Page 33 - December 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
Hastings Racing Update
By Jim Reynolds
The Game, December 2007 33 with an all-sources
Vancouver, B.C. — The British Columbia racing season ended on November 4 minus the snow that accompanied last year’s closure.
The nal stakes race of the season provided an exciting climax to a year of few surprises in the monied classes. Good news was in the of ng with
a slots go-ahead
almost set in stone
and an announced
purse increase set
for next year. It was
a year of domina-
tion for the Terry
Jordan, Bob Cheema
tandem and the trio
of Glen Todd, Pat-
rick Kinsella and Troy Taylor who between them accounted for most of the feature races Monashee wasn’t eligible for. Cheema’s True Metropoli- tan looks likely to repeat as Soveriegn Award winner. In the rider colony one of the better stories of the year was the rejuvenated riding of Frank Fuentes who won 74 races—ten on the last two days of racing. And on a national pat-on-the back note Russ and Lois Bennett, breeders of more than 50 stakes winners, and jockey Chris Loseth were among this year’s inductees into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
much more the Millennium Allstar lly was guided across the wire in a hand ride by leading rider Mario Gutierrez in the time in 1:45 4/5 for the one and one sixteenth mile. Dancing Allstar won the CTHS Sales Stake by 10 lengths and set a track record for two year olds earlier this fall in the Sadie
“It proves good horses often come from older mares,” said jubilant co-owner George Gilbert. “Look at SECRETARIAT, his dam was 22.”
In the trainer and jockey hardware category Troy Taylor, who last cap- tured a training title in 1963, nished the year with 46 victories and the bragging rites as leading trainer. Toni Jacobson-Cloutier was runner-up with 42. Mario Gutierrez won the riding ti- tle with 134 wins including nine stakes victories and earnings totalling more than $1.7 million. Fernando Perez was the leading apprentice with 33 wins.
average handle per race of $81,517. With 610 total races run over the season, the average purse money per day totalled $92,234.
Diamond Futurity with a time of 1:15 3/5. The Terry Jordan trained lly has won over $300,000 a re- cord for a BC owned two year old. Danc- ing Allstar is by Mil- lennium Allstar out of
nish highlighted the nal stakes race of the season as Royal Hudson came driving through on the inside to catch the favourite, Jack Diamond Futurity winner Desert Alf, just before the wire in the $100,000 added Ascot Gradua- tion. When the mud cleared the Dave Forester trained colt had won by half a length under jockey Richard Hamel. Royal Hudson trailed the eld for the rst half saving ground on the rail before charging to the front in a nal
time of 1:49.3/5.
The Kentucky bred grey colt by is by Monarchos out of the Dancing Champ mare Au Printemps. Au Printemps, an older mare was scheduled for retirement but bred by her connec- tions one last time.
With division titles
clearly set in all but
one or two categories voting would appear easy for those who determine how the mantelpiece hardware is dis- tributed.
“We managed to hold our own with
Former Maple Leaf Head Coach, Pat Quinn, chats with Bob Cheema
Honor Grades.
George Gilbert is interviewed by Mike Heads
High On Believen, by
wagering numbers compared to 2006,” said Director of Operations Raj Mutti. “Our live mutuel handle was margin- ally down compared to last year but we more than made up for it with an increase in our wagering on simulcast races.”
October 28
— Ascot Graduation:
In a surprise upset a dramatic
These numbers are expected to improve next year due in large part to slots nally becoming a reality as the rst machines (150) were installed and the doors opened November 10 at 10 a.m.
A Golden Thank You for a Golden Season
Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella were the leading owners with 34 wins and over $570,000 in purse earnings.
Earlier in the month Hastings Race- course announced a 20 per cent across- the-board purse increase for the 2008 racing season. The new purse structure goes into effect on April 26, 2008 and the season will again involve 68 racing days.
Over the 68 racing days the average on-track handle per race was $29,334
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October 27
Fantasy Stakes: Dancing Allstar continued to domi- nate BC’s two year old division with a convincing win in the $100,000 guaranteed Fantasy Stakes. Win- ning handily by two lengths which eas- ily could have been
Dancing Allstar
As the end of the season is upon us
we reflect on the unique year that it has been. We truly value the relationships & friendships that have shone through this season and
appreciate your support & loyalty.
Merry Christmas & Continued Success in the Year to Come
From Jockey Jim McAleney & Agent Danny Williams
Polytrack Info on-line
Woodbine website to provide Polytrack maintenance information
Woodbine Entertainment Group will now provide racing fans detailed maintenance information of Woodbine’s Polytrack on its website
at www.woodbineentertainment.com /thoroughbred/Track-Conditions. asp.
Woodbine’s Director of
Thoroughbred Racing Surfaces, Irwin Driedger, logs his intended maintenance of the Polytrack each morning for website visitors.
The log will also detail the condition of the E.P. Taylor Course and the status of the rail, when pertinent.
Wishing our
Clients, Staff
& Fellow Horsepeople a Wonderful Christmas & the Very Best for the Coming Year!
Nick & Martha Gonzalez
The Game December 2007.indd
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12/1/07 4:07:30 AM
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