HorseRacing Central September 11, 2009

FRASER DOWNS OPENING WEEKEND

The 33rd season of harness racing at Fraser Downs (nee Cloverdale) gets launched tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a 12-race card with full fields. The same applies for Saturday: 12 races and a 7:30 p.m. start.

‘Saturday Night Live’ will be the new theme at Fraser Downs this year with the elimination of Saturday afternoon racing. The 107 race dates on the 2009-2010 schedule include 41 Saturday nights, 40 Friday nights, 22 Sunday afternoons (1:15 p.m.), three Thursday nights and the annual Remembrance Day matinee on Wednesday, Nov. 11. That’s the date of the Breeders’ Classic, a showcase of the best BC –bred standardbreds.

Other highlights include the Clash of the Pacific on Friday, Oct. 16, an open race that frequently draws the best harness horses in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. The Princess of the Pacific is set for Saturday, March 13, testing the best females in the region.

With all 525 Fraser Downs stalls filled and horses arriving in record numbers from Alberta, Robert Murphy’s old training site in Surrey has become the perfect accommodation back-up. The BC Standardbred Association (BCSA) has made arrangements to lease upwards of 80 stalls, most of which have been booked by the Albertans.

There is free parking and no admission charge at Fraser Downs. Get ready for some fun times. Director of Racing Jackson Wittup says: “With purses averaging $65,000 per card plus stakes races, we’re heading into the new season on a high note. I can feel renewed energy from all levels in and around the track.”

POST TIME CHANGE AT HASTINGS

Hastings Racecourse GM Raj Mutti has announced that beginning tomorrow – Saturday, Sept. 12 – and for the remainder of the thoroughbred season, start times for matinee racing will be 1:50 p.m. After tonight, there are only two Friday Night Live dates left on the schedule: Sept. 18 and Sept. 25.

CTHS SALES STAKES

Graduates of the 2008 CTHS sale are participating in two $60,000 stakes this weekend at Hastings. The 2-year-old fillies division takes the spotlight Saturday while the colts division goes Sunday.

These two stakes races tie in with the upcoming summer yearling and mixed sale staged by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (B.C.) at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. The yearling preview is set for Monday (Sept. 14) with the sale on Tuesday (Sept. 15) beginning at noon. Catalogues are available in the Racing Office at Hastings or at the CTHS table outside the Hastings paddock area.

As for the weekend CTHS Sales stakes, Victorious Vye was very impressive while breaking her maiden two weeks ago and should be the favourite Saturday. Victorious Vye was purchased out of the 2008 sale for $25,000 by trainer Robert Gilker for Sanlyn Stables.

Undefeated Huitzilopochtli will try to extend his winning streak to five as he goes up against seven other colts and geldings on Sunday. He has dominated his rivals this season after being purchased by Lara Racing Stables last year for $16,000. Huitzilopochtli’s earnings currently sit at $91,491.

WHAT’S ON TAP OUT OF TOWN

Saturday

Belmont Park’s autumn meet gets underway this weekend with numerous graded stakes in the upcoming six weeks. There are two Grade l races Saturday: the $300,000 Ruffian for fillies and mares featuring Exotic Indy who will be saddled by Grant Forster, son of our very own Dave Forster. Exotic Indy is 15-1 on the morning line. The second Grade 1 feature is the Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the grass.

Turfway Park hosts the Grade lll Turfway Fall Championship while Woodbine has the $125,000 La Prevoyante for 3-year-old fillies as its headliner. Fairplex Park has its annual opening week stake – the $50,000 Phil Shepherd for older horses at a mile and a sixteenth on the tight dirt course.

Sunday

Belmont Park is hosting the $100,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York bred 3- year-olds in a one-turn nine furlong event. The 2-year-olds are in the spotlight at Woodbine in the $150,000 Swynford Stakes while Emerald Downs will have seven stake races as part of the Washington Cup Day program. Hastings will have one rooting interest in Pretty Maid who’s been entered in the filly and mare stake. At Fairplex Park the main event is the Bangles and Beads for fillies and mares to sprint six and a half furlongs for a $50,000 purse.

FINISH LINES

Beginning tonight at Hastings and running through BC Derby Weekend fans will have a chance to win a trip for two to the 2010 Kentucky Derby. Whenever a guest purchases a Budweiser or Bud Light Lime, he/she receives one ballot for the entry box. The winner must be in attendance to win on Sunday, Sept. 27. That’s BC Derby Day when one of the many highlights will be the appearance of Miss BC Derby 2009. The winner will be awarded a $2500 scholarship sponsored by The Derby Bar and Grill to go towards post secondary studies at an accredited post secondary institution. Females between the ages of 19-28 who are B.C. residents and Canadian citizens are eligible with up to 10 finalists being chosen from the applications received. Application forms and more information are available at www.derbybarandgrill.com