Classic headlines harness season
Surrey, August 28, 2002 -- Fraser Downs plans
plenty of action — on and off the track — throughout the
2002-2003 harness racing meet with the highlight again to be
Breeders Classic Day. The 86-day meet will open Sept. 6 with
the scheduled get-away day on April 25.
Despite the loss of some driver/trainer/owners and some
top horses — Fast Lane Cruizin and Samantha Square in
particular — the Downs promises top-flight racing.
Still on hand are driver/trainers Tim Brown, Jim Burke,
Dave Hudon, Rick White, Rod Therres, Jim Marino, etc. and
trainers Wayne Isbister, Ken Dorman, Rene Goulet, Greg
Beneen and many more.
Top B.C. competitors Bill Davis, Dave Jungquist, Sten
Ericsson, Scott Knight and Carl Sibiga are expected back
soon from Alberta and Ontario.
Downs general manager Chuck Keeling remains upbeat
despite ongoing battles to make the B.C. scene competitive
with the rest of the country.
“The biggest accomplishment this past year has been the
establishment of a year-round racing circuit in this
province between Fraser Downs and Sandown Park,” Keeling
said. “It is certainly our desire to continue this trend
well into next year.
"If so, the big winners will be our horsemen and
horsewomen, who will no longer have to rely on racing
elsewhere to race year-round, and our race fans.”
Keeling did indicate local racing continues to plead its
case — the need for a level playing field with Ontario and
Alberta in particular — with the provincial government.
“We are somewhat concerned that our provincial government
refuses to grant us the opportunity to compete with other
racing jurisdictions,” he said. “Obviously, this market
holds untold potential for horse racing if that were to ever
occur. In the meantime, we are putting the final touches on
the facility and our marketing plans in anticipation of the
upcoming meet.”
Which brings us back to Breeders Classic Day set for
Saturday, Nov. 9 when a powerful card of racing will be
topped by the Breeders Stakes.
The semi main events will be the Stakes races for
two-year-old fillies and their colt and gelding counterparts
which will carry purses of $45,000. The main events will be
the comparable races for the three-year-olds but this time
they will be after the winner’s share of $100,000.
There will be Stakes consolation races, a pair of open
events and some top claiming races as part of the day.
Broadway Time heads sophomore colts division
Early excitement on the three-year-old colt side is
Heather Sifert and Carl Sibiga’s Broadway Time who is
expected to return as favourite from Ontario and Alberta
campaigning.
Top trainer Bill Davis will return from Alberta with
owner Robert Murphy’s Red Star Camelot. Some others are El
Rosal, Brother Brass, Just Invincible, Quarter Crack and
Millbanks PI.
Papas Reflection leads the sophomore fillies
Dave Hudon’s Papas Reflection and Rod Therres’ Dal Reo
Damsel have shared most of the Stakes wins on the
three-year-old filly side and will be top contenders again
while Murphy may bring Red Star Veronica in from Ontario.
The Downs also has tentatively scheduled another Western
Challenge Weekend drivers challenge. Last year’s highly
popular inaugural event included three drivers from Ontario
and three from Alberta taking on three Downs favourites for
the championship belt.
The WCW, employing the same format, is planned for some
time in February. “We’d like to get similar representation
from Ontario (specifically Mike Saftic to defend his
“belt”), as well as Alberta,” Keeling said. “However, I’m
going to go to work again on Ed Hensley — former Downs
driver/trainer now campaigning in California — as a ‘guest
star’ for the B.C. team.”
As well, Keeling is working on two other drivers’
challenges, involving two drivers in separate competitions.
“I can’t reveal specifics right now, but the potential is
very exciting because it would be a first time for both.”
Some of the bigger promotion days at the Downs include:
- the Keno Mystery Color Coupon Nights in September
- Breeders Crown harness racing from Woodbine on Oct. 19
- Breeders Cup World Championship simulcast on Oct. 26
- Celebration of the Standardbred Art Show and Sale
(Nov. 8-10)
- Surrey (Chamber of Commerce) Cup on Nov. 29
- Ladies Day, Feb. 9
- Cloverdale Chamber and Business Improvement
Association Day At The Races (Miss Cloverdale Stake),
March 14
- Men’s Day, March 15.
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