Page 22 - December 2005 The Game
P. 22

22 The Game, December 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Introducing Raj Mutti
By Jim Reynolds
One of BC’s most important breeders stopped Raj Mutti in the grandstand at Hastings.
"Congratulations on the new job. You’ll do well, you’re smart and personable and you’ve got a great smile." She gushed.
She was referring to a move, not unexpected by those who have watched him progress from clubhouse busboy
to management that saw the 24-year- old Mutti named Director of Operations for Hastings Racecourse.
Hastings has groomed Raj Mutti for management for the past four years. It has proved a good investment on their part. He is smart, and personable, and he has a passion for our sport.
"I’ve been coming here since I could walk," he explains. "My dad
would take me.
"I started working here
when I was fifteen. My first job was as a busboy. I told them I had been coming here for so long that I knew everything about racing and I’d love to work here. So they hired me," he laughs.
It was while studying Business Management at Simon Fraser University that he first set his sights on racetrack management.
the BC HBPA and Hastings both granted him scholarships.
"They were great. Anytime I needed something when I was down there they were always a phone call away. Phil [former Hastings President Phil Heard] was great and anytime I’d call Mel or Bryant [HBPA directors Mel Snow and Bryant McAfee] they’d help me out whether it was a contact I needed or help on a class project, anything. They were always there to help me."
He interned at the track during the summers and when he graduated was offered a job at Hastings.
"When I graduated I had a couple of job offers down there but I had watched racing decline here for so
many years I wanted to come back and try to help try to bring it back. It was an easy decision really."
James J. Smith Thoroughbred Trainer - Consultant
Accepting New Clients
for Racing at
Woodbine & Oaklawn Park
Will be attending the March 2006 OBS Two-year-olds in Training Sale
Call 416-917-1339
Raj Mutti, new Director of Operations at Hastings Racecourse
The title Director of Operations is an opportunity to He decided to apply to the University of work and learn with a man of tremendous racetrack
Arizona’s racetrack management programme and
experience in Michael Mackie.
"I’ll be under his tutelage, to learn as
much as possible from him."
With the new facility coming and the
future of horseracing in BC looking bright Raj is excited about the challenge ahead of him.
"We’d like to bring racing back to a stature where it is important and talked about by the average person — to make racing the cool thing to do in Vancouver.
"The plans for the future of the facility are exciting. The addition of a slot floor, an upgrade of the grandstand with luxury boxes, a new racebook with projection TV’s and state-of-the-art betting carrels and a lot of areas that will be very friendly and comfortable.
"Racing is my passion and on Chuck’s (Keeling) team there are a number of us who are passionate about the industry.
Raj also explores other ways to express his passion for horseracing. He has owned horses since his parents got him involved with a small percentage of a horse called Personal Sweep.
"He won five races in a row one year. From that first win I was addicted. My dad and I still own horses together. We run a couple of horses as Crown Stables and I have four horses on my own."
The big horse, of course, is 2003 horse of the year and 2005 BC Cup Classic winner ROSCOE PITO who he owns in partnership with several people.
Where does Raj Mutti feel racing will take him? Will he be our Mike Mackie fifty years from now?
"Hopefully," he says cautiously. "Racing is always changing and the people who change and are able to adapt seem to be the people who last the longest so my goal is to last as long as possible. The job right now, the new role, is a little overwhelming."
As for Mike Mackie himself he says he looks forward to mentoring Raj.
"He is smart and personable, the ideal candidate," Mike says. Stopping just short of mentioning the great smile.
Season’s Greetings
From your Board of Directors & Administration Staff
of the HBPA of Ontario
President, Conrad Cohen
Vice President, William Diamant & Vice President, Bruce Pollock Directors: Michael Barkowski, Gerry Belanger, Ralph Biamonte, John Charalambous, Scott Fairlie, Lynne Hindmarsh,
Sue Leslie, & Sam Lima
Administration Staff: Nick Coukos, John Josephson, Catherine Duclos, Colleen Murphy, Corinne Phillips,
Julia Samulak, & Lorrie Scott


































































































   20   21   22   23   24