Posted: April 23, 2010

Thoroughbred racing is one of the most exciting, beautiful and, sometimes, profitable participation sports for its fans.

Plus, it's free to get in to watch magnificent horses pound down the homestretch to get a nose over the finish line first. If you've bet on the one that does, you'll be ahead of the game. Now that's entertainment!

So why is the industry in such trouble in North America? You've no doubt heard that the way to become a millionaire in horse racing is to start with $5 million. There's no shortage of reasons the industry is struggling. The difficulty is finding anything that resembles a solution.

The words: "I think we'll be OK as long as Glen Todd is around," are barely out of the mouth of trainer/owner Tak Inouye than leading local owner Todd beseeches: "Try and write something positive, because we really need it."

A couple of upbeat stories in the Province sports section are unlikely to do much to a shrinking betting handle. In the Internet age, where a split-second is slow, the 25 to 30 minutes between races and parade to post seem interminable for young people who could lose their grubstake on a slot machine in the time it takes to get starting gate open for the second race.

The industry, however, needs to find ways to get younger people interested.

"There's no rush like winning a horse race," said Todd, who was introduced to racing by his parents and hasn't been able to find an antidote in the ensuing 50 or so years.

"It's hard to explain. Even if it's a $5,000 claimer it doesn't matter if you win."

To that end, Hastings general manager Raj Mutti says they are increasing the number of waging ambassadors to explain the racing form and how odds on the tote board work to make new customers feel more comfortable. They are starting Friday-night cards in May and running them 17 Fridays.

With the B.C. Lions moving back to the PNE and playing games at Empire Fields, Hastings is partnering with the CFL team and will host pre-game tailgate parties and are encouraging football fans to come early to the races.

If there's a shortage of bettors and owners, at least the purse pool is holding its own and there are lots of horses to start the season Saturday. The barns are full and trainers have them tuned and ready to go.

The feature, a $50,000 optional claimer, has attracted a field of 10 including Spaghetti Mouse, the all-time Hastings money winner and eight other stakes winners.

Thanks to a re-allocation of purse money by a provincial government appointed committee there's more than $12 million available, slightly more than last year. Todd is also writing daily Hastings updates on his Derby Bar and Grill web-site. He's the biggest owner with "about 60 head" at Hastings, too. If he and Swift Thoroughbreds were to grow weary as Bob Cheema seems to have done, it would be disastrous for the track. Luckily, Todd has no intention of going anywhere.

"I said during our open house that we have the best, most supportive owners anywhere," said Mutti.

It would be nice to have a bunch more of them.

Posted 3/4/2010, 5:29 pm

HorsePlayer Interactive, the Woodbine Entertainment Group's online account-wagering platform, now is available in Quebec.

Woodbine and Le Club Jockey du Quebec announced the agreement on Thursday. Le Club Jockey du Quebec is a not-for-profit organization formed in June 2009 by a group of horse owners.

The province's last Standardbred racetrack closed in October 2009, and residents have had no legal outlet through which to wager on horse racing since then.

The five-year Woodbine deal includes full participation in the HorsePlayer Interactive rewards program, which will offer rebates to players on a weekly basis.

Quebec will match takeouts from Canadian tracks and will adopt Ontario strategies for takeouts on foreign tracks.

"Some of the country's most enthusiastic racing fans live in Quebec, so we are thrilled to offer HorsePlayer Interactive to them," said Sean Pinsonneault, Woodbine's vice president of wagering services.

HorsePlayer Interactive now provides wagering services to all provinces except Manitoba.

Posted 2/16/2010, 4:56 pm

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The field for the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest, which was rescheduled for Saturday after being canceled Monday, should be about the same as its original cast of 10. The connections of Conveyance, Mission Impazible, Cardiff Giant, and Domonation have all expressed their intent to run back, while top Oaklawn-based runners Dublin and Dryfly are a go for what is the first of two preps for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

The Southwest will be redrawn Thursday. At that time, the field could swell or change if any of the other original 89 nominees enter the one-mile race.

Oaklawn called off the final six races of its Monday card because the track was beginning to "ice up," said spokesperson Terry Wallace. Temperatures were dropping at the time, and a couple of riders reported that clods of dirt had broken their goggles. The jockeys and management then made the joint decision to scrap the remainder of the card.

"As disappointing as it was for everyone, I still think it was the right decision to make," said D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Hopeful winner Dublin. "I wouldn't want to run [Dublin] on anything but a safe track. This extra six days shouldn't mean anything."

Lukas planned to work Dublin back either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on track condition. The temperature dipped below freezing Monday night, and the track did not open for training until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, after tractors had harrowed the track all day.

Bob Baffert, who trains the Southern California-based Conveyance, said Monday night that he intends to work the horse back at Oaklawn and point for the rescheduled Southwest. The one change for Saturday, he said, might be the rider. Garrett Gomez was here Monday to ride the undefeated Conveyance, but might have commitments elsewhere Saturday.

"We're working on that right now," Baffert said Monday night of the rider situation.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Eibar Coa is to ride Mission Impazible back in the Southwest, with Johnny Velazquez, who was here to ride the horse Monday, having Saturday commitments at Gulfstream, including riding Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth. Pletcher on Tuesday said weather permitting he had "penciled in" an easy half-mile breeze for Mission Impazible at Oaklawn on Wednesday.

Velazquez had an eventful trip getting to Hot Springs. A canceled flight left him stuck in Memphis, but the connections of Mission Impazible chartered a flight for him and he arrived here around the time of the mid-card cancellation Monday.

Trainer Gary Thomas on Tuesday was also working on securing a new rider for Kitty's Turn, with the Fair Grounds-based Robby Albarado set to ride in several stakes Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Christian Santiago Reyes, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 2009, will return to ride Cardiff Giant in the Southwest, said Tony Matos, racing manager for the horse's owner, M Racing.

Cardiff Giant was second to Conveyance last out on the Grade 3 San Rafael at Santa Anita. Domonation, who was third in that race, is also likely to go back in the Southwest, said his trainer, John Sadler. He was to work here this week, and is to be ridden by Corey Nakatani.

"Any time you don't get to run it's not the best, but you have to be able to muddle through," Sadler said. "We'll make the best of it. We're going to try to go with the new plan, and hopefully, get some good weather."

The forecast for Saturday was showers with a high of 50 degrees and a low of 36.

Dryfly, the winner of the $100,000 Smarty Jones last month at Oaklawn, was to work back for the Southwest, said his trainer, Lynn Whiting. Cool Bullet, the winner of the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds, remains on target for the Southwest and will be ridden by Jon Court, said his trainer, Steve Margolis. Pleasant Storm is another planning to go back in the Southwest, according to his trainer, Joe Petalino.

Lenclud suspended six days

Apprentice Freddie Lenclud has been suspended six race dates for two different riding infractions. There are no plans to appeal the rulings, said his agent, Doc Danner. Lenclud, who is the fourth-leading rider at Oaklawn, will be out from Friday through Feb. 27.

* The minimum number of horses required for a superfecta at Oaklawn has been reduced from eight to seven after a rule permitting the change was passed Saturday by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

The following is a list of the directors of the HBPA of British Columbia who were put into office in our recent election:

President – Debbie Peebles

Owner Directors – Noel Roddick*, Linda Lytle, Mark Mache, Jeannie Spence*, and Warren Wilson

Trainer Directors – Harold Barroby*, Robert Anderson*, Rob Gilker*, Steve Henson, and David Milburn*

*Incumbent

Posted 8/26/2009, 3:44 pm

Spaghetti Mouse had his first work since he was scratched during the post parade due to a stone bruise in the Lieutenant Governors. He worked a bullet four furlongs in 46.80 seconds with his usual rider Pedro Alvarado aboard Wednesday morning.

"It was a good work for him," trainer Lenore Daponte said. "He has trained well since he got back to work and he should be in good shape to run in the Randall."

Spaghetti Mouse edged Rosberg in the Randall last year. He is the all-time leading money earner among B.C.-breds, with $872,244 in earnings.

Posted: Saturday, August 22, 2009 9:51 PM

Tommy Danzigger found a little extra energy in reserve when challenged by favorite Scorewithcater in the stretch and powered away to a 1 1/2-length victory in the Canadian Derby (Can-G3) on Saturday at Northlands Park.

The High Demand colt set a measured pace under Pedro Alvarado and responded in the stretch when Borderland Derby winner Scorewithcater surged into contention on his outside flank. Tommy Danzigger dug in gamely and dispatched that foe to prevail, completing 1 3/8 miles in 2:23 on a track rated as fast.

Trained by Robert Gilker for owner Edgar Smith, Tommy Danzigger made each of his previous eight starts at Hastings Race Course in Vancouver. He won a pair of stakes at the Vancouver track, including a victory in the British Columbia Cup Stellar’s Jay Handicap on August 3 in his previous start, and capably handled his first racing road trip in the Canadian Derby.

Tommy Danzigger set a moderate tempo, while Scorewithcater was reserved off the pace in the 12-horse field. Approaching the three-eighths pole, Alvarado let out a notch on the reins and Tommy Danzigger lengthened his stride.

Scorewithcater charged ahead to challenge, but he could not keep pace with the victor in the stretch as Tommy Danzigger drove clear.

Bred in British Columbia by Thomas Newton Bell and Ross John McLeod, Tommy Danzigger is out of the winning General Meeting mare Freedom Meeting, a full sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner and sire Chief Planner. He improved to three wins, three seconds, and two thirds in nine starts.

Posted 8/3/2009, 11:10 pm

Trainer Cindy Krasner and jockey Dave Wilson had the same thoughts about their contender Krazy Koffee when heavily favored Spaghetti Mouse was a late scratch during the post parade in the $110,920 B.C. Cup Classic at Hastings on Monday.

"I wanted to go back to the paddock and talk to Cindy about changing our strategy," said Wilson.

"I wanted to talk to Davie and make sure he didn't get too far behind," said Krasner.

No instructions were necessary as Krazy Koffee broke sharply and then outlasted Till the Storm to win by a half-length.

"The track was favoring speed all day, and once he broke as well as he did I knew I had the other horse measured," said Wilson.

Krazy Koffee paid $3.20 in the 1 1/8-mile feature. Final time for the race was 1:50.30.

There were six other stakes on the day, all worth roughly $50,000. Even-money favorite Woombroom Express won the 6 1/2-furlong Sprint with Frank Fuentes aboard. He is trained by Quint McCabe.

Owner-trainer Juan Olmos saddled the first two finishers in the 6 1/2-furlong Nursery Stakes. Huitzilopochtli easily beat his stablemate Mucho Verde by 8 3/4 lengths. Huitzilopochtli was ridden by Fernando Perez.

Tierra Del Fuego scored a convincing 5 3/4-length win over longshot Lornamahra in the 1 1/16-mile Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Barbara Heads and ridden by Pedro Alvarado, Tierra Del Feugo paid $3.10 as the heavy favorite.

Coming off of a long layoff, odds-on favorite Against the Sky showed her class by outlasting a stubborn Rosada in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff. Against the Sky, trained by Craig MacPherson and ridden by Frank Fuentes, paid $3.30.

Another favorite, Vying Ty Grr, easily won the Debutante by 5 3/4 lengths over Emerald City. Sent right to the front by Richard Hamel, Vying Ty Grr led every step of the way in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies. Trained by Barbara Heads, Vying Ty Grr paid $4.40.

With Pedro Alvarado aboard, Tommy Danzigger ($8.30) scored a mild upset over Almost Time in the 1 1/16-mile Stellar's Jay for 3-year-olds. He is trained by Rob Gilker.

Tommy Danzigger was the only non-favorite to win any of the seven stakes on the day.

Posted 8/1/2009, 4:28 pm

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Spaghetti Mouse goes for his third win in the $100,000 B.C. Cup Classic at Hastings on Monday. If he is successful - and he will be a short-priced favorite over Krazy Koffee in the six-horse field - he will tie Artic Son as the only horses in the 15-year history of the Classic to win three times.

The 1 1/8-mile Classic headlines the 10-race B.C. Cup Day card, which includes seven stakes races. Four of the stakes are restricted to B.C.-breds. The three races for older horses, the Sprint, Distaff, and Classic, were opened to Washington-breds this year. They make up the inaugural running of the Pacific Challenge, which was supposed to foster a competition between horses based at Emerald Downs and Hastings. But just one horse, Emancipated in the Classic, has made the trip from Emerald Downs.

Spaghetti Mouse, trained by Lenore Daponte, is looking to rebound following a fifth-place finish in the Lieutenant Governors July 1. Spaghetti Mouse chased a fast pace while going three wide in that race, and it wasn't surprising he faded when the real running started. In the Classic, the pace figures to be much slower, and Spaghetti Mouse should be able to either stalk speed that won't last or set a moderate pace himself.

"It all depends on if he'll relax or not," said Daponte. "If he does he should be in the race the whole way."

Daponte was pleased with Spaghetti Mouse's five-furlong bullet work in 58.40 seconds on July 19. Pedro Alvardo retains the mount.

Cindy Krasner, the trainer of Krazy Koffee, bemoaned the lack of pace in the race.

"It should be Spaghetti Mouse's race," said Krasner. She added of Krazy Koffee, "This is by far the best he has come up to a race this year but he needs a pace to run at, and I can't see that happening."

A 4-year-old gelding, Krazy Koffee was the horse of the year in British Columbia last year. He won four stakes, including the Grade 3 B.C. Derby. In his last start, Krazy Koffee made a late move to finish third in the Lieutenant Governors. He will be ridden by his usual rider, Dave Wilson.

Trick of the North is the only horse in the field coming into the race off a win. Trained by Barbara Heads, Trick of the North came from well off the pace to win a $50,000 optional race on July 4. In his last five starts, four at Golden Gate, Trick of the North has won three times and finished second twice. He is clearly the sharpest horse going into the race.

Ookashada and Till the Storm round out the field.

First post has been moved up to 1:15 p.m. Pacific.

Posted 7/27/2009, 11:55 am

Preservata, never far back while trailing early in the field of five, dueled through the stretch to record her third straight Assiniboia Downs stakes score in Saturday night s $30,000 Winnipeg Sun.

Front-running Britannia Road gave the odds-on Preservata all she could handle but had to settle for second money, two lengths ahead of Talkin Moneyhoney.

Polynesian Kitty and At First Glance rounded out the order of finish in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares.

Preservata, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred who is owned and trained by Clint Willson, returned $3.40 while remaining undefeated in five starts at Assiniboia Downs.

Posted 6/24/2009, 5:43 pm

The star of the four stakes races that will be run Wednesday is Spaghetti Mouse, who will join Teide in the Lieutenant Governors. The all-time leading money-winning B.C.-bred, with $868,911, Spaghetti Mouse has won the last three Lieutenant Governors.

Trainer Lenore Daponte is happy with the way he is coming up to the race. She was especially pleased with Spaghetti Mouse's five-furlong work in 59.60 seconds on June 21. Regular rider Pedro Alvarado was aboard for the move.

"He seems to be right on top of his game," Daponte said. "Pedro just breezed him, and he couldn't have done it any easier."

Spaghetti Mouse is coming off of a neck loss to Bank Emblem in the $51,000 John Longden on June 6. It was a big improvement over his initial start, where he set the pace before tiring to finish seventh in the George Royal Stakes.

"He really got a lot out of the Longden and he seems to have improved since then," Daponte said.

Spaghetti Mouse won four stakes races in 2008. In his loss to Bank Emblem, he earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure, which was his best figure since he finished second in the Grade 3 Premiers in 2006. It appears that Spaghetti Mouse, who turned 7 this year, hasn't lost a step and will once again be the horse to beat in the Lieutenant Governors.

Posted 5/29/2009, 2:25 pm

Entertainment name of the game at Hastings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Management is hopeful that Hastings will be the happening place to be in Vancouver on Friday nights. The first of 16 Friday evening cards goes this coming week and the marketing strategy employed by Hastings is clearly geared to a young audience.

There will be bands and DJs performing every Friday and also discounted prices for food and beverages.

"We want to make this the place to be," said Raj Mutti, the Hastings general manager. "We are seeing more and more young people at the track on Saturdays and Sundays and we hope the atmosphere we are going to create on Friday nights will make Hastings even more attractive for them."

Last year Hastings didn't start racing on Fridays until July 11, and it also ran the first few Friday cards during the day. The big difference between racing during the day and at night is that California bettors can wager into the Hastings card during the day. Quarter Horse associations control which out-of-town races are allowed into California during the evening, and for the most part Hastings is excluded.

Hastings will conduct an experiment of holding one race for bottom-level older horses going 3 1/2 furlongs. The reason for the Quarter Horse-like sprint is that Los Alamitos - a California track that runs races for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds - will take the race.

"We'll see how it goes," said Mutti. "At the least we'll get some exposure to a different crowd and that certainly can't hurt. Our main goal on Fridays is to grow the business here. We'll certainly miss not having California betting on our races, but the combination of racing and the casino should make this an exciting place to be. The long-term growth from running during the evenings should easily offset the drop in simulcast handle from California. We were pleased with how the how well the evening cards went last year and hopefully they will continue to grow in popularity."

Purses even with last year

The addition of 600 slots at Hastings this year has helped keep purses steady despite a drop-off in live wagering. The same can't be said for handle. The daily average is down roughly 14 percent in both ontrack handle and all sources wagering, Mutti said.

"Because of the economy we budgeted for a decline in wagering this year," said Mutti. "The increased revenue from the slots has made up for the decrease, so the purse account is in okay shape."

The total live handle is up marginally because Hastings started earlier this year and there have been two more racing days compared to the same period last year.

No training on Mondays

Beginning this Monday, Hastings will not be open for training on Mondays. It will be the first time horsemen in Vancouver haven't had the option of training their horses every day. Management cited cost cutting and the need to maintain the track at a high level over the summer as one of the reasons for the closure.

"Following a trend of North American racetracks, we are closing to track one day a week to give the track a breather from the 920 horses that train over it daily," said Paul Ryneveld, director of racing. "It will allow our track maintenance department a full day where they can really focus on preparing the track for the upcoming race week."

The general consensus among local trainers is that it is a bad move.

"I don't think they should be telling us how to train our horses," said Dino Condilenios. "I have a few horses that need to get some exercise every day and I still have a lot of young horses that need as much schooling as they can get. I haven't talked to one trainer that likes the idea."

Posted 5/22/2009, 6:47 pm

According to Mat Monaco, manager of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in Alberta, a meeting held Thursday evening at Northlands Park regarding the proposed one-mile track in Balzac, a suburb of Calgary, was emotional but orderly.

The reason horsemen are so emotional about the proposed track is that because of the delays in building it, there is no racing in southern Alberta this year. It's also possible there won't be a track running in the Calgary area in the near future.

The reason for the meeting was to hear how the plans for the track were progressing. Max Gibb made the presentation for the United Horsemen of Alberta, the group that is trying to build the track.

"Nothing definitive came out of the meeting," said Monaco. "To Max's credit, his group is very passionate about building the track. But they still have to raise money, and a lot of people aren't convinced they will be able to in the current economic environment."

Monaco also said that Horse Racing Alberta, which governs horse racing in the province, would review the group's financial plan and should decide whether to continue to support the project in 60 days.

Monaco said that Jim McFadyen, who is the president of the horseman's association and also chair of the licensing committee for Horse Racing Alberta, "said they are currently looking at the proposal to see if it's financially viable or not. Everyone wants it go through, but we need certainty in order to make plans for the future."

Building has begun on the proposed track, and at the meeting Gibb said that if everything fell into place they could be running by as early as 2010.

Posted 5/21/2009, 6:40 pm

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Anyone making a $2 win bet on the nine horses trainer Craig MacPherson ran over the three days of racing last weekend at Hastings would have grossed $40.70, for a net profit of $22.70. MacPherson won five races and moved up to third in the trainer standings with eight wins at the meet. Troy Taylor and Dino Condilenios are tied for the lead with nine wins apiece.

MacPherson is coming off a successful year in 2008, when he won 33 races at Hastings and four more in Alberta. Like a horse with ascending Beyer Speed Figures, MacPherson appears to be coming up to a peak performance. His total wins beginning in 2004 are 11, 18, 20, 30, and a career-best 37 last year. With 8 wins from his first 26 starters he is on pace to post a higher number this season.

"It's been a good start," said MacPherson. "Part of the reason is that I've had a few maidens that can run a bit and they ended up in the right spot. It's nice to have one of those weeks where everything goes right and it certainly makes up for some of the weeks when everything goes wrong. We'll take it when we can because it's a very competitive meet here."

MacPherson is looking forward to bringing a couple of his stars back to the track. Against the Sky, who was the champion older filly or mare in the province last year, and Arkhill, the 2008 Alberta Derby winner, have been taking it easy at Canmor Farms for the past few weeks.

Against the Sky ran a dull race to finish fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Brighouse Belles in her second start of the year. She didn't figure to win the sprint stakes, but MacPherson was expecting a better race. Against the Sky has never lost a race at 1 1/16 miles or longer and she figures to be a major player when she stretches out. MacPherson said she wouldn't be back in time for the 1 1/16-mile one Senate Appointee on June 7, however.

"I just wanted to give her a little break and let her regroup a bit," said MacPherson. "I want to get them both back to the races as soon as possible. One win by either of them counts for a quite a few of the others."

Arkhill hasn't raced since he won an allowance race at Hastings on Nov. 2. Arkhill followed up his Alberta Derby victory with a win in the Ky Alta Stakes at Northlands Park on July 12. He was the morning-line favorite for the Grade 3 Canadian Derby but was a late scratch when he was found to be colicky the morning of the race. MacPherson said he turned Arkhill out this year because of a problem behind.

"It seems like something to do with a muscle," said MacPherson. "Letting him stroll around on the farm should help him recover a bit faster than keeping him in here. He's been the biggest joy, but it's also been a bit frustrating. He usually fires his shot when we take him over there so we just have to be patient with him."

Arkhill won all three of his starts at 2 and the only time he has finished worse than second was in the Grade 3 B.C. Derby. It was a pretty gutsy fourth-place finish, however. Arkhill had been off for more than two months and had missed some training due to colic.

Posted 5/21/2009, 2:12 pm

Miss Missile, who was a champion 3-year-old filly in Manitoba last year after winning all four of her outings at Assiniboia Downs, should pick up where she left off in Sunday s $18,000 allowance feature at Assiniboia Downs.

The five-furlong dash, which attracted a field of five fillies and mares, will go as the seventh of eight races on the program and is a prep for the $30,000 La Verendrye, a six-furlong race that will be run June 10.

Miss Missile, a Kentucky-bred owned and trained by Charles Smith, won the six-furlong Chantilly, the one-mile Canada Day, the one-mile Assiniboia Oaks, and the 1 1/16-mile Jack Hardy in her Winnipeg appearances last season.

This March, Miss Missile was honored as the province s top 3-year-old filly by the Manitoba division of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. She also had been considered a leading candidate for horse of the year, but that honor went to older male Monsoon Rain.

Miss Missile returns to Canada with two 2009 starts under her belt, romping victories in sprint stakes at Fonner Park on Feb. 14 and May 2. She will be reunited with her local pilot Rohan Singh.

Polynesian Kitty also was an HBPA champion last season, as she won 3 of her 5 starts here for trainer Jamie Ness to get the nod in the older filly or mare category.

A Kentucky-bred 5-year-old owned by Bradley Butcher, Polynesian Kitty won the La Verendrye, the one-mile prep for the Winnipeg Sun, and the 1 1/16-mile Winnipeg Sun. Her only losses were a second-place finish to Miss Missile in the Canada Day and a fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Matron.

Trained now by Ardell Saylor, Polynesian Kitty has not seen action since the Sept. 20 Matron. Alan Cuthbertson, Assiniboia’s leading rider heading into Friday s program, regains the mount.

Rounding out the field are Britannia Road, Fast Actress and Gotadowatuwantmeto, all of whom will be making their first start of the season.

Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:45 AM

Equibase Co. reports that Canadian-based trainer Carl Norman Anderson won the 1,000th race of his career with Alacazar on May 20 at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Since 1977, Anderson has earned $4,071,007 in purses and has started 5,191 races with 959 wins, including 127 stakes wins.

His biggest win came with Deputy Country, who won the $65,000 Breeders’ Gold Cup Stakes at Assiniboia plus two other stakes wins.

Anderson won his first stakes race with Foncier in the 1979 $5,000 Marquis Downs Derby. He also worked with Albarino to win four stakes races, including the 2005 $40,000 Breeders’ Gold Cup Stakes.

Posted 5/13/2009, 1:50 pm

Three 2008 Manitoba champions will go postward in Friday's $18,000 feature for 3-year-olds and upward on the second day of the new season at Assiniboia Downs.

The Manitoba's Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association honored Monsoon Rain, top older male and horse of the year; Rock'n U S A, sprinter; and Mr Exspeedient, 3-year-old male.

They meet in Friday's five-furlong race, which is an allowance prep for the $30,000 Free Press, a six-furlong race that will be the first stakes for the division June 6.

Monsoon Rain, a 7-year-old gelding, put together a five-race Assiniboia win streak, including three stakes, before winding up his campaign on a down note at Woodbine. With trainer Martin Drexler having decamped to Ontario, Monsoon Rain now is trained by Chad Torevell and will have regular rider Carlos Marquez in the irons.

Rock'n U S A won his first five starts in Winnipeg, but was no match for Monsoon Rain when stretched out for his last two outings of the meeting. A 6-year-old gelding, Rock'n U S A is trained and partly owned by Tanya Lindsay. Three-time leading rider Alan Cuthbertson returns in the saddle.

Mr Exspeedient, a 4-year-old gelding owned and trained by Clint Willson, opened up his last campaign with a win at five furlongs and later captured the 1 1/16-mile Derby Trial. Tyrone Nelson regains the mount.

Monsoon Rain, Rock'n U S A, and Mr Exspeedient all are making their first start of the season and could be upstaged by newcomer Hurry Home Warren.

A 5-year-old gelding owned by John O'Meara and trained by Albert Blake, Hurry Home Warren showed a good turn of foot in several races for a $40,000 tag at Turfway Park this winter, the most recent coming on Jan. 3. Rocco Bowen picks up the mount.

* Last Sunday's opening-day card had an estimated crowd of more than 4,000 wagering $145,831 on the eight-race program. That figure represented an increase of 26 percent over the $115,290 wagered on last year's opening card.

Posted 11/3/2008, 5:56 pm

Live handle from all sources at Hastings in 2008 was almost identical to 2007. Total live handle this year was $49,716,774 compared with $49,724,506 in 2007.

There were three more days in 2008, which corresponds to a 4 percent drop in the daily average. The average daily handle in 2008 was $700,236 compared with $731,242 a year ago.

Ontrack business was off 7 percent, $16,647,925 compared with $17,893,203. The daily average of $234,479 was down 11 percent.

The daily purse distribution went up 20 percent from $92,234 in 2007 to $110,818 in 2008.

Mario Gutierrez repeated as the leading jockey with 103 wins. Stephanie Fedora was the leading apprentice with 40 wins.

Troy Taylor led the trainer standings for the second year in a row with 53 wins.

Hastings announced that the 2009 live season would open on April 18.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) opened a permanent gaming and entertainment facility, located in the grandstand of its Hastings Racecourse, on August 15, 2008. This approximately 42,000 square foot facility houses a sports and entertainment lounge, new food and beverage options, and a modern gaming floor featuring 600 slot machines. These machines replaced the 150 temporary units previously installed at the property.

Construction on non-gaming components of the facility will continue throughout 2009. GCGC had previously announced a budget of $40.0 million for this stage of Hastings’ development and anticipates that the cost of these renovations will remain within this projection.

“We’re very excited about opening Hastings,” stated Vincent Trudel, Great Canadian’s Chief Operating Officer. “This historic racetrack is a Vancouver landmark, and the installation of these brand new gaming offerings will allow it to offer its patrons a complete entertainment experience.”

Mr. Trudel added, “Hastings will experience a ramp-up period before these new gaming offerings reach maturity. This period may be longer than those typically associated with the introduction of new gaming products to a market, as Hastings could potentially experience continued disruption from ongoing construction. However, we’ve already begun to increase our marketing initiatives in an effort to accelerate this ramp-up period. We’re also pleased at the timing of this opening, which is sooner than originally projected. We will now have a full complement of slot machines in operation during the current live racing season.”

Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008

HEAVY HITTERS: Four major stake races highlight this holiday weekend at Hastings. On Saturday, Bob Cheema's 2007 Canadian Champion filly, Dancing Allstar, tries to get back her winning ways in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes. The co-feature has six fast sprinters including And All That Jazz, B.R. Remark, Bank Emblem, Seminole Brave, Fuhrever Dancing and Inuit Fisher competing in the $50,000 PNE Presidents Speed.

On Sunday, the best local three-year-olds begin prepping for the $250,000 B.C. Derby with a run in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial. Among the rivals are Krazy Koffee, who is coming off two straight stake victories, and Forest Prince, who beat older horses in his last race.

Monday sees one of the all-time local favourites Spaghetti Mouse race in the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate.

Posted 8/5/2008, 2:01 pm

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hometown hero Spaghetti Mouse became the all-time leading British Columbia-bred money-earner with a dramatic victory over Texas Wildcatter in the $107,894 British Columbia Cup Classic at Hastings on Monday. The Classic was the feature race on B.C. Cup Day, which included seven stakes races for British Columbia-bred or B.C.-owned horses.

With Pedro Alvarado aboard, Spaghetti Mouse broke sharply and then stalked an honest pace set by Winter Warning. Spaghetti Mouse, who carried high weight of 125 pounds, moved to the lead midway around the stretch turn. Turning for home, Alvarado moved Spaghetti Mouse out to the middle of the track to ward off Texas Wildcatter, who was making a strong move from off the pace. They raced head and head through the final eighth of a mile, with Spaghetti Mouse prevailing by a neck.

"He broke very sharply, and I had a lot of horse the whole way," said Alvarado. "I was just waiting for horses to come from behind before I was ready to make my move."

Trained by Lenore DaPonte, Spaghetti Mouse was sent off as the co-favorite with the fifth-place finisher, Zounds, and paid $5.10. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.01 over a fast track.

Favorites ruled the day. El Sinaloense, also ridden by Alvarado, set the tone with an easy six-length win in the $50,000 B. C. Cup Nursery, paying 2.80.

P.S. Good N Ready paid $3.30 for her win in the Debutante; Remarkable Miss ($2.90) cruised to a four-length win in the Dogwood; and Krazy Koffee paid $5 for his easy win in the Stellars Jay.

All That Jazz shook things up with a $38.60 mutuel in the Sprint, and Alpine Garden ($10.30) upset heavily favored Lady Raj in the Distaff.

Posted: Saturday, April 26, 2008

Horse racing and cool. They're like Kid Rock and Tommy Lee. Like Pamela Anderson and clothes. Like Toronto and the Stanley Cup.

The two just don't mix.

For some reason, however, coming out of the mouth of Hastings Racecourse general manager Raj Mutti, the words don't seem so odd.

This weekend marks the 27-year-old New Westminster native's first season opener as GM since he took over from Mike Mackey last November, but he's no stranger to the track. His first job came at 15, busing tables at the Silks restaurant and he's been on a meteoric rise ever since.

"Our big push the last three or four years is to make horse racing cool again," said Mutti, who graduated with honours from the Race Track Industry program at the University of Arizona before returning to Hastings as operations manager in 2004. "We want to bring it back on the sports spectacle, not just a gambling destination. Bringing it back into the marketplace and back on the sporting map as an actual cool place to go ... entertainment, but as a sports event as well."

Hastings has undertaken many new initiatives for the 2008 season, including an increase of stake purses to $2.7 million, the addition of a $50,000 Hastings Speed handicap to the stakes lineup and three more Friday race dates. Friday afternoon cards proved to be increasingly popular last season, especially with the business set.

"We're trying to play off the success of the Vancouver Canadians nooners at the Nat," said Mutti, an owner with a stable of nine horses.

There are nine Friday dates, five Monday matinees and a Tuesday date, with the balance of the 71 starts coming on Saturdays and Sundays this season. The B.C. Cup on Aug. 4 again highlights the province's richest racing day with over $450,000 in purses. Other key stakes races include the George Royal (May 3), John Longden 6,000 (June 7), Lt. Governor's (July 1), Hong Kong Jockey Club (Aug. 30) and B.C. Derby (Sept. 21).

Mutti has been an eyewitness to the good times and the bad. And after a steady decline over the last decade, he says there are reasons to be optimistic about the future.

"There's a real sense of optimism from horse people and owners who have seen some real progress over the last few years. There's been some challenges, but in a positive way because it's forced us to move forward as an industry."

Posted 3/19/2008, 5:46 pm

CALGARY, Alberta - The doors of Stampede Park, thought to be permanently shuttered for Thoroughbred racing at the conclusion of the spring meet last June, will swing open for another campaign Friday evening, the 118th year of racing on the grounds.

A new facility in nearby Balzac had been scheduled to replace Stampede Park as a Thoroughbred venue, but when that project fell behind schedule, Stampede was enlisted to host a 2008 spring meeting in a one-year contract negotiated last July.

The 50-day stand begins with a program of eight "half-milers" on Friday, with first post at 6 p.m. Four-furlong races will be the order of the day for the first two weekends of action.

Racing will be conducted on the usual four-day-per-week schedule, with 6 p.m. posts on Wednesday and Friday and 1 p.m. posts on weekends and the Victoria Day Monday holiday card. Next Wednesday is dark.

The stakes program remains unchanged from previous meets. There are 12 $50,000 stakes, including the two Sales Stakes that start the schedule on April 12. Closing weekend will feature the $125,000 Alberta Derby and the $75,000 Penny Ridge.

Although the stakes purses remain untouched, with the $50,000 level ensuring the races are eligible for black type, the overnight purses for the meet have been cut by 8 percent.

The terms of Stampede Park's one-year contract and declining slot revenues are cited as the primary reasons for the purse cut.

The 1,100 available stalls in the barn area are full, and favorable weather has resulted in lengthy work tabs.

Friday's seventh and featured race is a $32,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds. West Coast invader Call Me Tomorrow is the horse to beat, and Vancouver-based trainer Malcolm Beveridge has enlisted jockey Rickey Walcott, who captured his first Alberta title in 2007.

Posted 12/6/2007, 6:44 pm

Hastings in Vancouver, British Columbia, will offer $2.72 million in stakes purses for its 2008 meet, which is scheduled to begin April 26, and conclude Nov. 2.

A few minor changes were made from last year's stakes schedule. The $50,000 Hastings Speed at six furlongs on Aug. 30, is a new addition, and the $100,000 Premiers at 1 3/8 miles Oct. 12 has been changed from a handicap to an allowance stakes.

The first four stakes races of the meet, beginning with the $50,000 George Royal Stakes, have been shortened from 6 1/2 furlongs to six furlongs. The reason for the change is that Hastings began moving the starting gate for six-furlong races back about 60 feet last season, and it made the run to the first turn a lot fairer for horses breaking from outside post positions.

The Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Breeders' Cup Derby Sept. 21, is the richest and most important race at the meet.

British Columbia Cup Day on Aug. 4 features seven stakes worth a total of $400,000. The $100,000 B.C. Cup Classic headlines the card.

Other major races on the schedule include the Grade 3, $100,000 Lieutenant Governors on July 1; the Grade 3, $125,000 B.C. Breeders' Cup Oaks on Sept. 10; the Grade 3, $125,000 Ballerina Breeders' Cup Oct. 11; the $100,000 Fantasy Stakes on Oct. 25; and the $100,000 Ascot Graduation on Oct. 26.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Great Canadian Gaming Corp. didn't run any ads to say it would be opening its slot-machine lounge at Hastings Park Racecourse on Saturday morning. But there was still a lineup to get in, and the room was filled to capacity, according to company executive Howard Blank.

How did people find out? "That's a good question," said Blank, Great Canadian's vice-president of media and entertainment.

"Maybe it was friends at the track who told them. It was on the evening news, so they must have heard the news."

The Hastings Racecourse gambling room that opened Saturday is a temporary facility with 150 slot machines and an off-track betting parlour. But it will grow into the controversial $40-million remake of Hastings Racecourse, which will eventually include a casino with as many as 600 slots built beneath the track's grandstand.

Great Canadian's long-sought expansion of Hastings Racecourse has been subject of a court challenge by a community group opposed to putting slots into the facility.

The Hastings Park Conservancy is still appealing a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that rejected its argument that the City of Vancouver bylaw allowing slots at the track be quashed. The appeal hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2008.

Blank said Great Canadian Gaming, the owner of Hastings Racecourse, proceeded with plans at the site because the company isn't a party in the court action.

He said progress in completing the first phase at Hastings Racecourse was slow because the company needed to finalize an operator-services agreement with the B.C. Lottery Corp., as well as get a development permit and lease with the City of Vancouver.

"It was hard to do advanced marketing [of the Hastings Racecourse slots opening] when we weren't sure exactly when it would be open," Blank said.

However, he added that if the Hastings Conservancy's appeal succeeds, Great Canadian would "have to start back at the beginning, and the [temporary slots] facility may have to be closed."

In the meantime, a portion of revenue from the Hastings Racecourse slot machines will be shared with the horse-racing operations so that race purses can be increased, Blank said.

The overall plan calls for constructing a permanent casino beneath the grandstand, the addition of luxury skyboxes, new restaurants, meeting rooms and entertainment options, all which are to be complete within the next three years.

Blank said Great Canadian has plans to add 90 new slots at the Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino in Surrey, which already has 400 slot machines.

Great Canadian's shares declined 10 cents to close at $14.18 in trading Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Last week, Great Canadian Gaming reported a $12.6-million profit for its third quarter ending Sept. 30 on revenue of $103.2 million, compared with a $14.1-million loss on $100.2 million in revenue in the same quarter a year ago.

In its financial results, Great Canadian credited its three-per-cent rise in revenues to stronger results from its Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam and improved performance of racing operations, which offset revenue declines at its flagship River Rock property in Richmond and Nova Scotia casinos.

The company said the implementation of further operating and corporate expense efficiencies also helped results.

Posted 11/1/2007, 7:16 pm

Monashee arrived at Woodbine last week in good shape, but not before she gave her connections a scary moment. In what could have turned into a disaster, Monashee got loose on the tarmac at the Vancouver International Airport when she was being loaded on the plane that eventually took her to Toronto, said trainer Tracy McCarthy. Luckily for everyone involved, she ran only a few feet before she stopped. Chris Loseth, Monashee's exercise rider, was able to walk up to her and put a different halter on.

"She got scared when they went to load her onto the pallet," said McCarthy. "She threw a wreck, broke the halter, and ran onto the tarmac. She went about 15 feet before she stopped and then she let Chris get her. Can you imagine what would have happened if she kept going?"

Monashee has a reputation as being difficult to work with.

"This is who she is," said McCarthy. "She's settled in nicely here, though, and she seems to love the Polytrack."

Monashee, who has won 12 straight stakes races, all in Western Canada, is slated run in the $175,000 Maple Leaf Stakes Nov. 10. McCarthy plans on working her this weekend.

Most local awards wrapped up

Like Dancing Allstar, Monashee is a cinch to win local honors, for best filly or mare. If she wins the Maple Leaf, she would likely win the Sovereign Award as well.

In fact, most of the local categories offer clear choices.

True Metropolitan stands out in the older colt or gelding division and has a chance to repeat as the Sovereign Award winner.

Sir Gallovic beat True Metropolitan in the Grade 3 Premiers and should be an easy choice as the best 3-year-old in the province. California invader Celtic Dreamin, who won the B.C. Derby in his only start at Hastings, is the only other possibility.

B.C. Oaks winner Alpine Garden stands out in the 3-year-old filly division.

B R Remark should get the nod as the top sprinter by virtue of his win in the B.C. Cup Sprint. He also won all four of his sprints at Hastings this year.

The 2-year-old colt and gelding division is the only one that will be controversial.

Royal Hudson deserves consideration for his win in the Ascot Graduation, the only middle-distance stakes race for 2-year-olds. Desert Alf won the Jack Diamond Futurity and was an unlucky second in the Ascot. Star Prospector won three stakes, but they were all sprints, and he finished behind Royal Hudson and Desert Alf in the Ascot.

Take your pick.

Posted 9/27/2007, 6:31 pm

The handle at Assiniboia Downs made across-the-board gains at the 2007 meeting, which ended last Sunday.

Total handle for the 69-day season was $7,824,090, up 8 percent from $7,244,813 in 2006, with the average daily handle up to $113,393 from $104,578.

Ontrack wagering for the season increased 2 percent to $5,586,141 from $5,473,085, while offtrack wagering went up 26 percent, to $2,237,949 from $1,771,728.

Jockey Alan Cuthbertson became the first rider here since Chris Martin in 1995 to record 100 wins in a season. Cuthbertson finished the year with 106 wins from 434 mounts, well in front of Kirk Johnson (52), and Mark Anderson (47). It was the second consecutive riding title for the 60-year-old Cuthbertson.

Martin Drexler captured his first trainers title with 43 winners from 129 starters. Tom Gardipy Jr. was second with 35 while Ardell Sayler and Carl Anderson tied for third with 33 wins apiece.

Posted 9/3/2007, 7:34 pm

The Hastings stewards suspended jockey Pedro Alvarado indefinitely Monday pending an investigation into his actions during a bizarre incident before the start of the sixth race on Sunday.

As the horses were being loaded into the gate, Alvarado, who was aboard Louder, got off of his mount and exited the track through a gap in the outer fence that leads to where the track maintenance equipment is stored. It was not clear why Alvarado left the track or where he went, and he was taken off of his remaining mounts Sunday.

The stewards met with Alvarado Monday morning and ruled he will not be allowed to ride until the investigation is completed.

Neither the stewards nor management at Hastings would comment on the incident because of the ongoing investigation. Alvarado was not available for comment. His agent, Paul Mabbot, refused to discuss the incident.

Louder was scratched. Alvarado, the leading rider here for four of the last five years, is third in the standings this meet.

Posted 4/30/2007, 6:42 pm

Gary Demorest, a prominent trainer at Hastings, died Saturday of complications stemming from kidney failure. He was 54 and had been hospitalized near Vancouver, British Columbia.

According to Demorest's assistant, Ned Sams, Demorest was taken off of life support around 4:30 p.m. and died within a few hours. Demorest had been in a coma for more than a week.

"Doctors couldn't figure out exactly what was causing his kidneys to fail," Sams said. "His heart wasn't holding up to the stress, so they decided to take him off of life support."

A former jockey, Demorest was the leading trainer at Hastings in 2005 and third in last year's standings. He trained many stakes winners, including the 2005 British Columbia Derby winner, Spaghetti Mouse.

Demorest's primary clients were Nick and Pauline Felicella, who own Spaghetti Mouse.

"He not only was an excellent trainer," said Nick Felicella, "but he was also a great guy. He was always helping grooms and hotwalkers, or anyone in the backstretch that needed something. We're all very sad, and he will certainly be missed."

Horses trained by Demorest, Tango Mango and Restless Lady, won two races on Saturday.

Demorest is survived by his 8-year-old daughter, Sydney. Funeral services were pending, said Sams.

Additionally, at the aforementioned meeting, the governors of the HBPA of Canada voted unanimously to accept the invitation of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) to join that organization forthwith as an association member.

At the Board of Governors meeting which was held in Hot Springs, Arkansas on February 7, 2007, the following individuals were elected or appointed as officers of the HBPA of Canada for the remainder of 2007, for 2008, and for 2009:

• President – Mel Snow

• First Vice-President – Jim McJayden

• Second Vice-President – Sue Leslie

• Secretary-Treasurer – Bryant McAfee

Posted: 8/29/06

Larry Goulding, the chief clocker and official photographer at Hastings, died Monday of cancer. He was 49.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the George Royal Room at Hastings.

Born in Winnipeg, Goulding was raised in Southern California but moved to Vancouver in 1976 and took his first racetrack job as a groom for trainer Mel Snow. He later worked as an assistant to trainer Mike Drozdowski, and his charges included Barbex, a multiple stakes winner in the mid-1980's.

In 1986, Mr. Goulding left training to become the Hastings photographer and added clocking to his duties in 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Alison; a daughter, Brooke, age 9; a son, Brandon, age 2; two brothers, Randy Goulding, the Daily Racing Form's correspondent at Hastings, and Greg Goulding of Atlanta; and a half-sister, Rowena Lomley.

The HBPA of Canada confirmed that the following individuals will remain in the offices indicated below until the next election of officers takes place at the first Board of Directors meeting in 2007 or until they no longer qualify to be an officer of the Association pursuant to its bylaws:
President – Mel Snow
First Vice President – Conrad Cohen
Second Vice President – Don Danard
Secretary-Treasurer – Bryant McAfee

The HBPA of British Columbia recently completed its 2006 elections, and the following individuals will comprise the Board of Directors until 2009:
President – Mel Snow*
Owner Directors – Noel Roddick (Vice President)*,Ann Gregory, Debbie Peebles, Jeffrey Sengara, Jeannie Spence*
Trainer Directors – Harold Barroby (Vice President)*, Robert Anderson*, Rob Gilker*, Cindy Kresner*, and David Milburn*
*Incumbent

Posted: 8/26/2006 5:09:09 PM

Horse Racing Alberta announced Friday that there will be 111 days of live Thoroughbred racing in 2007.

Northlands Park in Edmonton will host 61 days of racing from June 22 to September 30.

Stampede Park in Calgary was awarded 50 days of Thoroughbred racing to run from April 11 to June 18 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. A new racing facility is currently being constructed near the airport in Calgary.

"This upcoming race season is a transition year from Stampede Park to the new racetrack currently being built in Calgary north and slated to open in 2008," said Dr. David C. Reid, chairman of Horse Racing Alberta. "I applaud the horsemen, racetrack management, and government for remaining supportive of our industry while exhibiting patience and support in this transitional race season." — M.C.

Posted: 6/7/06

CALGARY, Alberta - Shady Remark, the elder statesman of the backstretch here at Stampede Park, makes his 93rd career start on Friday evening in search of his 20th win. Shady Remark will face nine rivals in the fifth-race superfecta feature, a six-furlong sprint for $22,000 claimers, which is easily the best betting race on the card.

An 11-year-old gelding, Shady Remark has remained competitive in the upper claiming ranks at an age where most campaigners have either retired or hit the bottom claiming ranks. Not so for Shady Remark, who has ground out $429,689 with multiple stakes victories and was Alberta's champion 2-year-old colt back in 1997.

Stampede Park has never been Shady Remark's favorite course, with just two of his victories having come at the spring meet here, and he will be sent off as a longshot in his seasonal bow.

Fussy's Kid, coming off a win over similar here May 22, will be one of the horses to beat with Quincy Welch returning in the irons.

Dr Chiang Mai comes off a good effort in his seasonal bow. Trained by Robert Diordino, Dr Chiang Mai was claimed at Hastings last fall and made his first start here for Friday's price. Rickey Walcott takes over aboard Dr Chiang Mai.

Spiced Wine, dropping from a trio of races at the $30,000 level, could be hard to handle under returning rider Ron Blinston.

Light Blue and Ka Blui both step up from the $17,500 level after running one-two in a sprint here May 21.

Posted:5/25/06

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Bitterroot and Lebite each looks to go 2 for 2 at Assiniboia Downs in Saturday's featured sixth race, a third-level allowance with an optional claiming price of $20,000 at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Bitterroot took a first-level allowance in his first local start on May 13 with a strong front-end performance, and should be the dominant speed once again. Bitterroot is trained by Michael Pierce, who had won 8 of 24 races at the meet heading into this weekend, and ridden by Lenny Frazzitta Jr., who is also off to a good start at 7 of 38 going into the weekend. Together, Pierce and Frazzita were 4 for 8 in the early part of the season.

Lebite won a second-level allowance in his first start here on May 12. His connection are also off to a strong start, with trainer Sid Martin having won with 2 of his first 5 entrants at the meet and jockey Rohan Singh sitting at 8 for 45 heading into the weekend.

Trainer Carl Anderson, a winner with 10 of 31 starters at the meet, sends out Resurgent and Simply Regal.

Resurgent was a surprise winner in an open allowance to begin his season on May 7. A 4-year-old Manitoba-bred gelding, Resurgent has won 5 of 11 starts.

Simply Regal started four times last year, finishing second in the open Free Press and restricted Manitoba Maturity in his last two. He makes his first start of the year and has posted bullet works in all six of his drills.

Trainer Clay Brinson, who has started the season 3 for 7, sends out Plenty of Heat, who makes his first start here. He would probably prefer more distance.

The field rounds out with Silver Fury, who was well beaten by Resurgent in his seasonal debut.

* Nominations closed Wednesday for the $40,000 Golden Boy, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds to be run June 3. The nominees are Best and Bold, Dakota Long Legs, Flying Nine Oh, I Am That Is, I Tell U What, Mohawk Chief, N Y Butterfly, Only Royal, Pass the Bar, Paxton Ridge, Quick Witted, Thunderacchi, and Tiger Energy.

* Trainer Becky Welch won for the first time last Saturday with Rocky Royal ($10.90).

Posted: 5/24/06

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Marquis Downs kicks off its 2006 Thoroughbred season with 56 horses entered in seven races on Friday. That average field size of eight matches the average for the 2005 meeting, and race manager Rick Fior expects that trend to continue all season.

Stall applications this spring were about the same as last year, and a few horses are likely to arrive from Lethbridge, Assiniboia Downs, and Stampede Park as the summer progresses.

Not much has changed in regard to the meet's dates, as 30 days of racing have been scheduled from May 26 to Sept. 9. Racing will take place every Friday and Saturday beginning at 7 p.m., with no racing on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12.

The purse structure remains the same, with a $3,000 bottom purse, while basic purses for the stakes races remain at $6,000.

The $15,000 Saskatchewan Derby will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the closing night's card, while the meet's richest race, the $30,000 Prairie Lily Sales Stakes, goes a week earlier on Sept. 2. The purse for the Prairie Lily, restricted to graduates of the 2005 Saskatchewan yearling sale, was bumped up from $22,500.

The Aug. 19 card will feature four $10,000 Heritage Stakes for 2-year-old and 3-year-old Saskatchewan-breds.

Only 10 riders are here for opening day, but Rennie Latchman is expected from Trinidad soon and Danny Seesequasis is expected back from injury shortly. The present colony comprises last year's leading rider, Tim Moccasin, plus Serge Rocheleau, Haniff Emamalie, Duncan Gordon, Andy Scarlett, Sheldon Chickeness, Anderson Stephen, Niam Sameroo, Hector Rabbitskin and newcomer Kurt Ragbirsingh, also from Trinidad.

Last year's leading trainer, Don Bjarnarson, has Double Time set to go in the first race of the year, a four-furlong allowance.

All races carded for this weekend and the next will be run at the half-mile distance.

Posted: 5/8/2006 11:03:00 AM

Thoroughbred owner and breeder Steve Stavro and Jack McNiven, one of leading breeders of Standardbreds in Canada, have been nominated for election in the Builders' category of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Stavro and McNiven were two of 16 nominees put forward by the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Nominating Committees. Four Thoroughbreds—Bold Ruckus, Lauries Dancer, Peteski, and Wilderness Song—were nominated along with Standardbreds Armbro Feather, As Promised, Grandpa Jim, and Run The Table.

Others nominated included Thoroughbred trainers James Day and Glenn Magnusson, jockey Chris Loseth, and driver/trainers Doug Brown, Keith Clark, and Jacques Hebert. Nominees must receive at least 75% (12 of 16) of the votes cast by the 16 electors in the two breeds. This year's successful nominees will be announced on May 23.

Stavro, who passed away on April 24 at his Toronto home at the age of 78, owned six Canadian champions who earned his Knob Hill Stable eight Sovereign Awards. Two of them earned Horse of the Year titles—Benburb and Thornfield. Stavro captured more than 50 stakes victories during a career that began in the late 1960s. In 1992, he earned the accolades of the industry when he was named Canada's leading owner and breeder.

The Hall of Fame, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will hold its annual induction dinner on Thursday, August 24, at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Derry Road in Mississauga, Ontario.

Posted: 4/29/06

Gold Strike, the Sovereign Award winner as Canada's champion 3-year-old filly last year, added to her laurels on Friday night, taking home two honors at the Manitoba awards banquet at Assiniboia Downs.

The Manitoba awards are a two-pronged affair, with the province's Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society recognizing province-breds and breeding accomplishments and the local Horsemen's and Benevolent Association recognizing ontrack feats in 2005.

Gold Strike, winner of the Selene Stakes and Woodbine Oaks while based in Ontario with Reade Baker, was the CTHS horse of the year and top 3-year-old filly.

Albarino, a gelding owned and bred by Ross McKague, was a triple award winner. A winner of four Assiniboia Downs stakes last year as a 4-year-old, including the Gold Breeders' Cup, Albarino was the HBPA horse of the year and was named champion older male by both the HBPA and the CTHS.

McKague also was presented with the new Jockey Club of Canada Award, honoring the top regional owner.

King of Jazz, who finished second in Woodbine's Queen's Plate, was the recipient of the CTHS 3-year-old colt or gelding award, while Prime Time T.V., the Manitoba Derby winner, took home the corresponding HPBA honor.

Kimchi, who was based at Woodbine and finished second in the Princess Elizabeth, was the CTHS champion 2-year-old filly. Hey Hey Renee was the corresponding HBPA honoree.

Other CTHS honorees included Missing Fortune, 2-year-old male; Jazzy Express, older filly or mare; Alljazz, broodmare; Buie, stallion; and Stonyfield Farm, breeder.

Other HBPA equine award winners were Barnstorm, 2-year-old male; Cindy Embers, 3-year-old filly; Ericka's Lass, older filly or mare; Iwoodificould, sprinter; and Racey Casey, claimer.

The HBPA also honored Ardell Sayler as leading trainer, Clay Brinson as top percentage trainer, and Rohan Singh as top jockey.

Posted: 4/12/06

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It has been said that patience is a virtue, but when it comes to the situation at Hastings regarding slot machines, which were approved by the Vancouver City Council in 2004, patience is a necessity.

When the live season ended last November, management at Hastings was expecting that construction to make room for the slots would be under way in early 2006. The new design for the building was prominently displayed in the lobby, and both Hastings and members of the British Columbia racing industry were excited that slot revenue would help move the industry forward.

Well, it is mid-April, and as anyone here can plainly see, there is still no sign of the slots. It appears that until a lawsuit that was filed against the city of Vancouver by a local citizens group, the Hastings Conservancy, is settled, not much is going to happen regarding the slots.

Some city officials think the lawsuit is a frivolous claim of foul, but, nonetheless, they are treating it very seriously. The Hastings Conservancy claims that the city rushed the application through and then didn't follow its own guidelines when it approved the slots.

"It's kind of ironic, because I can't think of any other application that we spent more time on," said Brent McGregor, the deputy city manager. "We're confident we did everything right, and we're expecting a positive decision."

Hastings also has not finalized the lease and operating agreement for the facility from the city. Considering that many of the issues are likely contingent on slots, it is not surprising that the final document has not been signed.

"There really isn't anything standing in the way of an agreement," said McGregor. "Lawyers are making sure everything is correct, but that's about it."

There is certainly a different feel going into the live racing season in 2006 than in the last couple of years. While there were substantial purse increases in both 2004 and 2005, there will actually be less purse money available this season.

Part of the purse increases came from a $1.5 million interest-free loan to the purse pool from Great Canadian Casino, which owns and operates Hastings. It was hoped that by now slot revenue would be coming in and that the loan would be paid off and there would be further purse increases.

In an agreement with the local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Hastings opted to cut back the number of racing days instead of cutting purses.

Chuck Keeling, vice president of the racing division of Great Canadian, is taking a cautious approach to the 2006 season.

"We have seen great growth in the past couple of years, but until all of this is resolved, our goal is to try and hold our gains," he said.

If the court case is resolved favorably, Keeling's recommendation is that Great Canadian move quickly to put in the slots.

"It won't be easy to install them during the live season," he said. "But I've been through it before at Fraser Downs, and it can be done."

On a positive note, the first local teletheatre center opened a few weeks ago at River Rock Casino in Richmond.

"It's too early to tell, but I think there is some new money there," said Keeling.

No horse shortage

With the anticipation of slot revenue for purses, local owners have been busy purchasing horses over the past couple of years. The annual ritual of stall-wars was livelier than usual this spring, and clearly there are more horses on the grounds than in the recent past.

With the exception of Pretty Meadow, all of last year's local champions are back in training at Hastings, including the $646,009 earner and multiple stakes winner Lord Nelson, who will make his 2006 debut in the George Royal on Friday.

A couple of weeks ago the classy 9-year-old Lord Nelson gave his trainer, Dino Condilenios, a real scare.

"He hit the outside wall and then stumbled and fell," said Condilenios. "I thought he broke down, because when he fell he started stumbling around trying to get back up. My guess is that his exercise rider had choked him down too much and that he ran out of air. I had him thoroughly checked out, and he seems to be fine. He came back with an excellent work."

Rider back after long layoff

Jockey Mark Walker will ride Sindi's Success in the first race Friday, and it will be his first mount since 2000. Physical problems were the main reason he has been away since then.

"Right now I feel great, and I'm just thrilled to be back riding," Walker said.

According to Daily Racing Form statistics, Walker, 49, has won 1,845 races in his career.

Posted: 3/29/06

CALGARY, Alberta - It would not be opening weekend without an appearance by Tantoo, a 10-year-old mare who loves Stampede Park in the springtime.

On Friday, the Canadian Thoroughbred racing season begins at Stampede with a program of nine four-furlong dashes. The card attracted 80 horses, including Tantoo in the night's $23,500 allowance feature.

The 47-day Stampede Park meeting, which runs through June 18, offers 14 stakes worth a total of $700,000. The headliner, as always, is the $125,000 Alberta Derby on June 17.

Tantoo, a daughter of Well Decorated, has 12 victories at Stampede, all of them sprinting early in the year. On four occasions, she began her season with a victory in a four-furlong dash.

Remarkably, Tantoo has remained competitive at a high level despite her advanced age. She has won for several trainers over the course of a career that has produced 23 wins and earnings of $301,542.

Tantoo runs for Bar None Ranches on opening night. She was claimed for $22,000 by trainer Kelly Grieves in September.

Claiming Tantoo served two purposes. It gave Grieves a big shot to win a couple of races early with Tantoo, and Bar None Ranches, one of the largest breeders in western Canada, will retire the Alberta-bred mare to the broodmare ranks this year.

A rugged competitor in upper-level claiming and allowance ranks throughout her career, Tantoo gained black type last April when she finished second in the older fillies-and-mares division of the Sales Stakes here at her favorite course.

Tantoo drew post 5 in Friday's field of six older fillies and mares and comes in off a series of strong works, including two at five furlongs. Tantoo will be favored despite the presence of the entry of Banjo Babe and Certainly Regal.

Date Posted: 2/22/2006 4:54:48 PM Last Updated: 2/23/2006 12:54:23 PM

This year's BC Cup will runneth over with more than $400,000 in total purses as part of the 2006 stakes schedule at Hastings Racecourse.

"With every stakes race this season now offering a minimum purse of $50,000, we'll go over the $2.8 million mark," said Raj Mutti, director of operations. "BC Cup Day alone will result in purses of more than $400,000."

The traditional BC Cup card Aug. 7 is highlighted by the classic with a $75,000 purse for 3-year-olds and up that were bred in British Columbia or owned by a resident.

One of the richest weekends on this year's Hastings calendar begins with the $150,000 BC Breeders' Cup Oaks on Sept. 23, followed by the $250,000 BC Derby the next day.

Three major dates in October include the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity Oct. 1; the $150,000 Ballerina Breeders' Cup Oct. 14; and the $125,000 BC Premiers Oct. 15.

The 78-day Hastings Racecourse meet will begin with an April 14 matinee card at 1:25 p.m.

Visit www.hastingsracecourse.com for a complete schedule of 2006 stakes races at Hastings.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Date Posted: 12/8/2005 6:43:54 PM Last Updated: 12/8/2005 6:43:54 PM

Since common pool pari-mutuel wagering with Canada was introduced in the United States earlier this year, racetracks involved have seen significant gains in handle from Canada, according to Sean Pinsonneault, vice president of wagering operations for Woodbine Entertainment Group in Canada.

Pinsonneault joined a panel of representatives from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia Thursday in discussing international simulcasting issues at the annual Symposium on Racing and Gaming being held this week near Tucson.

Arlington Park in Illinois switched from separate pools to common pools during the middle of its meet this past summer and experienced a 21 % gain, good for an increase of $1.3 million, Pinsonneault said.

"Common pool wagering on a month-to-month basis has seen significant gains from July to November," he said. He reported a gain of $15.6 million, an increase of 42%.

Pinsonneault reported to date 12 states have approved common pool wagering with Canada -- Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

He said Florida, Arkansas, and California are next on the list for approval. Florida could open its doors to commingled pools with Canada by early January 2006, while Arkansas will introduce common pool wagering at its upcoming Oaklawn meet beginning Jan. 20. California could also offer common pools by early next year. In New Jersey, the matter is currently in the hands of the attorney general and legislative action may be required, Pinsonneault said.

Meadowlands is the only U.S. harness track in the United States that hasn't approved common pool wagering, and as a result has seen significant losses on its product, Pinsonneault said.

Under previous regulations, bettors in Canada were prohibited from wagering into U.S. pools. Congress passed an international tax bill in October 2004 that eliminated a 30% alien withholding tax, paving the way for Canadian tracks to bet directly into U.S. pools and increasing the potential for larger pools and higher payoffs.

Tracks must convert from gross-pool pricing, which is the standard used in the U.S., to net-pool pricing in order to have commingled pools. Net-pool pricing has been used in Canada since 1996.

"I think the common pooling aspect is very exciting for us," Pinsonneault said. "The globalization aspect I think is a great opportunity to be had here. It's not going to be easy for us. There are going to be changes that will be required. It's something we're all going to have to work hard for."

Copyright © 2005 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 11/17/2005

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings announced two major changes at the management level Tuesday, when Michael Mackey replaced Michael Brown as general manager, and Raj Mutti was promoted from marketing manager to director of operations.

Mackey, who is 65, has had extensive experience in horse racing. At the beginning of this year he was hired as a consultant by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Hastings. As well as holding racetrack managerial positions in Tampa Bay, Miami, Cleveland, and Denver, Mackey has been a racing secretary and was a key player in the building and managing of Great Lake Downs in western Michigan. Before coming to Hastings this year, he was the president of Intertrack Partners in Illinois.

Although Mackey has been named the general manager, he said that Mutti will be sharing that role with him.

"I came here with a one-year work permit, and this was going to be a short adventure," Mackey said. "Now it's turned into a little longer one. Part of my new role will be to groom Raj. I know he's been involved in most of what goes on here, particularly the racing side. We're going to work together, and hopefully he'll be in a position to take over on his own when the old fart can't do this any more. Actually, from what I've seen from working with him in this capacity for just one day, there's nothing on the management platter that couldn't be handled by him right now."

Mutti, 24, graduated from the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona in 2004, and he has also been a horse owner. One of the horses in whom he owns shares is Roscoe Pito, the 2003 local horse of the year. Mutti said he is looking forward to the challenge of his new position.

"I view this as a great opportunity to have a mentor like Michael," said Mutti. "My goal is to learn as much as I can from him, and I'm sure I'll grow from the experience."

Chuck Keeling, who oversees Great Canadian's racing interests, said he wasn't concerned that Mutti might not be ready for a senior management position at his young age.

"I was the same age when my father died and was thrown into the same role at Fraser Downs," he said. "Myself and other members of management at Great Canadian have noted Raj's potential, and we think he deserves this opportunity. He has a great passion for the industry and a tremendous work ethic. All the other stuff can be learned. I think he'll go a long way in this industry, but it's all up to him."

Fraser Downs is a harness track located in the suburbs of Vancouver. It was bought by Great Canadian last year.

Posted: 10/28/2005

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - At least one and possibly two divisional championships in the province were wrapped up last weekend.

Langara Lass solidified her spot as the top 3-year-old filly in the province with a comfortable 4 1/4-length win over Miss Me Not in the Fantasy Stakes Saturday. Regal Request staked his claim to the 2-year-old colts and geldings title with a front-running win in the Ascot Graduation Stakes Sunday.

For Langara Lass, it was a third stakes win at the meet, and she clearly stands heads and tails above the rest of the fillies at Hastings. She picked up $63,300 for her win, making her total earnings this year $115,543.

Langara Lass is trained by Dave Forster, who also trained the dam of Langara Lass, Capilano, who won the Fantasy in 1996.

Langara Lass has been turned out for the rest of the year. "She's had a good campaign and we'll bring her back next year," Forster said. "I think she'll make a classy 3-year-old."

There was little drama in the Fantasy. Langara Lass stalked the early leaders and when her rider, Chad Hoverson, kicked her into gear at the quarter pole, it was only a question of by how much she would win.

On the other hand, Regal Request had his trainer, Allan Jack, worried about the outcome from the time the horses left the gate.

Regal Request, with David Wilson aboard, went right to the front and opened up a clear lead. When Mighty Cahill and Yoodaman took a run at him at the three-eighths pole, Jack was concerned that Regal Request might resort to some of his old bad habits.

"I thought he was going to pull himself up," said Jack. "He's done it before, and the way they came up to him so fast I thought he was stopping. But Davie said he had lots of horse and he just kept yelling at him the whole way.

"He [Wilson] was pretty tired after the race, but he said it was because of all the yelling he did. You just can't use a whip on this horse or he'll prop."

Jack said Regal Request is done for the year. He earned $74,235 for the win, which brought his earnings for the year to $138,615. It was his third straight win but his first in a stakes. He finished second by a nose in the New Westminster and third in the B.C. Cup Nursery. Both of those races were won by Lukin Awesome, and it might be tough to separate the two when voters decide who will be the local 2-year-old champ. A strong point in Regal Request's favor is his stakes win came at a route and, usually, the Ascot winner receives special attention.

Regal Request hasn't been the only project for Jack this year. When Frankie's Knight won his debut in a maiden special weight race in May, Jack thought he might have a potential B.C. Derby candidate.

But Frankie's Knight has started only once since, finishing third in a $50,000 optional race Oct. 2. Jack will try stretching him out in Sunday's eighth race, an allowance for 3-year-olds that haven't won a stakes this year.

"I certainly had derby on my mind with him from day one," said Jack. "But he developed quarter cracks, and it's been a real struggle to get him back to the races."

Jack would have liked to get more than one race into Frankie's Knight before the stretch-out, but he flipped at the gate and was scratched when he brought him back for a start in early September.

"That was another setback," said Jack. "I'm pretty sure he'll be a good horse going a route, and he's certainly bred for it. He's giving away a lot of experience in Sunday's race, and I'm not really sure if he's ready for this or not. He certainly has the talent, though."

* A final hurdle for slots at Hastings seemingly was passed when the City of Vancouver's Development Permit Board approved its application for slots at a meeting last Monday. The board added some amendments to the application, however, and management at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Hastings, is mulling over the additions. Construction of the slots floor could begin in November, with slots up and running as early as April.

Date Posted: 9/24/2005 4:35:50 PM Last Updated: 9/24/2005 6:00:34 PM

The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of British Columbia, working with Hastings Racecourse, will donate the equivalent of one full day's purse distribution during "Racing to the Rescue" on Oct. 1 in support of the ongoing relief efforts to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Representing local racehorse owners and trainers, the HBPA contribution will result in an estimated $50,000 going to the fund.

In addition, Hastings Racecourse will contribute up to $10,000, as well as proceeds of a 50/50 draw held on Oct. 1.

Copyright © 2005 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 11/2/2004 3:50:00 PM ET

An extensive licensing review process culminated on October 29 with Horse Racing Alberta granting the United Horsemen of Alberta a ten-year license to operate a racetrack in the Calgary area.

The license is valid from 2007 until '17, with the goal to begin live racing in April '07. A state-of-the-art racing complex that will cost approximately $70-million is expected to be completed by January 2007.

The horsemen, who outbid Stampede Park for the license, must still obtain a development permit in the municipal district of Rocky View, and be granted a gaming permit from the province, according to the Edmonton Sun.

"The awarding of a long-term racetrack license in the Calgary market adopts the recommendations resulting from Industry Working Committee Report [June 2001] that ensures the industry continues to grow and prosper in Alberta," said Dr. David C. Reid, chairman of Horse Racing Alberta. "This decision represents a detailed process and will benefit the sport and the province of Alberta. The economic impact of horse racing in the province in 2003 was $240,560,995 and we know that this announcement will positively contribute to our economic growth in the future. This is great news for Calgary."

United Horsemen of Alberta is 50% owned by horsemen in the province.

"The partnership has the combined skills and experience needed to operate a world-class comprehensive racetrack and entertainment destination," said Max Gibb, chief executive officer of United Horsemen of Alberta.

By a one vote margin on July 22, 2004, the Vancouver, British Columbia, City Council voted in favor of allowing slot machines at Hastings Racecourse. While there are many issues yet to be dealt with, it is expected that 600 machines will be installed by mid-2005 and that next year’s purses will increase significantly, depending upon the date that the machines are up and running.

Date Posted: 7/23/2004 4:22:26 PM Last Updated: 7/23/2004 4:22:26 PM

Hastings Park will be permitted to install 600 slot machines in the wake of a 6-5 vote by the Vancouver City Council July 22. Mayor Larry Campbell, who provided the deciding vote, said it was about saving jobs in the community.

"It means the preservation of jobs, it means the future viability of the racecourse and the Thoroughbred industry in British Columbia," Bruno Wall, a director with track owner Hastings Entertainment, told the Province of Vancouver.

The Hastings Park proposal has room for another 300 slots should the council approve, the newspaper reported. The machines are expected to bring in about $100 million a year, with the track to receive a 25% cut. The city will get $6.5 million, and the British Columbia Lottery Corp. about $70 million.

Earlier this year, Fraser Downs, a Standardbred track in nearby Surrey, won approval for slots. About 200 machines are now operating in a temporary facility, with a permanent casino set to open in the spring of 2005.

Copyright © 2004 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, through one of its subsidiaries 686486 BC Ltd., completed its purchase of Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a $20.1 million deal on Thursday. Great Canadian indicated an interest in the racetrack almost immediately after Woodbine Entertainment Group put it on the market in late February.

The purchase involves Great Canadian paying WEG $8.9 for its ownership share of Hastings Entertainment Inc. (HEI), $4 million to reduce existing debt, and assumption of $7.2 in additional liabilities. With the purchase, Great Canadian also acquires licenses to open seven teletheaters in the Vancouver metropolitan area.

In connection with the deal, Wall Financial Group has agreed to acquire a 40% interest in HEI. Brothers Peter Wall, CEO, and Bruno Wall, president, head up Wall Financial, a real estate and development company based in British Columbia. Peter Wall has raced a number of stakes winners and continues to be supportive of the Thoroughbred industry. The Walls' involvement is subject to approval by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of British Columbia.

Great Canadian currently operates seven casinos in British Columbia and four in Washington state. When the company's interest in Hastings was announced, spokesman Howard Blank said, "we want to bring the prestige and the fun back to racing. We've seen a lot of the improvements Woodbine did, and we just want to carry that on. We're committed to the staff and management, they're going to stay in place, and we're just going to facilitate them."

Still in the works is a request made last year to the Vancouver City Council to consider installation of slot machines at the racetrack. That could be revisited as early as June. At the same time, the Hastings Park/PNE project is underway, which allows for public commentary on that measure and other plans for the facility, which is part of a larger exhibition grounds.

Copyright © 2004 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Woodbine Entertainment Group has entered into an agreement to sell its ownership interests in Hastings Park to a subsidiary of the British Columbia-based company Great Canadian Gaming Corp. Inc. The sale of Hastings Entertainment Inc., initiated after Woodbine Entertainment’s dissatisfaction over a failure by local governments to bring expanded gaming to Vancouver, will be made to 686486 BC Ltd., a subsidiary of Great Canadian Gaming.

The sale is subject to regulatory approval from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Government of British Columbia and will close on April 8. Terms were not disclosed.

"Great Canadian is a formidable British Columbia-based gaming and entertainment company, which is well positioned to enhance the prospects of the horse racing business in the lower mainland," said Woodbine Entertainment Chairman David Willmot. "The combination of strong [Hastings Entertainment] management and a committed Thoroughbred racing industry with this new ownership structure will allow the Vancouver racing market to realize its full potential."

Great Canadian Gaming expressed interest in purchasing Hastings in late February immediately after Woodbine announced its intent to sell. Great Canadian Gaming is the largest casino operator in British Columbia, operating six gaming facilities in the province located within greater Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

Woodbine Entertainment, through its subsidiary Hastings Entertainment Inc., purchased the assets of Hastings Park from the Pacific Racing Association on May 1, 2002. Woodbine said in a statement that since the purchase, "declining trends have been reversed and wagering and attendance levels" at the track have increased.

Hastings will open its Thoroughbred meeting on April 17 and race on weekends and occasional holidays through November 28.

A coalition opposed to allowing casino-style gaming at Hastings Park plans to present a proposal to the Vancouver, British Columbia, City Council for a new downtown casino.

Hastings, owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, would collect revenue from the casino for five years and, in return, build a new track with gaming machines outside the city, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reports. The council is expected to hold a public hearing on the issue in January.

Hastings Chief Executive Officer Phil Heard said he has no intention of moving the track outside Vancouver. In July, the council overturned a ban against slot machines and agreed to consider allowing as many as 900 at Hastings.

At its annual meeting and board of directors meeting, which were held in Cleveland during the National HBPA’s summer convention, the HBPA of Canada returned Mel Snow as its president for the next three years.

Mel, who operates a public stable at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has been involved in Thoroughbred racing for 46 years. He has raced at several tracks in Canada and the United States. He is married to Fran, and they have two adult children.

The main focus of the HBPA of Canada meetings was on the split sample issue. Conrad Cohen, a vice president from the HBPA of Ontario and a prominent member of the National HBPA Medication Committee, presented his “Draft National HBPA Proposed Split Sample at Source Policy and Procedures” paper, which, subject to minor modifications, was adopted as the HBPA of Canada’s official position on the split sample issue.

Larry Regan, a past president of the HBPA of Canada and the retiring president of the HBPA of Ontario, was elected as the HBPA of Canada’s first Honorary Life Governor.

At a Vancouver City Council committee meeting held on July 31, 2003, approval was given to advance to the public process the matter of the installation of slot machines at Hastings Racecourse. Assuming that the matter survives the public process, slot machines are expected to be operational at the track by July of 2004.

Following its June 2003 elections and subsequent board of directors meeting, the following individuals were installed as directors and officers of the HBPA of British Columbia for a three-year period:

Elected directors: Mel Snow – President (elected by acclamation), Peter Ellickson – Vice President (owner category), Harold Barroby – Vice President (trainer category), Robert Anderson, Rob Gilker, Cindy Krasner, Fred Kwan, David Milburn, Noel Roddick, Jeannie Spence, and K. K. Sangara.

Appointed officer: Bryant McAfee – Secretary Treasurer.

The city council of Vancouver, British Columbia, has voted in favor of examining the installation of slot machines at Hastings Park. Vancouver banned slot machines at casinos in 1997, but if the council were to vote the machines in following the investigation, then the provincial government could also vote to allow the machines at racetracks.

The council decided to examine expanded gaming after Mario Lee, of the city’s social planning department, pointed out that other provinces allow slot machines at racetrack and that the horseracing industry in Alberta and Ontario have been revitalized as a result the machines.

Phil Heard, president of Hastings Entertainment, a subsidiary of Woodbine Entertainment Group, which operates Hastings Park, said in a letter of Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell that "the approval of slot machines would save over 800 jobs that currently exist at Hastings Racecouse, potentially adding another 450," the Vancouver Sun reports.