BC Racebook Newsletter - August 11, 2023
Crowds Gathered Early and Stayed Late on BC Cup Day. Photo Michael Bye.
BC CUP DAY A THROWBACK
TO THE ‘GOOD OLD DAYS’ AT HASTINGS
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
Long before bugler John Korsrud was blasting his first call to the post Monday afternoon at Hastings Racecourse there was a feeling in the air that something special was about to erupt.
And it did. PNE parking lots were filling up, limousines of various shapes and sizes were arriving steadily and foot traffic was flowing from every direction.
The 2023 edition of BC Cup Day when primarily British Columbia-bred thoroughbreds partake in six $50,000 Stakes races, suddenly became a throwback to those glorious days of the past.
A season-high all-sources wagering handle just shy of $1 million - $988,864 – was recorded with the completion of the featured $50,000 BC Cup Classic. That is when the afternoon’s celebrations in the winner’s circle reached a crescendo for good reason. It was won by six-year-old gelding At Attention, owned by Dr. Bryan and Carol Anderson who have been the top breeders in BC for many years.
As racing writer Randy Goulding pointed out in his weekly Hastings Hoofbeats column in The Province, Dr. Anderson and Bobby Jawl created the BC Cup concept in 1995.
Seven of the eight winning horses on BC Cup Day were bred in British Columbia with a remarkable lineup of BC Racing Hall of Fame jockeys and former BC Cup winning riders making appearances as Guest Decorators. The presence of legendary Richard Hamel, Chris Loseth, Chad Hoverson, Frank Fuentes and Dave Wilson absolutely thrilled long-time racing fans.
It was a festival-like atmosphere that grew throughout the day. Emotions hit a high with the escorted arrival of lovable Pauline Felicella to the winner’s circle following Sunbird’s victory in the $50,000 BC Cup Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial.
Sunbird, owned by Pauline and the Estate of husband Nick, won under former leading Hastings’ jockey Enrique Gonzalez who is now the leading rider at Century Mile in Edmonton. Trainer Terry Jordan has indicated Sunbird will be going to the $200,000 Canadian Derby, second leg of the Western Canadian Triple Crown on August 26 at Century Mile with the final chapter at Hastings on BC Derby Saturday, September 16.
Lizzie’s Rayne with Amadeo Perez in the irons sets BC Cup Day off with a bang. Photo Michael Bye .
BAILEY ON THE BACKSTRETCH
By Bailey Williams
What better way for BC Cup Day to launch on the August 7 Holiday Monday than to have fond memories of the late Richard Yates return to Hastings Racecourse.
Mr. Yates was an owner, breeder and trainer for almost three decades and served as secretary-treasurer for the Canadian and BC Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Associations. He was the guiding light in creating Hastings Racing Clubs 1 & 2.
Following his sudden passing on March 22, 2019, Renfrew Racing was created in honour of Mr. Yates in partnership with B and B Racing, Breen Racing, Eugene Chan, Dave Milburn and a few relatively new owners.
You can imagine what a thrill it was for the members when they achieved their first Stakes victory in the opening race BC Cup Day, the $50,000 Debutante for two-year-fillies
Lizzie’s Rayne was ridden to victory by Amadeo Perez, trained by Milburn and assistant Lisa Balson. The three-year-old daughter of Lent was bred in BC by Suzanne Anderson. Lizzie’s Rayne took command of the field at the head of the stretch and continued to widen her winning margin by four lengths.
Mark Freeman, the guiding force behind Renfrew Racing who helped to organize all of the partnerships, plays a pivotal role in continuing to advocate for horse racing in BC. Mark has spent countless mornings under the guidance of several trainers to continue to build his horsemanship and the craft of being a trainer.
It was a big, big day for Renfrew Racing when Freeman the trainee joyfully cheered on Matsqui to a huge second-place finish ($17.60) in the BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club for three-year-old fillies behind odds-on favourite Air Force.
While the Renfrew Racing connections remain new the industry, successful days on the big stage at Hastings with locally-bred horses makes it all worthwhile.
WESTERN CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN 2023
HORSEPOWER 4 HORSEPOWER
at the track
(In Support of Danny Virtue Foundation)
