Page 18 - May 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, May 2005 19
~ Alberta Racing ~
DION - CONT. FROM PAGE 18
Owner Danny Dion (closest to horse left of groom) in the winner circle after Chief Mountain’s win on April 16 at Stampede Park for trainer Dale Greenwood (at the end of the horse) and jockey Quincy Welch aboard. - Kevin Tunney/Coady Photo
.....(to buy a thoroughbred named In Pursuit) and I’ve been in pursuit ever since.” For three years, thoroughbred racing was
simply a hobby.
However, now that Dion has switched
gears and become dedicated to building a powerful barn, he has a rather large operation under the name Bear Stables.
Although he politely declines to reveal the total number of horses he has, Dion admits he has sires, broodmares, yearlings, 17 two-year-olds and a significant stable of aged runners under the guidance of veteran Alberta trainer Dale Greenwood.
That stable has already turned heads this
spring, as Chief Mtn – Dion’s top horse - defeated reigning Alberta Horse of the Year Deputy Country in mid-April at Stampede Park.
With a win in her first start for her new owner, she returned almost half the purchase price to Dion’s
Dion also made headlines when he made the wallet.
richest claim in Alberta thoroughbred history when he Needless to say, Dion is hoping he’ll continue to snagged Rum Candi for $40,000. make such shrewd business moves in the years to
come.
Annual Thoroughbred Awards Gala
Trainer Red Smith hasn’t enjoyed a great start to the 2005 season at Stampede Park, but he certainly enjoyed himself at the annual thoroughbred awards gala last month.
The Smith stable grabbed six awards, including the 2004 Horse of the Year trophy with Deputy Country.
For a record-setting fifth consecutive year, Smith was named Trainer of the Year.
He also collected hardware in the champion sprinter, three- year-old filly and older horse categories.
Cody Anderson – his assistant trainer – was named Backstretch Person of the Year.
Award Winners:
• 2-year-old colt: Poor Iggy
Trainer: Joan Petrowski
Owners: Lucky Strike Stable and Doug Blair • 2-year-old filly: Miss Venturous
Trainer: Greg Tracy
Owners: Donver Stable and Amy Dunne
• 3-year-old colt: Controlled Meeting Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Owner: Rick Wiest
• 3-year-old filly: Shy Lil
Trainer: Smith
Owners: Red Diamond Stable
• Aged Mare: A Shaky Start
Trainer: Al Strumecki
Owners: Janet and Gary Kropp,
Strumecki
• Older Horse: Deputy Country
Trainer: Smith
Owner: Arnold Heppner
• Champion Alberta-bred:
A Shaky Start
• Champion Sprinter: Deputy Country
• Champion Claimer: Delta Epsilon
Trainer: Petrowski
Owners: Mickey Demers,
Gary Mailloux and Viking Stable
• Horse of the Year: Deputy Country Breeder: Al and Bunny Noren
Trainer: Smith
Jockey: Quincy Welch
• Apprentice Rider:
Shannon Beauregard
• Backstretch Person of the Year:
Anderson
• Special Appreciation Award:
Conrad Dick
• Horseperson of the Year: Rod Haynes
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