Maritimes connection competes
at the Downs
An interesting sidelight to last weekend's driver story
was a guest appearance at Fraser Downs by Bernard
McCallum, a regular driver/trainer at Truro in Nova
Scotia. McCallum drove for brothers Dave and Wendell
Smith, who are regular trainers at the Downs.
"He's an old friend here for a visit with his wife and my
brother and his wife," Dave explained, "actually he's more
like a member of our family. He came to live with us for a
awhile when he was young and mom and dad helped raise
him."
Those who know the Smiths already are aware that they had
a very large family while growing up in Hunter River,
P.E.I. Many are active in harness racing around North
America.
Dave Smith admitted before the races last weekend that he
was really hoping for a win from She's Drop, a
four-year-old mare bred in P.E.I., who McCallum was down
to drive.
"The owner (Fred Lamont) is originally from French River,
P.E.I., I'm from Hunter River and Bernard's from Truro. It
would be a nice Maritimes connection."
She's Drop tried hard and came close Sunday, finishing
second.
BROWN TOPS WITH SEVEN:
Tim Brown had two wins Monday to lead the driver stats
from last weekend's four cards with seven triumphs. Bill
Davis had six while Dave Hudon, Jim Burke and Rick White
had four each. Hudon has 33 for the meet, two ahead of
Brown.
Davis led all trainers with
four for a total of 17, one behind leader Wayne Isbister.
Andy Arsenault, still sidelined from driving by the
injuries he suffered at the Sandown meet, got his first
victory as a trainer while newcomers Bobby Clark, from
Alberta, had two wins and Jim Jeffers, from Saskatchewan,
had one.
CISCO HEADS TO U.S.:
Fraser Downs has lost one of its young driver/trainers
with 22-year-old Scott Cisco moving back to his Rancho
Cordova home in California. Cisco, known affectionately
among his peers as The Cisco Kid, first came to the Downs
more than two years ago as an assistant to Serge Masse of
Edmonton. Cisco stayed and worked for various trainers and
owners at the Downs. But now he will give California a
try, adding that he could be back.
MISTER WILL N IGA HORSE OF MONTH: Mister Will N is
the IGA MarketPlace Horse of the Month for
September/October. The five year-old New Zealand-bred
gelding, a son of Motu Mister Smooth out of Willsee, had
five straight wins and a third through the first two
months of the meet.
Even more impressive was that Mister Will N, who is owned,
trained and driven by Terry Kaufman, moved from the $4,000
claimer ranks to $10,000 while getting the five wins in a
row. The third came in $15,000 claimer ranks. His last win
on Oct. 19 was done in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.2
The horse-of-the-month is now selected by patrons of
Fraser Downs with entries available at the track. Entrants
are also eligible for a discount on grocery purchases at
the Cloverdale IGA MarketPlace store on Highway 10.
NOT REALLY SUPER: The addition of a triactor to
last Saturday's fifth race superfecta did not spur on a
wave of additional wagering. Downs general manager Chuck
Keeling reported that $8,500 was bet on the tri and $8,500
on the super but $17,000 was bet on the last-race super
alone.
"We will try it again but just on Stakes races for now,"
Keeling said as he also added that wagering on Saturday's
big Classic Day was down 20 to 25 per cent.
LARRY LIKES FIVE GRAND:
Larry Robinson was the man with the big smile at Fraser
Downs Saturday, winning the coveted $5,000 mystery
voucher. Robinson, of Delta, a once-a-week regular at the
Downs, made a bet on the 10th and final race and between
the issuing of his ticket and the return of his betting
voucher, out popped the major prize of the day. The Downs
promotion had vouchers from $5 to the top prize available
up to a total of $25,000.
Robinson, when asked right after his win if he wanted to
bet more on the last race now that he had an extra $5,000,
he replied with a big grin, "Yeah, as a matter of fact I
do."
MCGOWAN BEST IN ART
COMPETITION: Eleanor McGowan of Surrey was the winner
of the top prize in the annual Fraser Downs/Arts Council
of Surrey Celebration of Standardbred Art competition held
last weekend.
McGowan's acrylic entitled Dark Horse, Coming won her
$600. The second prize of $300 went to Dennis Roberts of
Langley for his water colour, Pony Express and the third
prize of $100 went to Karen Cook of Langley for her pen
and ink entitled Late Entry.
Eileen Gratland, president of the Arts Council and Chuck
Keeling, general manager of the Downs, presented the
winners with their prizes.
ALBERTA TRACKS GET CONTRACT: Following an extensive
RFP (request for proposal) process, Horse Racing Alberta
announced on Nov. 7 contract extensions for the two A
tracks in the province, Stampede Park in Calgary and
Edmonton Northlands.
Northlands was offered a 10 year extension, providing the
track meet certain criteria to the satisfaction of HRA.
This long term contract addresses one of the many issues
HRA was asked to resolve when they were established last
Spring. Previously the track contracts were only for one
or two years.
However, there will be no long term racing contract
awarded in the Calgary area for some time. HRA extended
Stampede Park's racing licence for one year, through to
the end of 2003.
HRA had received numerous proposals from parties
interested in conducting racing in Calgary however they
felt that none of the groups met the minimum standards
established by the industry to warrant the awarding of a
long term contract. HRA intends to request that proposals
be reworked and resubmitted.
SALE SET FOR MONDAY: The annual B.C. Standardbred
Breeders Society yearling sale is set for Monday at the
Agriplex. Ninety-five yearlings (48 fillies) will be up
for sale in the event which gets under way at 6:30 p.m.
Once again Bill Pambrun, president of the BCSBS, made the
trek to Pennsylvania where he attended the huge
Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg. He purchased four
broodmares which will be up for bid at the BCSBS sale
along with the yearlings. Pambrun bought Larkspur Blue
Chips, an On The Road Again mare in foal to Magical Mike;
Glory Ironstone, a Matts Scooter mare in foal to Pacific
Fella; Light The Fuse, a Falcon Seelster mare in foal to
No Nukes and Keystone Corinne, a Big Towner mare in foal
to Shady Character.
The BCSBS will hold a raffle at the Sale. For $20 a person
gets a ticket good for a chance to win a $3,500 credit
(transferable) towards the purchase of a yearling. Only
200 tickets were to be sold and the draw will be made at
6:15 p.m.
