HorseRacing Central – January 18th, 2013


TRAINING SET TO BEGIN ON FEB. 5TH AT HASTINGS

The countdown to spring training at Hastings Racecourse is well underway as the final surge of stall applications continue to arrive for the 2013 thoroughbred season.  Training begins on Feb. 5 and soon the stable area will change from quiet to frenetic as horses begin preparations for the opening of the 2013 season.

Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing, announced earlier the details of this year’s racing calendar that begins on Saturday, April 13 and ends on Thanksgiving Monday, October 14.

The schedule covers a total of 69 race days with consistent post times throughout the season.  Weekends and holiday cards will start at 1:50 p.m. and 12 Friday Night Live cards at 7 p.m.   Two marquee days – BC Cup on Aug. 5 and BC Derby on Sept. 8 – have 12:50 p.m. post times because of added races on those dates.  During the PNE Fair Aug. 17 to Sept. 2 there will be seven live racing dates at Hastings with five going at 1:50 p.m. and two Friday nights with the regular 7 p.m. post time.

Mutti also confirmed that Hastings’ industry-leading low takeouts will remain at 15% Win, Place and Show as well as the Pick 3, 4, 5 and Daily Double features throughout the season.

HASTINGS HANDICAPPING CONTEST – SERIES 2

A total of $7,000 in prize money is on the line as part of the Hastings Series 2 Handicapping Contest.  It runs from Jan. 5 – March 16 with the Final on March 23.  The next contest is this weekend – Saturday and Sunday.  The top five finishers each contest day are invited back for the Final and the top five cumulative total winners from all contest days will also play in the March 23 Final.  Full details are available at Racebook Guest Services.

MAJOR U.S. TRACKS OPEN MONDAY

With Americans celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, all of the major racetracks in the U.S. will be in operation and simulcast coverage will be available at Hastings Racecourse, & Slots, Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino and all other TBC outlets.

Oaklawn’s feature on Monday will be the Smarty Jones, a race where several 3-year-olds will gauge their possible appearance in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.  Besides Oaklawn, racing Monday will also take place at Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Fairgrounds and Gulfstream.

Speaking of Gulfstream, Saturday is Sunshine Millions Day with more than $1.3 million in purse money up for grabs.

$15,000 FINAL AT FRASER DOWNS

The $15,000 Final of the Abbetross claiming series goes Friday (tonight) as the 8th race on an 11-race card that starts at 7:00 p.m. The morning line favourite is Thieving Magpie with Jim Marino in the sulky.  Sunday’s card begins at 12:45 p.m. and includes the Miss Onager claiming series final for fillies and mares with Red Star Brooklyn the morning line favourite.