Page 4 - April 2005 The Game

4 The Game, April 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Owner Leif Hempel Passes Away
Long-time horse owner, Leif Hempel passed away in early March while in Thailand. Mr. Hempel has had a long history with racing in Ontario. His most recent success was with the horse Danish Fairlytale (DEN) a winner of a $67800 Allowance and a $25,000 Optional Claimer in the summer of 2004. Watch for a feature story on Mr. Hempel in the May 2005 edition of The Game.
Scott (Scotty) John McCulloch June 26, 1955 - March 7, 2005
If ever there was an iconic figure for the back- stretch worker, it was Scotty McCulloch. His charisma and laissez-faire attitude made him a favourite with the ladies. A tribute service to Scott’s life was held on Thursday, March 10; it was standing room only.
Scott McCulloch started on the racetrack in 1970 for Bobby Fisher. Within no
time he was galloping horses. His career path wound from Tiger Armstrong to eventually assisting, Eclipse and Sovereign Award winning trainer, Gerry Belanger.
Before going out on his own to train, Scotty worked for his mentor and friend, trainer Michael Doyle. It was the days galloping Bessarabian that solidified Scotty’s reputation as a horseman.
As one trainer described Scotty, “He either taught you how to gallop or galloped your horses for you.”
Scotty began his training career in 1997 and some of his most memorable moments include Mips, winning the Belle Mahone Stakes and most recently when Deputy Cures Blues won the Lady Angela Stakes.
Scotty’s family would like to thank everyone who attended the service and a special thanks goes to Michael Osborne for his support and help through this difficult time.
A memorial service for Scotty will be held at Woodbine in May.
Please contact the HBPA office for more information.
New Scratch Policy atWoodbine
In an effort to maintain field size, Woodbine Entertainment Group has implemented a new scratch policy for the 2005 live thoroughbred season.
The new policy is outlined in the condition book and states:
“Trainers may be allowed to scratch for the purpose of re-entering before race day providing the following conditions exist:
1. The scratch is from a larger field (betting interests) going into a race with a smaller field (betting interests).
2. At no time would the re-entry result in betting interests greater than the fields from which the horse is scratched.
3. The race must be carded before the scratch is approved.
4. Should there be more requests to scratch and re-enter than can be accommodated under the foregoing limitations, a random draw will be held to establish which entry (ies) will be accepted.
5. All other scratch requests will be dealt with by the stewards after the vet check on race day.”
WEG expects that the stewards will continue to use discretion in allowing horses to be scratched on race day in cases such as poor track condition or a race being taken off the turf.
Woodbine Main Track Opens April 3
Opening Day for live thoroughbred racing at Woodbine is fast approaching and the energy on the backstretch is growing each day.
In preparation for the start of the 2005 season on April 16, the main track will be open for training on April 3, to provide close to two weeks of preparation on the racing surface.
The main track will be open from 6 to 10am.
There will be gate training on the main track from 8:30 to 10am every- day with the exception of Tuesdays.
Arrangements are also currently being made by Tom Cosgrove, WEG’s Director of Thoroughbred Racing, to allow paddock schooling before the start of live racing.
The hours for the training track will change to 6 am to 10:30 am and will remain in effect throughout the season.
The condition of the training track this spring has received good reviews from the 178 trainers who had shipped in 1548 horses as of March 21. The training track had been a hive of activity with 990 recorded works in two weeks of training.
The no vacancy sign will be posted on the backstretch when the remaining 20 or so trainers and their 578 horses have shipped in to create a full house of 195 trainers and 2126 horses.
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