glen Martin was the son of Hastings Park trainer, Sid Martin and at the time of his death he had been working sporadically as an exercise rider at Hastings.
Agent Mike Wilson had represent- ed jockey Robert May in 2004 at Hastings.
Hugh Mitchell resigns from Woodbine
David S. Willmot, Chairman & C.E.O. of Woodbine Entertainment Group announced on February 11 that Hugh Mitchell, Senior Vice-President Racing, has resigned effective April 2, 2005 to return to
the Western Fair Association.
"In his seven years with Woodbine, Hugh has made an enormous contribution. In addition to his considerable and valuable management skills, his exceptional personal standards of integrity and fairness have left an indelible mark not just on the Woodbine organization but on racing in general. I wish Hugh happiness and success in his new position and would like to add that I personally will miss him as a friend and key member of our management team. We should all be
pleased that he will remain involved in and continue to contribute to the horseracing industry."
Hugh Mitchell stated that it was a difficult decision to leave Woodbine.
"I have enjoyed working at Woodbine; I regard the Woodbine organization as the most progressive racing association in North America. Looking forward, I will be rejoining the Western Fair Association as Chief Operating Officer. In that capacity, I will be challenged to further that Association's mandate and its contribution to the Ontario horserac- ing industry."
Jim Ormiston, Executive Vice-President and C.O.O., will assume Mitchell's operating responsibilities on an interim basis.
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