By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: As the crow flies, the unincorporated community of Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan is located on Highway 614 east of the Alberta border. Latest statistics indicate fewer than 20 permanent residents still reside in the isolated area. Horse racing’s Barroby brothers – Frank and Harold – have permanently put…
Vancouver, B.C. (May 26/19) – Don’t look now but in this early going of the 2019 thoroughbred season trainer Phil Hall has won three of the six stake races staged thus far at Hastings Racecourse. The first two came on opening day May 4 in the Brighouse Belles and Ross McLeod and Hall appeared to…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: Dan Jukich was in golden company at the 50th anniversary of the BC Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Thursday night at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Not only was he surrounded by past and present members of the celebrated shrine, Dan also had a small…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: As jockeys go, Jeffrey Burningham is The Bionic Man. But unlike the science fiction Hollywood hero with super human strength, Burningham is for real. “A couple of years ago I just about killed myself,” the 47-year-old Montreal native says. “I had a collapsed lung, five…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: The passing of Emmy Award winning comedian Tim Conway last week rekindled fond memories for a couple of veteran scribes who’d been connected with Hastings Racecourse back in the days when the track was owned by Jack Diamond. At the height of Conway’s popularity in…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: Peter Redekop has endured – and enjoyed – countless thrilling moments as a revered horse owner throughout North America dating back to the 1960’s. “But nothing tops this in my racing background,” the 84-year-old Hall of Famer was saying prior to today’s 144th running of…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: When veteran jockey Frank Fuentes, now retired, caught his initial glimpse of newcomer Amadeo Perez riding at Hastings several years ago, he had nothing but encouraging things to say about him. “He’s a good kid,” Fuentes said. “On the track he rides clean and never…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: When Wayne Russell closes the door to the Steward’s Room late Monday afternoon on May 20 and takes the long trek down the walkway to the elevator at the top level of Hastings Racecourse, it will be with a heavy heart. For the past 20…