By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport

SCENE & HEARD: In the aftermath of her father’s passing in 2002, trainer Pat Jarvis was looking for things to keep her mind active during the winter months. Albert Jarvis had been a trainer at Hastings for 50 years and, not surprisingly, was responsible for introducing his daughter to the racing industry.

“I started making saddle cloths at home for myself and a few of my friends in the barns,” Pat recalls. “Then one day (trainer) Alan Jack came along and ordered a few. He was my first customer. Before I knew it, people were buying them left and right.”

The sudden success of the saddle cloths led to Glen Todd suggesting she might want to look into producing horse blankets.

“Today my dining room is officially a sewing room,” Jarvis says. “Last year I made over 70 blankets for winners of stake races, corporate gatherings and memorial ceremonies. Each one is different so it never gets boring.”

Pat says most trainers like to keep the souvenir blankets in their barns and use them as a cover after a horse has had a bath. “My day starts in the backstretch at 5:30 in the morning, I get home by one o’clock in the afternoon, have a nap and then reboot to start sewing.”

If you’re in the market for a one-of-kind handmade horse blanket, email patjarvis@shaw.ca

JOT DOWN THE DATE:  What better place to entertain your Dad on Father’s Day, June 18 than Hastings Racecourse?  Besides the regular card of live racing, the first-ever Alumni Day at the Races takes place with the Canucks, B.C. Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Hasting Racecourse participating in a unique fund-raiser. With the Alumni legends gathering in the Marquee Tent for a meet-and-greet at $25 for adults and $10 for those 18 years and under, there will be silent auctions for signed team jerseys and Game Day Experiences donated by the Canucks, Lions, Whitecaps and Hastings Racecourse. Designated charities are Canuck Place, the Lions’ Dire Needs Fund and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation on behalf of the Whitecaps FC.

Bob Lenarduzzi, Cliff Ronning, Nick Hebeler and Chris Loseth are just some of the dozens of Alumni athletes who will be celebrating Father’s Day at Hastings.