BC Racebook Newsletter - August 23, 2022
Come Join Us for Ribfest at Fraser Downs! It’s opening day of fall season 2022.
Tickets include $10 Free play for live racing, a rack of ribs, a beer & accompaniments.
163rd Queen’s Plate Handicapping Contest at Fraser Downs on Sunday, August 21st.
Antonio Reyes & Riley Noble share a moment with Infinite Patience
Bailey on the Backstretch
By Bailey Williams
NHL super star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and sensational five-year-old mare Infinite Patience have a lot more in common than might meet the eye.
Like all extreme athletes, they must have a very strong team behind the scenes to reach the levels of success each has been experiencing.
With Ryan and co-owners Bill & Noi DeCoursey enjoying the journey with Infinite Patience under the guidance of trainer Barbara Heads and regular rider Antonio Reyes, enough cannot be said about the support staff working in the background.
With Infinite Patience winning her second consecutive Northlands Distaff this past weekend at Century Mile, it extended her win streak to eight in a row to make it 13 career victories.
Now, about that back-up team. Daily workouts for Infinite Patience are left to veteran exercise rider Sean Evans, who has his hands full these days. “The first round is for me, the second is for her,” Sean explains as the easiest way to please the always-focussed mare.
When the morning workouts are done, the barn becomes quieter and it is time for the aftercare a pristine equine athlete deserves. That’s when Riley Noble enters the picture. He is a 2020 Olds College Groom School graduate who struggled upon graduation to find the barn that was the right long-term best fit for him.
Opportunity knocked for Riley when he moved from his Alberta home to work for the legendary racing couple Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Bennett on their farm in Kelowna last winter. His move to Hastings last year was in recognition of his dedication in caring for some of Barb Heads’ top horses.
Riley says he has found his purpose through his passion and thirst for more knowledge. He is determined to pursue galloping duties, continuing to expand his ponying experience.
Just as his “win” photo collection continues to grow, so does his enthusiasm for the sport.
Antonio Reyes rides SKY FACTOR to victory in opening race at Hastings Monday August 22. (Photo by Michael Bye)
RECORD-SETTING INFINITE PATIENCE
A ‘POSSIBLE’ STARTER FOR DELTA COLLEEN
AS PART OF HASTINGS’ HUGE SEPT. 10 CARD
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
Fingers crossed.
In the aftermath of yet another fascinating performance this past weekend by Infinite Patience – this time at Century Mile in Edmonton –there’s a good chance the 5-year-old BC-bred mare will be making another appearance at Hastings Racecourse as early as September 10.
“We’re looking at the Delta Colleen on BC Derby Day,” says Bill DeCoursey, breeder and co-owner of Infinite Patience. “We’ll see what shape she’s in when she returns.”
DeCoursey, his hockey-playing partner Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Hastings leading trainer Barbara Heads will be comparing notes to determine what’s next for their prized possession. Having Infinite Patience run in the $50,000 Delta Colleen Stakes on September 10 would be the ultimate topping for the richest and most celebrated card on the local thoroughbred racing calendar.
It features the 75th running of the $125,000 Grade 3 BC Derby for 3-year-olds and 57th running of the $75,000 BC Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Both are returning to Hastings Racecourse after two-year absences due to the Covid pandemic. The Delta Colleen for 3-year-olds & up fillies and mares and $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate for 3-year-olds & up co-headline BC Derby Day.
Infinite Patience extended her win streak to eight straight with a record-setting time of 1.33.65 last Saturday in the $100,000 Northlands Distaff under the guidance of regular rider Antonio Reyes. It was her second consecutive Distaff victory as part of Canadian Derby Day at Century Mile.
The Heads-Reyes combo scored two wins in Edmonton with At Attention winning the $100,000 Century Mile Handicap. At Attention was bred in BC by owners Bryan and Carol Anderson.
Dave Bennington
Both Infinite Patience and At Attention are graduates of the CTHS-BC Yearling & Mixed Sale. This year’s Sale is set for Thursday, September 8 at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley with the preview parade on Wednesday, both beginning at 3 p.m.
As part of this past Monday’s card at Hastings featuring four CTHS-BC Sales Stakes, there was a Memorial race in honour of the late Dave Bennington, former President, Vice President and Finance Chair of CTHS-BC. Mr. Bennington peacefully passed on April 23 of this year at the age of 81 with family at his side following a battle with cancer.
A long-time owner and breeder of thoroughbreds in both BC and Ontario, he grew up in the Cowichan Valley and watched his grandfather clearing land with a team of horses on the five-acre family farm in Duncan on Vancouver Island. Dave and his son Mike had been partners in Shamrock Racing Stables in Surrey for the past 20 years.
Fellow CTHS-BC Board members Dairen Edwards, Ralph Jesiak, Paul Caravetta and Regional General Manager B-J Davidson were guest decorators Monday in memory of Mr. Bennington.
