HorseRacing Central February 26, 2010
2010 HASTINGS SCHEDULE ALMOST IN STONE
Hastings Racecourse General Manager Raj Mutti has one or two “minor adjustments” to discuss with the PNE prior to making the announcement of the 2010 thoroughbred racing schedule official.
“With the BC Lions as our neighbours this coming year at Empire Fields, there’ve been three-way discussions going on for some time involving the football team, the PNE and Hastings,” Mutti says. “We pretty well have everything resolved but there could still be some minor tweaking take place before we’re able to release our completed schedule.”
Mutti does confirm that Opening Day will be Saturday, April 24 with the 71-day racing calendar ending on the Thanksgiving Day holiday, Monday, October 11. “We’re excited about having 18 Friday Night dates this coming season,” Mutti says. “It’s been proven over the last two years that the younger demographic we’ve been pursuing has responded overwhelmingly to Friday Night racing. They begin on Friday, May 7 and run through September.”
HASTINGS RE-OPENS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3
With “Closing Ceremonies” happening Sunday to mark the completion of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Hastings is celebrating a “Re-Opening” on Wednesday, March 3 with the slots and simulcast racing coverag back in full swing.
There’s plenty of out-of-town activity ahead this weekend, beginning with Saturday’s $150,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. It’s another Kentucky Derby Prep for 3-year-olds and goes at 4:07 p.m. Also on Saturday Gulfstream will feature three stakes: the $100,000 Grade 3 Very One for fillies and mares at a 1 3/8 distance on the turf; the $150,000 Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies at a mile; and the $100,000 Grade III Sabin for fillies and mares at a mile.
Santa Anita has the $100,000 Crystal Water for state bred 4-year-olds and up going a mile on the turf (4:07 p.m.) on Sunday while Gulfstream features the $150,000 Grade III Diarmida for 4-year-olds and up at a mile (2:14 p.m.)
'NEW STRIDE’ OPEN HOUSE MARCH 7
The New Stride Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, established in 2002, ensures that retired and injured race horses get a second chance in life by being placed into caring adoptive homes. “We’ve taken in 82 horses since 2002,” says Foundation president Kim Inglis, who is also a volunteer rider at the New Stride facilities in Abbotsford. “We’ve been able to assign 53 of them and the majority of the balance will be on display at our Open House next month.”
The time and place: Sunday, March 7, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Allbury Farm in Abbostford at 4807 Olund Road. Inglis says options are available that allow those interested in adopting a horse a one-month trial period to ensure the horse suits the purchaser’s needs.
“It’s similar to any adoption agency where they are trying to match the individual to the animal because animals are all unique in their own little way,” Inglis says. “People interested in adopting can meet and handle the horses. We’ll have each horse’s history attached to the respective stalls.”
More information is available at the Foundation’s website: www.newstride.com
GROOM SCHOOL GROWS IN POPULARITY
Kudos to Alison Goulding, who will once again be in charge of the Groom School program co-sponsored by Hastings Racecourse and the BC Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (BC HBPA).
This is the third year the school has been offered and more than 70 applications have been registered, a substantial increase over last year’s successful program. Preference for enrollment is given to those living within the local area postal codes of East Sunrise and East Vancouver.
The initial class runs from March 5 thru March 19 with more classes on the agenda in the weeks following. Last year 12 people completed the program and 10 were immediately placed with stables at Hastings. Alison Goulding is a former groom and exercise rider who is currently a Hastings Clocker.
PRINCESS OF THE PACIFIC ELIMINATIONS
The road to gold at the end of the Princess of the Pacific $75,000 rainbow begins Saturday night at Fraser Downs. The first elimination legs for fillies and mares will be established in the 8th and 9th races on Saturday’s card. The second leg of the Princess of the Pacific goes on Saturday, March 6 with the $75,000 Final set for Saturday, March 13.
Fast Eddie Hensley continues to lead both the drivers and trainers standings at Fraser heading into the weekend. He has 114 driving victories, 47 more than second-place Jim Marino (67). Hensley leads the trainer standings with 70 while Keith Clark sits in second with 46.
Racing resumes at Fraser Downs tonight and Saturday (7:30 p.m.) with Sunday’s start at 1:15 p.m.
EVERYBODY LOVES RAY
That’s as in Ray Gemmill, who celebrates his 80th birthday at Fraser Downs on Saturday, March 20. He is one of the industry’s all-time legends, having won the first-ever race at Cloverdale Raceway. He is still active as an owner at Fraser and continues to drive in training sessions. The celebration will take place at The Homestretch. Call Tracey (604-739-8639) or Sherry (604-292-0944) for reservations.
