HorseRacing Central October 1, 2010

LIVE RACING RETURNS TO FRASER DOWNS TONIGHT

With the Friday Night Live schedule having been completed at Hastings Racecourse for 2010, the spotlight shifts to Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino with the opening of the standardbred season tonight with an 11-race card starting at 7:00 p.m.

Drivers will be wearing their colours for an autograph and photo session in the Atrium from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. and two pairs of Vancouver Canucks suite tickets for their NHL season opener Oct. 9 will be drawn for at approximately 8:30 p.m.

An Open challenge with an international flare is Friday’s feature event. It’s a five-horse field in race 2 on the card with Indiana invader Reserve Forces trained by Ed Hensley, California product At Last (Debra McCarthy), Timberline Court from Edmonton (Gerry Hudon) as well as local entries Cash Account (Carl Sibiga) and KG Explorer (Rene Goulet).

Hensley returns to Fraser Downs after another successful stint on the U.S. circuit, particularly in Indiana. Last year Hensley rocked the local standardbred scene by winning both the top driver and top trainer awards by wide margins. His 159 driving wins resulted in purse earnings of $865,466 and his 118 training wins added $859,492 in purse earnings.

With more than 250 horses that have qualified to race on the grounds, Fraser Downs Director of Racing Jackson Wittup says he senses “good, positive signs” for the coming season.

There are 25 confirmed race dates at Fraser Downs running through October to December with the 2011 dates forthcoming. Only two Saturday night cards are on the 2010 schedule: tomorrow (Oct. 2) and Oct. 9. The rest are Friday nights and Sunday afternoons (1:15 p.m.) with the exception being Thursday, Nov. 11 – the traditional Remembrance Day card featuring BC Classic Day at 1:15 p.m.

FANS LOVED THE BACKSTRETCH OPEN HOUSE

Jim Vinnell, president of Harness Racing BC, was raving about last week’s Backstretch Open House at Fraser Downs for track employees and invited guests. “We had a fantastic turnout; the people left knowing exactly what goes on behind the scenes.”

Harness Racing BC is the amalgamation of the former BC Standardbred Association (BCSA) and BC Standardbred Breeders Society (BCSBS).

ABBOTSFORD HEAT OFFER HOCKEY TICKETS

At the end of each month during the hockey season one lucky patron at Fraser Downs will be the recipient of a 4-pack of Abbotsford Heat American Hockey League tickets, as well as a Heat “swag bag”. Harness racing fans can simply fill out a special “Harness The Heat” ballot during their regular visits and watch for the special draws at the end of each month.

FIVE RACING DATES REMAIN AT HASTINGS

With the solid success of last weekend’s BC Oaks and BC Derby at Hastings Racecourse, General Manager Raj Mutti’s mandate is to continue the level of excitement and momentum throughout the final five race dates on the 2010 schedule.

“Our goal is to finish on a positive note and get set up for 2011 with an enthusiastic attitude,” Mutti says.

Live racing at Hastings resumes Saturday and Sunday with consecutive seven race cards, both beginning at the regular start time of 1:40 p.m.

On Sunday the Coast Casino Handicapping qualifying tournament takes place at Hastings and second entries are now available by registering at the HPI Centre located in the Racebook or by phoning 604.216.5271. Eventual winners will head for the Coast Casino Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas next February.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND MARKS ENDS OF THE SEASON

The 2010 Hastings season concludes with a three-day bang the holiday weekend of Oct. 9, 10 and 11 with four major stake races and an ‘Ultimate Sports Weekend’ prize package to be drawn for on Thanksgiving Monday.

It includes tickets to the Vancouver Giants vs. Seattle Thunderbirds game on Oct. 15; the BC Lions game against Edmonton on Oct. 16 and the Vancouver Canucks vs. Carolina on Oct. 17. Dinner in the Eclipse Lounge on the Hastings slots floor is included on all three nights, as well as transportation to and from each game.

Guests can enter with a ballot from the live racing programs Oct. 9-10-11 and the draw will take place at approximately 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

There are several stakes on the calendar this weekend as horses take another step towards the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs Nov. 5-6.

Belmont starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with five graded stakes beginning with Race 6. They also have a $500,000 guaranteed Pick 4 that runs from races 7 thru 10. The first leg goes at 12:59 p.m. and Race 10 is the Jockey Club Gold Cup (2:48 p.m.)

Oak Tree at Hollywood on Saturday features four Grade 1 races, including the Norfolk, Lady’s Secret, Yellow Ribbon and Goodwood. All of these have $250,000 purses with the undefeated Zenyatta going for consecutive win number 19 in the Lady’s Secret.

Sunday fans can look for four races from France on the HPI wagering menu, including the Prix de 1’ Arc de Triomphe from Longchamp Racecourse. The first of these races goes at 6:20 a.m. Pacific. Due to the early starts, they won’t be carried at any local simulcast site but can be seen on HPI.