HorseRacing Central December 17, 2010
EDITOR’S NOTE: This being our final Horse Racing Central of 2010, it was suggested by our vast editorial staff that a special Christmas greeting would be appropriate. With apologies to all concerned, here is our holiday offering:
Twas the Week Before Christmas
Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the track
Not a creature was stirring, nary a trainer named Tak.
The horseshoes were hung in the stables with care,
In hopes that all owners soon would be there.
The fillies and mares were all snug in their stalls,
With visions of stallions at their beck and calls.
When out at the paddock there arose such a clatter
The grooming staff ran to see what was the matter.
It must be St. Nick, or was it Joe Gray?
The answer came in a most funny way
When the voice shouted out, so loudly & clear
For all backstretch workers to sit up and hear;
“Now Pedro! Now Richard! Now Mario & Ryan!
Give it your best; let us know you’re still tryin’
To the top of the stretch right to the final call
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!’
Beyond the Skybox, high up on the roof
There was prancing & pawing by each little hoof.
And as Jovial Joe drove out of sight
You could hear him saying: “To All a Good Night!”
We checked on The Downs out Cloverdale way
To hear what McScrooge – Jackson Wittup – might say.
The pacers were quiet, not making a sound
No drivers in sight, not one to be found.
The feed bags were hung by their stalls with care
Hoping St. Nicholas soon would be there.
“Whoa, just a bit” Ed Hensley then said
“If you listen closely, you can hear his sled.”
Just then Dave Hudon came into sight
And he, too, was saying: “To All a Good Night”
2010 AWARDS DINNER RECIPIENTS
Two-time stake winners in 2010 were in the spotlight as Horse of the Year and BC Bred Horse of the Year, both trained by David Forster.
Senor Rojo, owned by Tres Hombres and winner of the Sir Winston Churchill and BC Premiers, was named Horse of the Year. Wind Storm, owned by George Gilbert and winner of the BC Cup Distaff and Derby Bar & Grill Ladies Express, took the honours as BC Bred Horse of the Year.
Other winners included: Almost Time, Champion Sprinter and Older Males BC Bred, Swift Thoroughbreds (owner), Dino Condilenios (trainer); Senor Rojo, Older Males Open (Tres Hombres; David Forster); Summer Song, Older Fillies & Mares Open (Todd/Kinsella; Troy Taylor); Wind Storm, Older Filles & Maries BC Bred (George Gilbert; David Forster); Majesticality, 3-Year-Old Male, BC Bred & Open (Mr. & Mrs. R.J. Bennett; Barbara Heads); Dearest Princess, 3-Year-Old Fillies BC Bred & Open (RJT Thoroughbreds; Mel Snow); Outoftheclouds, 2-Year-Old Male BC Bred & Open (Totally Unstable; Mel Snow); Victory With Class, 2-Year-Old Fillies, BC Bred & Open (Doug Clyde; Terry Clyde & Mike Anderson).
Hall of Fame inductees included Dancewithavixen and trainer Troy Taylor while individual awards went to Richard Hamel, Leading Rider; Ryan Pacheco, Leading Apprentice Jockey; Troy Taylor, Leading Trainer; Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella, Leading Owners; David Dahl, Diamond Award of Excellence; Gord Rumble, Backstretch Award; R.J. & Lois Bennett, Leading Breeders; Classadala, Champion Broodmare; Vying Victor, Champion Sire; Storm Victory, Champion Sire for 2-Year-Olds; Helen Klimes & Sharon Marie Pring, Marsh and McLennan trophy for 2010 Jack Diamond Futurity winner Outoftheclouds; Ron & Karen Bidniak, Equine Insurance trophy for 2010 Sadie Diamond Futurity winner Victory With Class. Top Claimer Awards went to Classic Alley Kat (under $15,000) and Great Prince (over $15,000).
Hastings Racecourse & Slots would like to thank the HBPA and CTHS for an outstanding job in presenting the 2010 Thoroughbred Industry Awards Dinner.
OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD
Simulcasting from California (Hollywood and Golden Gate) comes to an end this Sunday December 19th. The state is dark until December 26th (Boxing Day) when Santa Anita opens their winter\spring annual meet. It will open with a new surface, as “The Great Race Place” has gone back to conventional dirt as the surface for the meet. By doing so Santa Anita has attracted new trainers with this change as well as increased purses. Golden Gate will remain with a synthetic surface. Super High 5 wagering will be available on the Santa Anita meet.
Another of the marquee meets will get underway on January 5 as Gulfstream swings into action. They will race 5 days a week Wednesday to Sunday at 9:55 and on Holiday Mondays in the US.
Fraser Downs also swings back into action on Boxing Day with either a 13 or 14 race card. Entries will be drawn on Tuesday for the Sunday card. Races 6 – 9 will feature a guaranteed Win 4 pool of $10,000 presented by BCLC.
