HorseRacing Central May 7, 2010

TEIDE MAKES SEASON DEBUT AT HASTINGS SATURDAY

Named Horse of the Year in British Columbia and B.C. Champion Older Male, Open Division in 2009, Teide returns to the Hastings scene Saturday in the $50,000 George Royal Stakes.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Teide became an instant favourite with local racing fans by scoring consecutive stakes wins last year in the Lieutenant Governors, Sir Winston Churchill and S.W. Randall Plate. Owned by Horatio and Jackie Kemeny with Mark and Naudia Mache of Swift Thoroughbreds, they had no idea where the name Teide came from or what it meant when they purchased the Kentucky-bred gelding from Darley Stable in 2008.

“It had something to do with a volcano,” Kemeny said. “I guess you could say Teide erupted right before our eyes last season.”

Saturday’s six and one-half furlongs feature has drawn six older horses and goes as the seventh race. Condilenios will also saddle former stakes champion Almost Time in the George Royal. Almost Time won the 2009 Jim Coleman Province and comes off an impressive victory in a $50,000 optional claiming race on opening day this season.

Texas Wildcatter, trained by Troy Taylor from the successful Glen Todd/Patrick Kinsella stable, also makes his 2010 debut in Saturday’s George Royal. Rounding out the field are defending George Royal champ Seminole Brave, BC Cup Sprint winner last year, Woomboom Express, Stellar’s Jay winner and Canadian Derby champ from last year, Tommy Danzigger.

GEORGE ROYAL: CANADIAN HALL OF FAMER

George Royal became the first B.C.-bred horse to win Canadian Horse of the Year honours following a 1965 campaign that included winning the San Juan Capistrano Handicap on the turf at Santa Anita Park and the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine. In 1966 Johnny Longden’s last ride as a jockey was on George Royal in a repeat win of the San Juan Capistrano.

Retired to stud duty as number two in earnings by a Canadian-bred horse, George Royal stood at co-owner Robert W. Hall’s Emerald Acres in Aldergrove. George Royal was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the British Columbia Horse Racing Hall of Fame and his statue stands in the paddock at Hastings Racecourse.

Hastings Racecourse General Manager Raj Mutti is pleased to announce that Mr. Bob Hall, 80, and his wife Ann will be Guest Decorators in the winner’s circle following the running of Saturday’s George Royal Stakes.

$50,000 BRIGHOUSE BELLES GOES SUNDAY

With last year’s leading rider Fernando Perez in the saddle, Concert Music puts her undefeated record on the line in Sunday’s Brighouse Belles for older fillies and mares. Concert Music conducted a huge win over stakes winners Blue Sky Holiday and Wind Storm in a classified allowance race on April 25 at Hastings. It was her first start since she won a $50,000 optional sprint in May, 2009.

Dancing Allstar will provide some stiff competition for Concert Music. Dancing Allstar is being shipped in from Woodbine by trainer Terry Jordan, who’s hoping she will revert to the form she showed as a juvenile and sophomore, winning eight of her first 10 races.

The six and one-half furlong feature Sunday goes as the seventh race on the card.

‘TEAMWORK’ IS THE BYWORD AT HASTINGS

Hastings Racecourse Director of Racing, Paul Ryneveld, credits “teamwork” for the way things have been progressing early into this 2010 thoroughbred season. Through the first four days of the Hastings meet there were 34 races averaging 8.0 horses per race at a time when the industry seems to be struggling in most other areas.

“The field sizes are due to a co-operative effort among horsemen, owners and management,” Ryneveld says. “We are all striving towards a common goal of improving the handle and subsequent business.”

FANS CAN HELP NEW STRIDE SUNDAY

The New Stride Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is dedicated to finding loving adoptive homes and alternative careers for thoroughbred race horses no longer able to compete. Racing fans can help by participating in Sunday’s 50/50 draw. Watch for the New Stride volunteers throughout the afternoon.

Also, a reminder that the Friday Night Live racing and entertainment program returns next Friday, May 14 and runs through September 17 with the first race at 7 p.m.

$195,000 STAKES ACTION AT FRASER DOWNS

Four Stallion Stake Finals are on Friday night’s card at Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino. Up first is the $75,000 three-year-old filly Final with multiple stake winner Fast Lane Delila listed as the morning line favourite on the fifth race of the card. Race nine is the $75,000 Final for three-year-old colts and geldings. Kootenay Mike is the favourite.

The 10th race carries a purse of $22,5000 as eight four-year-old mares compete with Run Way Star the favourite. In the 11th, four-year-old horse and geldings take centre stage with Stop Calling the one to beat. Racing Friday and Saturday nights at Fraser Downs starts at 7:30 p.m.