HorseRacing Central – April 19th, 2013

 

A HASTINGS TOUCH AT SOVEREIGN AWARDS TONIGHT

The Jockey Club of Canada’s 38th annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievements in 2012 will take place in Toronto tonight with plenty of Hastings Racecourse representation among the selections.  Four-time stakes winners at Hastings last year – Evelyn’s Dancer and Taylor Said – are up for awards as well as owner Glen Todd (Outstanding Owner of the Year), trainer Troy Taylor (Outstanding Trainer) jockey Scott Williams (Outstanding Apprentice Jockey) and track  photographer Trevor Reynolds in the media category.

Taylor Said won the BC Cup Classic, Lt. Governors, Sir Winston Churchill and John Longden 6000 in 2012 while Evelyn’s Dancer swept the Emerald Downs, Supernaturel, Hong Kong Jockey and BC Oaks.  Taylor Said is in the running for Older Champion Sprinter of the Year and Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year.  Evelyn’s Dancer is a finalist for Champion 3-year-old Filly of the Year.

The black-tie affair takes place at Woodbine Race Track on the eve of Woodbine’s opening day of thoroughbred racing with on-line coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. (PST).

NEW HASTINGS HORSE OWNER EXCITED ABOUT WEEKEND

Chad Joe, written up in Thursday’s website edition of the Vancouver Sun, has two 3-year-olds making their Hastings Racecourse debuts on the weekend.  Teamed with trainer Craig MacPherson, Joe has purchased seven horses during the winter from U.S. breeders for his recently-formed Copper Water Thoroughbred Company.

Hardware, a colt acquired in January form the Ocala Florida Auction, runs Saturday in Race 5 while Miss Derek, a filly out of Santa Anita, is set to go Sunday n Race 3.  Trainer Greg Tracy will have three horses running for certain and a possible fourth if there is a scratch in Saturday’s $25,000 allowance race for 3-year-old fillies.  The six-furlong sprint drew 11 horses and includes seven stakes winners.

Undefeated Holy Reina and Ten Thirty owned by Riversedge Racing Stables go as entry as the morning line favorite.  Marketway, trained by Troy Taylor and ridden by Aaron Gryder, is also expected to be a main threat.

Both eight-race weekend cards start at 1:50 p.m.

EMERALD DOWNS OPENS 18TH SEASON

With the first post at 6:45 p.m. (PDT), Emerald Downs launches its 18th season Friday with an eight-race card.  The 75-day season continues through Sept. 29 with live racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Friday post time of 6:45 p.m. is new but the weekend and holiday cards at Emerald Downs remain at 2:00 p.m.

$15,000 FEATURES AT FRASER DOWNS

Friday Night’s feature at Fraser Downs is the $15,000 Wendel Smith Memorial for 3-year-old colts and geldings and Saturday the 3-year-old fillies get their opportunity to show their stuff in the $15,000 Marian Young Memorial.  Post times for both cards is 7:00 p.m