NICE HOLIDAY: Bobby Clark continued to find driving
on the Fraser Downs track to his liking. Clark who has
joined the Downs fray from idle Alberta picked up five
wins last weekend, second to leader Bill Davis who had
six. Clark is also second to Davis for the month of
January. Dave Hudon and Jim Marino each had three
victories last weekend. On the trainer side Davis led with
four while Greg Beneen, Wayne Isbister, Erik Neyhart and
Hudon had two each.
FEMALE FRENZY: One of the more popular events of
the Fraser Downs meet takes place next Sunday (Feb. 9)
with Ladies Day.
In addition to major prizes, female guests at the Downs
will be treated to free makeovers, surprise sweetheart
chocolates, wine tasting, the fireman's dash and much
more. Contests available to be entered include ones for
two romantic stays at the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham,
a one-night layover at the Ramada Hotel in Surrey, gift
baskets from Unique Knacks in Cloverdale and a chance to
be Miss Valentine.
Miss Valentine will get to be the guest of the Downs for
the Miss Valentine Stakes on Feb. 14. The prize includes
free parking, a dinner for four, programs, a ride in the
starting car and a souvenir photo of the Miss Valentine
Stakes presentation.
GROOMS GET REWARDED: Seven winners shared the
wealth after last weekend's Groom's Challenge at Fraser
Downs. A total of $1,000 was distributed among grooms of
winning horses on the weekend. The winners included Laurie
Davis with Red Star Apache from the Bill Davis barn,
Stafford Bracey with Mattsolut from the Wayne Isbister
barn, Lisa Gabinet with Go Play Outside from the Davis
barn, Dave Hudon Jr. with Penny Lace from the Dave Hudon
barn, Leah Smith with True To The Game from the Isbister
barn, Cathy Bilyk with Red Star Admiral from the Davis
barn and Scott Thompson with Tahuya Charlotte from the
Erik Neyhart barn.
A tip of the Downs helmet also to Downs GM Chuck Keeling,
director of racing Keith Quinlan and BCSA head honcho Tim
Larsen for taking part in the highly amusing challenge.
The trio took on groom's chores and raced through stall
cleaning, horse watering and leg wrapping in three shed
rows. Quinlan claimed victory although all got trophies
for all the sh** that flew.
In addition to the challenge there was a pancake breakfast
and a dinner dance. The Winners Foundation, the BCSA,
BCSBS and ORL jointly presented Grooms Appreciation Days
at the Downs.
PATRONS BENEFIT: Fraser Downs has announced that
the takeout rate at U.S. tracks will go down one per cent
on the wagering on exactors. The money (the one per cent)
will remain in the pool and be paid out to winning wagers
by patrons.
Also, the Downs has announced that the triactor pool tried
as an experiment will continue to be added to the last
race. That means there will be an exactor, a tri and a
superfecta on the last race. A number of requests by Downs
patrons has led to the addition of the tri with the hope
that it will not majorly hurt the superfecta.
