HorseRacing Central July 11, 2008

STAKES ALL OVER THE PLACE

It’s a big July weekend for thoroughbred racing, not only at Hastings Racecourse but throughout North America.

In this special edition of Horse Racing Central we’ll take a quick look at some of the highlights, beginning with Saturday where Hastings Racecourse will be missing the services of top jockey Mario Gutierrez and with good reason.

IT ALL STARTS SATURDAY

Marvelous Mario will be riding Bob Cheema’s Dancing Allstar Saturday in the $250,000 Azalea as part of the $1.4 million Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course in Miami. Trained by Terry Jordan, Dancing Allstar has been referred to by Florida racing publications as a “Canadian sprint sensation”. The six-furlong feature for 3-year-old fillies will go at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time and is available on both our Hastings and Fraser Down simulcast networks, as well as selected TBC outlets.

Also on Saturday the 2007 Horse-of-the-Year Curlin will make his turf debut in the $500,000 Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park. His task is not an easy one as he will face four Grade 1 turf winners.

Locally, the feature Saturday at Hastings is the $50,000 Timber Music for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs. Mel Snow’s impressive What R The Odds will be the likely favourite in a field of 10 that includes key contenders Peppermint Kisses, P.S. Good N Ready and Cielo Rojo.

NO REST ON SUNDAY

Local owners Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella will have Gutierrez back at work on Sunday for the John Patrick Handicap at Northlands in Edmonton. It’s the seventh race on the card and will be part of the simulcast coverage at Hastings and Fraser Downs at 2:42 p.m.

Hastings’ feature on Sunday is the $50,000 Ladnesian for 2-year-olds over six furlongs. The Lara Racing Stables El Sinaloense will be the heavy favourite after his near track record performance which has been followed up with a series of sparkling works.

Also on Sunday is the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown – the $500,000 Prince Of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Roger Attfield will saddle Kelowna’s Charlie Fipke’s Not Bourbon, winner of the Queens Plate three weeks ago.

DON’T FORGET SANDOWN

Harness racing returns to Sidney and Sandown Park on Vancouver Island this Saturday … the first of three consecutive Saturday afternoons that will also include July 19 and July 26.

TOM WOLSKI’S SPORT OF KINGS

Saturday’s edition on Citytv (11 a.m.) is a must-see: the feature story will be “All the things that go into starting a race” with great visuals from inside the starting gate with head starter and director of racing operations Joe Gray. Also, the lovely Stephanie Mercier, on-track reporter, has plenty of items you won’t want to miss.

See you next week!