HorseRacing Central November 28, 2008

KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED

Executive Director Sue Griffin of the BC Sports Hall of Fame has called a major news conference for 10:30 a.m. next Tuesday, Dec. 2 at which time the 2009 inductees will be announced. Hopefully, the name Chris Loseth has gained the required approval of the 14-member selection committee.

In the 40-year history of the BC Hall of Fame, only one athlete from the horse racing industry has been inducted: Hedley J. Woodhouse in 1979. Mr. Woodhouse, who passed away in 1984, was born in Vancouver and began his riding career at Lansdowne Park in 1937. He graduated to the major U.S. circuit and appeared in the Kentucky Derby four times and the Preakness on three occasions. In l953 he won the New York riding championship with 138 victories.

Chris Loseth, born and raised in Fort Nelson, B.C., was the first jockey to win Sovereign Awards as both Canada’s leading apprentice in 1976 and the country’s outstanding jockey in 1984. In 2001, Loseth was honoured at Woodbine Racetrack as winner of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award, presented to a Canadian-born individual who has made a significant contribution to the sport.

Loseth’s career record of 3,668 victories rates with the best in the world prior to his retirement three years ago. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

His multitude of friends and admirers are pulling for Chris to become the second jockey in BC Sports Hall of Fame history to be awarded the gold medal. The ‘Banquet of Champions’ honouring the 2009 inductees will be held on May 13 at the Convention Centre.

CLOSING DAY AT CHURCHILL

The $150,000 Golden Rod Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings will be the co-features of the season-ending day of racing at Churchill Downs. Kentucky racing now shifts to Turfway for the next three months.

Hollywood Park has dubbed this weekend as its Turf Festival. The $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express and the $100,000 Turf Generous Stakes go Saturday. Then the purses increase on Sunday as the 3-year-olds take centre stage with the $500,000 Hollywood Derby along with the $400,000 Matriarch. Sunday’s card has a half-a-million dollar guaranteed pick 6.

Aqueduct’s Saturday feature is the $300,000 Hill n Dale Cigar Mile and goes as the eighth race at 12:48 p.m. local time.

There is only one week left in the 2008 thoroughbred season at Woodbine after this weekend. Closing day is Sunday, Dec. 7.

TAKE A SHOT AT A MILLION BUCKS

You’ve seen our very own version of a Canucks’ player in the lobby at both Hastings and Fraser Downs and now it’s into overtime. Sunday (Nov. 30) is the last chance for BC Gold members to have a shot at cracking the Canucks vault for a cool $1 million. Guest Services can fill you in with the details.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH T.W.

Tommy Wolski’s “Sport of Kings” returns to the airwaves Saturday, Dec. 6 on Citytv at 11 a.m. with a preview of the Western Region Driving Champions that go Dec. 13 at Fraser Downs. Also, you will find out first-hand what on earth a pygmy goat is doing in the Fraser Downs barns. Wolski gets up close and personal in a moving Tim Brown interview that includes a chat with his daughter Amber Lancaster.

BIG THINGS HAPPENING AT MEADOWLANDS

There are 13 races on Saturday’s card at Meadowlands and eight of them are Breeders Crown finals. More than $4.9 million is up for grabs between the pacers and trotters with the Breeders Crown races being contested on races two through nine.

The sensational 3-year-old pacer Somebeachsomewhere will be favoured in the ninth and the widespread consensus this could be his career-ending performance. The sixth race features Deweycheatumnhowe, the great 3-year-old trotter looking for a final victory before going to stud. Local owner Niele Jiwan sends Chancey Lady against 3-year-old pacing fillies in the eighth race.

It all gets underway at 4:00 p.m. local time. Check your simulcast schedule for more details.

BILL DAVIS HEADING FOR A MILESTONE

Bill Davis has been a dominating force for several years at Fraser Downs and with 17 more driving wins he will reach the wonderful total of 5,000. Davis has career earnings as a driver in excess of $19 million and should hit the charmed 5,000 circle within the next two weeks.

Up next on the Open Stake schedule is the $25,000 Mr. Vancouver on Friday, Dec. 12 for 4-year-old horses and geldings. The following day Fraser Downs hosts the Western Regional Driving Championships.