Page 15 - March 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game, March 2008 15 in the Hills.” I asked Andy about a reference in the book to Exhibition
LTiving History
Columbia Thoroughbred
Archives. My guide on
this day was the lovely and accom- modating Pamela Price, and upon my arrival I was amazed to see the wealth of material Pam had unearthed for my perusal. Over the years the archives have accumulated boxes upon boxes of treasure dating all the way back to the early days of horse rac-
ing in British Columbia. I
spent the next few hours
in a dreamlike state as I
studied the old black and
white pictures, moments of
racing history frozen in
time. Over the course of
the afternoon I discovered
hundreds of pages from
old articles and entries to
pedigrees dating back to
the turn of the century;
black and white photos of
horses galloping out of the
fog or cavorting beneath
statuesque oaks at the once
popular Sandown racetrack
on Vancouver Island. There
were photos of celebrities
who’d visited the races
over the years; John Wayne
with his family; a smiling
Bing Crosby watching the
post parade; John Candy
dressed up as the world’s
largest jockey. Most
impressive to me were the
old photos of the glory
days of British Columbia
racing, when thousands
thronged the grandstands,
the men resplendent in three
piece suits and fedoras, the
women composed in their
white gloves and match-
ing hats and formal Sunday
dresses.
Although a student of history at heart, as a writer and storyteller I’ve always been more excited by living history, the kind you learn by listening to the stories of those who’ve come before. The backstretch might qualify as one
to
horses and horsemen (and women!) who’ve become part of horse racing’s mystique. I’m not sure why but be- longing to one backstretch somehow links you to the common history of racetrackers the world over.
Park (Hastings Park’s previous name) and the infamous barn re of 1969.
his past January I
had the pleasure of visiting the British
I was reminded of this shared sense of history a couple of weeks ago when a friend stopped by for a visit. Andy Smith is a retired jockey who lived
to experience some of the glory years at Hastings Park. On this particular day we were talking books when I mentioned re-reading Bill Barich’s ne racetrack memoir, “Laughing
“I was there,” Andy said. He proceeded to tell me about wrap- ping a wet towel around his face and running in and out of the stables as the horses whinnied in panic and the smoke choked his throat and people scrambled everywhere trying to staunch the ames with buckets of water.
by evenSteven
of the richest treasures of stories left in the modern world. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sat and listened to some of the old-timers spinning colourful yarns about the days of old. Part of the attraction of the back- stretch has always been its connection
racing history, to all those great
Cont. on Pg. 16 - See EvenSteven
HUBBA HUBBA
Storm Cat - Pasiflin (ARG), by Flintham (IRE)
HUBBA HUBBA is a half brother to PASEANA
• Twice Champion Older Mare in the US
• Winner of 11 Grade 1 Stakes including the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff • 19 wins in 36 starts • US$3,317,427 Career Earnings
HUBBA HUBBA is set apart from the rest by his
EXCEPTIONAL FEMALE FAMILY
And oh yeah - he’s a Son of Sire of Sires STORM CAT! HUBBA HUBBA IS ONE OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES IN CANADA!
Purchase one of my mares in-foal to HUBBA HUBBA,
due in April and May for the 2007 stud fee of $5,000
and receive a complimentary breeding for one of your other mares at no cost - a $6500 value!
Nice American and European bloodline mares available! Call today!
2008 Fee: $6500 l.f.
Oakwood, Ontario (35 minutes from Windfields Farm) Inquiries to John Whytall 705-357-1788 jwhytall@hotmail.com
Serendipity
FARMS
WhoisHe?
As I sorted through old pictures and documents I couldn’t help but mourn
a sense of time passing. Were it not for the dedi- cated work archivists like Pamela Price, most of this history would already have been lost. According to Pam, much of it has been lost already, and at one point she lamented the fact that nobody has taken up the challenge of writing a proper history of the sport of horse racing in British Columbia.
During the drive home
I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. But a project of this magnitude demands years of research before the writing even begins.
The Game March 2008 32 pages.indd 15
2/26/08 9:38:11 PM
Take Advantage of
This Offer