HorseRacing Central April 22, 2010

HASTINGS READY TO ROCK & ROLL . . .

It's the proverbial "quiet before the storm" prior to the launch of the 2010 thoroughbred racing season at Hastings Racecourse with two full and exciting cards ready to go Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:40 p.m.

"We're in great shape", says Director of Racing Paul Ryneveld. "With our purse structure this year it makes Hastings one of the more attractive places to run in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. We certainly won't have any shortage of horses."

Purse money over the 71-day racing calendar will total $9.8 million with $2.5 million set aside for the 2010 Stakes Schedule.

"Our opening weekend lineup of live racing is one of the best I can remember in the years I've been here," said Hastings Racecourse General Manager. "We have the most supportive owners anywhere and they have come through again with flying colours."

One of the most active owners on the grounds is Glen Todd, who wrote in his Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter: "Saturday's featured 8th race looks more like a stake race than a $50,000 optional claimer. It is as good as it gets for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs as we've seen in recent years at Hastings."

The field of 10 includes Spaghetti Mouse, the all-time Hastings money winner; last year's Canadian Derby winner Tommy Danzigger; Ganbei, winner of the Richmond Derby Trial in 2009; El Cugat, winner of the Chris Loseth Stakes and Oregon Derby last season and the morning line favourite Seminole Brave with last year’s leading rider Fernando Perez in the irons.


OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD & SIMULCAST ACTION
Hollywood Park stages its 11th annual Gold Rush Days on Saturday with the card featuring eight California-bred stake races worth $910,000 on the day. It all begins at 1:00 p.m.

The Hollywood spring and summer meet got underway this week and the first of the Friday night cards starts at 7:05 tonight. The only exception is on April 30 when Hollywood goes with a matinee card prior to the Kentucky Derby on May 1.



TWO LOCAL HORSES IN PORTLAND MILE
The signature race of the Portland Meadows season - the $50,000 Portland Mile Handicap - goes Wednesday, April 28 with some local Hastings flavour in the mix. It's the eight race on the card with a start time of 3:56 p.m.

Frank Fuentes will ride Swift Thoroughbreds' Numaany, the marathon champ at Hastings last year. Shem, with Mario Gutierrez in the tack, will run for Glen Todd and his consortium and goes into the race with a high weight of 124 lbs. Shem won his last start at Portland after being claimed at Golden Gate for $50,000. Noted California owner/trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will have Saratoga's Magic in the feature with leading rider Joe Crispin taking the assignment. Shem defeated Saratoga's Magic in January.



TOP 5 KENTUCKY DERBY CONTEST
Patrons at Hastings Racecourse, Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino, the Racebooks at River Rock, Boulevard Casinos and Schanks can win a share of $1,000 simply by entering a free Kentucky Derby 'Your Top 5 Contest' on Saturday, May 1. Entry ballots are available only to HPI Cardholders and are available at HPI/Guest Services at the participating locations listed above.

Entrants select five horses from those competing in the Kentucky Derby and the winner will be decided based on a cumulative total of points.


PAT BRENNAN MEMORIAL AT FRASER DOWNS
There are two eliminations in the Pat Brennan Memorial for 3-year-old colts and geldings set for Saturday night at Fraser Downs. They will both be five-horse fields and will go as the second and fourth races on the card. The Friday and Saturday cards at Fraser begin at the normal 7:30 p.m. start time.