HorseRacing Central June 18, 2010

BIG, BIG WEEKEND ON TAP AT HASTINGS

It starts with Friday Night Live racing tonight at Hastings Racecourse, followed by the first in a summer series of Friday Night Movies that will begin 30 minutes after the last race on each designated movie night.

Then it flows into April Friesen Day on Saturday and, of course, Father’s Day on Sunday with an 8:30 a.m. free pancake breakfast and 10:00 a.m. racing start for the first time in local thoroughbred history.

The early post time is to accommodate those fans who plan to attend both the Hastings live racing card and the BC Lions 2:00 p.m. pre-season game at Empire Field just across the parking lot from Hastings Racecourse.

Talk about the perfect Father’s Day … there is also a chance for Dads to win $100,000 in the MCL Motor Cars hole-in-one contest between races on Sunday.

SILENT AUCTION GOES ALL DAY SATURDAY

To take a step back and review the busy weekend, the eight race card on Friday begins at its regular start time of 7:00 p.m. Racing on Saturday begins at 1:40 p.m. but from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. there will be a huge silent auction in progress as the entire Hastings racing family salutes fallen jockey April Friesen.

In a three-horse spill on May 16, April suffered a fractured neck and had titanium rods placed in her spine to stabilize three fractures. She also suffered three broken ribs and punctured a lung.

With literally hundreds of items having been donated by caring people – both personally and corporately – the auction, combined with a 50/50 draw, will raise funds to help defray medical expenses. Hastings Racecourse GM Raj Mutti has pledged on behalf of Hastings and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation to match all monies raised up to $5,000.

And here’s the really great news: April says she will be attending Saturday’s salute. “I will only be able to stay maybe two hours because I get tired and I’m still very sore,” she says. “But I’ll be there with my family because I want to say thank-you for all of the unbelievable support, prayers and love that has been sent my way.”

ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITY SUNDAY

The BC Lions Felions will be on hand to greet those early birds at Hastings Racecourse partaking in the free pancake breakfast Sunday that gets going at 8:30 a.m. Live racing begins at 10 a.m. and one of the races will be dedicated to the BC Lions Alumni, many of whom will be in attendance and in the winner’s circle as guest decorators.

Hastings Racecourse exclusive “Pre-Game Huddle at Hastings” begins at 12 o’clock noon with Bob Marjanovich broadcasting live on-site the Team 1410 pre-game show that will include several celebrity guests. All BC Lions season ticket holders have a chance to win $1,000 by entering a draw in the Hastings Casino that takes place 30 minutes after the game.

PARKING INFORMATION RE: SUNDAY

Guests who have preferred parking hangers or VIP hangers will be permitted free entry all day long on Sunday. They will receive access to our VIP lot (behind the Agrodome) or Lot 12.

Guests without hangers who arrive before 11:00 a.m. will be charged $10 to park and will receive an $8 rebate in the form of a $5 food and beverage coupon and $3 live racing program.

Guests without hangers who arrive after 11:00 a.m. will be charged $25 to park and no rebate will be available. Once the Lions game begins, the Hastings tarmac will be opened for regular guests who visit from 2:30 p.m. onwards.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

Arlington on Saturday features five consecutive $100,000 Illinois-bred races. Northlands has the $50,000 Western Canada for 3-year-olds on Saturday with Mario Gutierrez aboard Prince Intent. It goes as the eighth race at 3:09 p.m. Mario stays overnight and will pilot Heaven on Hold in the $50,000 Wild Rose in Sunday’s seventh race at 2:42 p.m.

Hollywood Park has a pair of weekend features. The Affirmed Handicap is set for Saturday at 4:35 p.m. and Sunday the Will Rogers goes at 4:35 p.m. Emerald Downs on Sunday features the $50,000 Budweiser Handicap for older horses at a flat mile.

Saturday’s card at Woodbine includes two stakes: the Victoria Stakes and the Zadracarta. Sunday it’s the Hill n Dale stakes. Mohawk on Saturday has three eliminations for the prestigious North America Cup. They go as the fifth, seventh and eighth races on the card and all have full fields of 10.

FRASER DOWNS SEASON ENDS IN STYLE

Fan Appreciation Night at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino will be taking on an Academy Awards theme Saturday night, red carpet and all.

Not to be mistaken for Steve Martin or Alec Baldwin, Fraser Downs’ regular host for on-site promotions – Erik (The Hammer) Hilmer – will be greeting fans and guests as they arrive for the conclusion of the 2009-2010 standardbred season. The 13-race card begins at 7:30 p.m. but fans are encouraged to arrive early to take part in everything from an outside barbecue to souvenir pictures taken sitting on a sulky. Fraser Downs drivers dress in full colour will be available for autographs and photos. There will be contests and draws throughout the evening for some fabulous prizes.

Regular racing goes tonight (Friday, June 18) at 7:30 prior to Saturday’s finale. Fraser Downs management thanks its fans and corporate sponsors for their support this past season. The 2010-2011 live harness racing season is scheduled to resume on October 1, 2010.