BC Racebook Newsletter - July 17, 2024
Russ and Lois Bennett
“Don’t Mistake Luck for Genius”
by Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
When Russ and Lois Bennett were inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in the summer of 2007 at the posh Mississauga Convention Centre, they were introduced as ‘the Royal Couple of British Columbia’s racing industry’. It was the ultimate compliment.
The Bennett’s fortress was their Flying Horse Farm in Westbank on the shores of Okanagan Lake where they dominated the leading breeders’ list in BC dating back to 1982.
Known to his multitude of friends and colleagues as simply “RJ”, Mr. Bennett passed away peacefully July 4, 2024 at the age of 94 with Lois, his wife of 63 years, at his side. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the Springfield Funeral Home in Kelowna.
“RJ’s contribution to racing and breeding throughout our province is unlikely to be equalled, either in longevity or impact,” said HBPA BC president David Milburn. “We express our condolences to his remarkable wife, Lois, his family and to all his many friends who knew him not just as an owner and breeder, but as an extraordinary man devoted to the horses that have served us all so well at Hastings and across Canada for many, many years.”
If there was one horse the Bennetts produced that gave them their greatest thrill it would probably be Travelling Victor. That was the colt they bred that made history in 1983 winning Horse of the Year honours in Canada as well as a Sovereign Award in the Older Horse category. It was the same year RJ and Lois won a Sovereign Award as Breeders of the Year and in 2016 they received the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit.
Through the years they produced over 50 stakes winners. Mr. Bennett once took me aside in the winner’s circle and said: “Jamie Demetrick hauls our horses for us from Westbank and they all go to Barbara. She makes the decisions from there.”
That would be ‘Barbara’ as in Barbara Anderson Heads. leading trainer at Hastings in 2021 and again in 2023. She was inducted into the BC Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.
Mr. Bennett no doubt had his exceptional thoroughbred racing family in mind when he came up with one of his favourite sayings: “Don’t mistake luck for genius.”
Yet Another Honour for Glen Todd
Another longtime advocate for the BC thoroughbred racing industry, the late Glen Todd, officially joins the Builders category in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame at the Mississauga Convention Centre 2024 Induction Gala on August 7.
Todd was a breeder, owner and trainer for 50 years. He raced and bred under the name North American Thoroughbred Horse Company and was named co-winner of the Sovereign Award as Canada’s Outstanding Owner in 2011.
Todd passed away on March 27, 2022. One of his most cherished accomplishments was mentoring 16-year-old jockey Mario Gutierrez at Hastings and being at his side all the way to sensational victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2012. Mario fell short of becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years when his horse I’ll Have Another was scratched due tendonitis issues the day before the Belmont Stakes.
Gutierrez won a second Kentucky Derby aboard Nyquist in 2016 and frequently returned to ride at Hastings in an expression of love and respect for Glen Todd, the man who unselfishly set his career in motion.
Bailey on the Backstretch
by Bailey Williams
There isn’t a more sizzling Stakes race trio this season at Hastings Racecourse than the combination of owner Peter Redekop, trainer Barbara Anderson Heads and jockey Amadeo Perez.
BC-breds Avana and August Rain have continued their exceptional forms taking both ends of the 3-year-old Stakes divisions this season as they gear up with some intense training for the August 5 BC Cup Day and September 14 BC Derby and Oaks.
As has been duly noted so many times in the past, the Heads barn puts in an abundance of extra effort and time to keep these equine athletes at the top of their game. You can find Barb and her crew at Hastings into the late afternoon almost any day of the week.
It’s a crew that includes Barb’s nephew, Taylor Anderson, who comes from a long line of successful trainers in the family, namely his father Mike and uncle Robert. Taylor’s statistics as a trainer from 2012 thru 2017 was an impressive 17 per cent win average.
This previous experience has definitely contributed to his current leadership role within the Barbara Anderson Heads team.
Another key addition has been veteran exercise rider Cenek Kottnauer. Making his return to the saddle this spring after a two-year recovery from a serious injury, Cenek has played a vital role in Avana’s daily exercise, as well as helping others within the barn.
The Anderson clan has always subscribed to the theory that when you have the right roster to back your knowledge, success is no accident.
2024 Canada Day Best Dressed Contest Winners
Congrats to the 2024 Best Dressed Contest Winners! Their outfit with the nice hats well represented a symbol of horse racing and Canada Day. They've won a box seat, $100 voucher and Canada Day basket.
Thanks to all patrons for joining the contest. Best Dressed Contest will be back next year!
