BC Racebook Newsletter - March 14, 2023
Horses and their drivers cruise around the track at Fraser Downs in Cloverdale March 8 as they train for their weekly races. The spring racing season has been running for a few weeks now and Harness Racing B.C. president Kelly MacMillan said things are off to a “terrific start.” (Photo: Malin Jordan)
Harness racing at Fraser Downs off to ‘terrific start’
Harness racing’s spring season is off to a great start at Cloverdale’s Fraser Downs.
According to Kelly MacMillan, the new president of Harness Racing B.C., the first five weeks of the season have been successful and the next eight weeks look promising.
“We’re just getting rolling,” MacMillan said. “Things have been really good. We’ve had a terrific start. The racing has been great and the handle’s up by about 45 per cent over the previous couple of years.”
The “handle” is the total amount of money bet both online and at the track.
MacMillan said the handle for the March 3 standardbred races was the biggest it’s been since 2018. That nine-race Friday night card totaled more than $324,000 for both at the track and simulcast betting.
MacMillan said Elements Casino has also reintroduced Friday night dinners in the homestretch grandstand and it’s proven to be very popular.
“The Friday night crowds have been anywhere from just about full to completely full,” he added. “Lots of new faces and lots of good action at the races. So it’s been really well received by the local crowd.”
MacMillan said several months ago, both standardbred and thoroughbred racing bodies in B.C. gave a wider mandate to B.C. Racebook to help grow interest in the sport.
“B.C. Racebook used to be in control of just marketing our online action in the racebooks around the province,” explained MacMillan. “Less than a year ago we also asked them to start promoting live racing for us.”
Since then he said B.C. Racebook has done a lot of things to help the sport on “both ends,” which includes spectator side and horsemen side. He said horse racing in B.C. is now on an uptick.
“Matthew Ruhlman and his team at the racebook have really put a lot of things in place that have been invaluable,” MacMillan added. “Considering we’re still dealing with some post-COVID stuff, and a very tight budget, we’re really happy with the team he’s assembled and the work they’ve been doing. And we’re going to see a bunch of big things happening going forward.”
Ruhlman, the CEO of B.C. Racebook, is handling both in-person and online race promotion.
MacMillan said they’re currently focusing on promoting their product and getting out to more venues in Canada, the U.S., and the world.
He said he expects to see “big things” from the stadardbreds at Fraser Downs this year and from the thoroughbreds at Hastings.
“We’re really going to see standardbreds shine this year and what we can actually do with our product when we get back in September (for the fall race season) and I’m just over the moon about it.”
He said the horsemen at Fraser Downs are continuing to “put their heads down and keep at it” even though it’s been a tough go recently with limited funds.
“That is the biggest factor that will take us forward. Their dedication and resilience.”
The spring season runs for eight more weeks at Fraser Downs with closing day May 5. The fall season will open Sept. 14.
(Surrey Now Leader - Mar. 10, 2023 3:03 p.m.)
Thoroughbred Awards Dinner a “Huge, family gathering”
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
What better way to launch the 2023 thoroughbred racing season at Hastings Racecourse than to stage a full-blown dinner party just prior to opening day?
First race to launch the 2023 schedule at Hastings is set for 2 p.m., Sunday, April 30. Four nights earlier – Wednesday, April 26 – the industry celebrates its 2022 BC Thoroughbred Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Inductions at the Italian Cultural Centre.
Horses from 16 categories will be acknowledged for their performances at Hastings last year. Co-ordinator Minna Rytkonen issued secret ballots to a panel of selectors in December. The winners will be revealed by emcees Dan Jukich and Mike Heads highlighting the April 26 event.
Season-ending stats following last year’s 45-day racing calendar confirmed the 2022 leading breeder (Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds), owner (Rob and Sheena Maybin), trainer (Edgar Mendoza) and jockey (Amadeo Perez) awards.
BC Horse Racing Hall of Fame 2022 inductees, announced earlier by curator Randy Goulding, are Dr. Ed Wiebe (builder), Richard Hamel (jockey) and Robbie Anderson (trainer).
“After a two-year interruption staging the Awards Dinner due to the pandemic, we’re looking forward to seeing everyone again as a kick-off to the 2023 racing season,” says B-J Davidson, CTHS-BC Regional General Manager. “We consider it a huge family gathering.”
Allan Molloy driving SEXY AF at Fraser Downs (Photo : Bailey Williams)
Bailey on the Backstretch
By Bailey Williams
Fraser Downs Racetrack has been ‘off and pacing’ setting handle records during Week 5 of its 2023 meet. Fans continue to watch their favourites Brandon Campbell, Scott Knight and Kelly Hoerdt guide winners home each race night as they battle it out atop the leading driver standings.
However, if you happen to be looking for a bit of a longshot for your wagering ticket, Allan Molloy might just be the answer. He’s been climbing up the leader board rankings since his driving return a few short weeks back.
With only 27 starts, Molloy already has seven victories to give him the second-highest win percentage among the active roster of drivers at Fraser Downs.
Allan is known for being a well-rounded horseman. In more recent years you could find him shoeing horses at Hastings Racecourse for several owners and trainers, among them Glen Todd and Charlene Miller. After being introduced through his farrier talents with the thoroughbreds, Molloy began an afternoon role as a valet saddling horses before races and caring for jockey’s tack and equipment.
A determined standardbred trainer/driver since his debut in February 2012, fans delight in watching Allan applying his wealth of horse racing knowledge as he continues to compete Thursday and Friday evenings at Fraser Downs.
Harness Racing Influencers Join Fraser Downs!
Robert Reid Jr., Shannon Sugar Doyle and Garnet Barnsdale. Three harness racing influencers joined Fraser Downs night racing on March 3 and 9. They tweeted today pick and betting tips for players. One of them won over $700 at his first race using HPIbet and continued the winnings through the races.