By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
SCENE & HEARD: While the original form of BC Cup Day established in 1995 at Hastings Racecourse has been adjusted this year, owners of B.C.-breds in today’s open stakes races have an enticing $25,000 incentive award in store should they be making trips to the winner’s circle. It used to be that every stakes race on a BC Cup Day card would be limited to horses bred in British Columbia but because of a shortage of product those restrictions have been lifted. All six stakes this afternoon are for $50,000 purses with that $25,000 bonus on the line for winning B.C.-breds …
Over the years part of the presentation of BC Cup Day at Hastings has included the singing of our national anthem by Teresa Fierro, music instructor and head teacher at South Side Elementary. Sister of track announcer Dan Jukich, Teresa shared her sunny personality with Hastings patrons as a popular pari-mutuels teller for over 30 years before stepping away from her part-time gig earlier this year. Thanks to some quick thinking on the part of racetrack veterinary technician Dianne Peacock, today’s guest soloist is Allyson Lowry, a young lady in Dianne’s Spanish class. Allyson is a member of the Sleepy Gonzales band that played at the Surrey Fusion Festival last month …
Three of the most sought-after autographs from legendary athletes whose pictures appeared on last Sunday’s Sports Alumni Day poster were former Hastings jockeys Chris Loseth, Chad Hoverson and Tommy Wolski. Because of a recent shoulder injury, Loseth designated Wolski to sign on his behalf … Bob, Sam and Dan Lenarduzzi all appeared on Alumni Day like the Three Amigos on behalf of the Whitecaps FC. They were born and raised in the east end of Vancouver and would make the short trek from Dundas Street to Hastings as kids, where they all eventually became part of the Whitecaps movement at Empire Stadium … BC Lions alumni members John Ulmer and Shawn Stewart shared tales from their present employment as stuntmen on the local big-time movie scene … A surprise visitor as part of the Canucks Alumni was past president Gerry Sillers, fresh from his induction into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton on July 20. During a span of 27 years Sillers established the Canucks Alumni as one of the most respected in the NHL.