Alberta invader, baby for Kaufman, hard to keep a Goodman away and more

WELCOME VISITOR:...Jack Beelby is a man of his word.

Back in June there was doubt that a fall/winter harness racing meet would be held at Edmonton's Northland Park.

"In June Edmonton had not made any announcement (about dates)," Beelby explained this week between trips around the Meadow Creek training track. "We came here and talked to Corky (Jarvis, boss man at the training centre) and made arrangements to come here and also made arrangements to get a spot at Hazelmere campground. Even after Edmonton decided to have some dates we weren't about to change plans."

So it means another veteran trainer from Alberta has joined the fray at Fraser Downs.

Beelby, who has been in harness racing for 30 years, has brought 10 horses to stable at the Creek training centre and at least three will be in action this weekend.

"I have 10 head, six racing and four yearlings," he said.

The six are: Lucky Fever, Headlines, Rodeo Royce, Paythegypsy, Denver Lace and Just in Dreams.

"Some will be in conditioned races," he said, "but some are claimers. Lucky Fever has raced in the invite but he probably shouldn't be there. Most are solid, higher-end claimers."

The Beelby name is well known in standardbred racing circles. Downs patrons already know trainer/driver Brent who races for Robert Murphy's Red Star Stable. Brent is just one of three sons in the business. (Actually son Todd has just left to try his hand in the general insurance business after years of training in Alberta). Third son Clark is a busy trainer in Ontario.

Jack, who calls Winfield, Alta. (near Red Deer) home but who admits he does a lot of travelling with his horses, says he is happy to be at Fraser Downs and hopes the patrons "like to see a new face."

Wife Jackie, who is a parade marshal (outrider or pick-up rider) in Alberta, is at the Creek now but will be returning to Alberta for the meets there.

Jack, meanwhile, says "I'll probably go back in the spring but we haven't set any dates."

TERRY LOVES TIARA....The bright light emanating recently from the Downs barn area was the flashing toothy grin of trainer/driver Terry Kaufman.

The biggest reason for his big smile was the birth on Oct. 31 (Halloween) of daughter Tiara.

The eight-pound, three-ounce baby was born at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Arch Hospital to Kaufman's partner (and fellow Downs trainer Ann Cooper). Mother and baby are doing fine. Tiara is a little sister for Rebecca.

Kaufman was already smiling because Cabo Girl, his latest aquisition for owner and brother Robb, won the fillies and mares open the previous Friday. Cabo Girl is a five-year old mare by Falcon Seelster out of Cool Charm Girl N, who races often and well. As this was written she had made 40 starts in 2001, winning eight times (second seven and third nine times) with more than $42,000 in earnings.

"It's the most money I've ever spent and already she has come up large," Kaufman said.

Kaufman was also happy with other horses in his care: One No Trump and T K Domi, the latter entered in the Breeders Stakes eliminations. He also thought Chestico Beauty would start winning soon and a day later she did.

HE'S BACK....It's obviously Stakes time, Bill Davis lurks. Davis led all drivers and trainers last weekend when elimination legs of the B.C. Breeders Classic were held. Davis had four driving and three training wins each day. The meet's leading driver Tim Brown had five wins and Dave McKellar had three . . . Brown has 33 for the meet, Dave Hudon 17 and Davis, who leads in percentage, 15. Davis has 12 wins as a trainer, the same as Wayne Isbister.

NOTABLE SCORE....One of, if not the, top performances of the races last weekend was the 1:57 mile win by Bradner Notable (Safe N Rich-Flippin Falcon). The clocking was a new lifetime mark for the nine-year-old gelding owned and trained by Rick Lancaster . . . Recently-arrived Alberta challenger Hot Steam (Albatross-Brets Halo) won the winners over race in 1:56.4 and Millbanks Award (Legal Notice-Natalie Almahurst) captured the fillies and mares open in 1:58.

HARD TO KEEP A GOODMAN -- AWAY....Wayne Goodman, a former race horse owner who has been away from the game for awhile, is back in. Goodman of Coldstream on Vancouver Island, recently claimed Jay Tee Lucas for trainer Tim Brown.

GUEST ANALYSTS....Fraser Downs is hoping to continue with a feature started last week. The Downs will attempt to have one "guest analyst" for one or two races a day with announcer Rick Uppal. Last week it was trainer Craig Senay. The guest will likely be any trainer or driver that is available.

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