HorseRacing Central – Friday, October 6th, 2013
“THE MOJ” OUT TO SET BEEF-EATING RECORD
Team 1040 sportscaster Bob (The Moj) Marjanovich has made it known over the years that he enjoys the finer things in life, beginning with a hearty meal. Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis once commented on the air during a live interview that Moj’s eating habits in the Chicago Blackhawks press box were noteworthy, if not legendary.
The Moj all but single-handedly put The American Cheese Steak Co. on the local dining map with his mouth-watering endorsements from the Davie Street outlet that is Vancouver’s first restaurant dedicated to the Italian-American tradition.
Now The Moj puts his talents on the line at Hastings Racecourse when he engages in the first (and probably last) annual Beef on a Bun Eating Contest Sunday afternoon. The fun-spirited Marjanovich will appear in the winner’s circle after Sunday’s fourth race at approximately 3:22 p.m. to challenge a lineup of selected contestants prepared to devour the racetrack’s signature Beef on a Bun sandwich … a special edition 1 kg (or 2.2 lbs) of meat. It will be a race against a time clock with official judges on hand to oversee the proceedings.
It’s all part of Customer Appreciation Day at Hastings Racecourse Sunday when several items such as soft drinks, hot dogs and live racing programs will be sold at more than half the regular price.
The winner of the Beef on a Bun Eating Contest will receive a Budweiser Patio Party voucher that will accommodate 20 people for the 2014 racing season at Hastings.
JUST FIVE LIVE RACING DATES LEFT ON CALENDAR
Regular racing resumes this weekend at Hastings with the normal start time of 1:50 p.m. for both the Saturday and Sunday cards. A 6 ½ furlong allowance for 3-year-olds headlines Saturday’s agenda with trainer Teddy Hurt sending out Crew Leader as the morning line favourite. Sunday’s feature is a first-level allowance race for 2-year-olds with the darling of the Hastings press box – Dr Sport – favoured to beat Burnaby Baron. Trained by Craig MacPherson, Dr Sport overcame a bad break to finish second at a first-level allowance race at Northlands Park on Sept. 7. Burnaby Baron, trained by Phil Hall, won a $30,000 optional maiden claiming race going wire-to-wire on Sept. 22. Take note that Sunday’s Pick 5 will be seeded with $5,000.
After this weekend, Hastings will race three consecutive days on Oct. 12, 13 and 14 to wind down the regular season. Thanksgiving Monday (Oct. (14) has been billed as Autumn Championship Day with four stakes races offering $350,000 in purse money. The lineup includes the Grade 3 $100,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares and the Grade 3 $100,000 BC Premiers for 3-year-olds & up. There is also the $75,000 Fantasy for 2-year-old fillies and the Ascot Graduation for 2-year-old colts and geldings.