HorseRacing Central December 5, 2008

‘SOMETHING SPECIAL’ SAYS CHRIS LOSETH

His smile said it all. When Chris Loseth was called to the podium earlier this week after being named a 2009 BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee, he was grinning from ear to ear. “This is a total surprise,” he said. “During my career I have always felt blessed to have received so many honours within our sport. But having people recognize my accomplishments from outside our industry is truly something special.”

Loseth will be front and centre at the annual Banquet of Champions on May 13, 2009 at the Vancouver Convention Centre along with seven other individuals and two teams for the induction ceremonies.

While Loseth was named to the Athletes Category after a riding career that included 3,668 wins and more than $32 million in purses, long-time horse racing writer Archie McDonald was inducted in the Media Category.

McDonald, who spent 40 years with the Vancouver Sun, was recognized with a National Newspaper Award in 1980 and later two Sovereign Awards for horse racing articles.

Courtesy of Jackie Humber of The Game, pictured here are Hastings Racecourse General Manager Raj Mutti flanked by Loseth (left) and McDonald. Mutti called it a “great day for thoroughbred racing” and noted that the only other jockey ever to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame was the late Hedley J. Woodhouse in 1979.

HASTINGS HORSES UP FOR AWARDS

There could be more recognition in store for our local thoroughbred industry when the Jockey Club of Canada names its winners of the 2008 Sovereign Awards at the 34th annual ceremonies on Dec. 12 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.

Spaghetti Mouse and Against the Sky are finalists in their respective categories. Spaghetti Mouse, owned by Nick and Pauline Felicella, is a candidate in the Champion Older Male category while Bob Leffler’s Against the Sky is a finalist in the Champion Older Female category.

Tommy Wolski”s “Sport of Kings” television show has also been nominated for a Sovereign Award in the Outstanding Film/Video Broadcast category.

FRASER TRIO READY FOR WESTERN REGIONALS

The competitive juices will be flowing freely on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Fraser Downs when Bill Davis, Scott Knight and Jim Marino represent Fraser at the Western Regional Driving Championship. It’s the fourth and final Regional Driving Championship to determine the eight participants in Canada’s National Driving Championship scheduled for Fraser Downs in March, 2009.

The local trio is up against some tough driving competition with Keith Clark, Kelly Hoerdt and Gerry Hudon representing Alberta; Darryl Mason from Manitoba and Glenn LeDrew from Saskatchewan.

The Western Regionals will be an eight-race competition. The two drivers who accumulate the most points advance to the Nationals and the eventual winner will represent Canada at the World Driving Championship schedule for May, 2009 in Norway.

SALES STAKE FINALS SATURDAY

On track at Fraser Downs Saturday (Dec. 6) will be the Sales Stakes finals for the 2 and 3-year-old colts and geldings and fillies. Each final carries a minimum $25,000 purse. The 2-year-old colt & geldings division drew only four entries and will go as a non-wagering race along with the 3-year-old colts and geldings before the card. Owner/trainer Rod Therres looks like he holds the best hand in both races. Seven 2-year-old fillies (six wagering interests) lock horns in the first race of the card and it looks wide open. The last of the Sales Stakes races goes as the sixth with a full field of nine (seven wagering interests).

The morning line favourite is Alexaastrordinaire, winner of the $100,000 Mary Murphy Breeders Stakes. She’ll be looking for her third consecutive victory.