BC Racebook Newsletter - May 17, 2023
Manitoba, Alberta & British Columbia Racetracks to Stage 2023 WESTERN CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN
The new Western Canadian Triple Crown in thoroughbred racing not only has a nice ring to it, there is also an awareness of companionship attached that transmits goodwill within the sport.
That is precisely the feeling shared among Assiniboia Downs, Century Mile, and Hastings Racecourse as the three westernracetracks band together to present a combined Derby extravaganza during the 2023 live racing season.
The Western Canadian Triple Crown connects the $125,000 Manitoba Derby (August 7), the $200,000 G3 Canadian Derby in Alberta (August 26) and $125,000 G3 British Columbia Derby(September 16).
In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there will be an additional $100,000 bonus should a horse win all three of the prestigious Derby events.
“To link a meaningful financial bonus to the already robust purse offerings should only elevate the participation and competitivenessof the races,” says Darren Dunn, Assiniboia Downs Chief Executive Officer. “It also results in a rewarding outcome for both the racing fans and related horse connections. We are excited to work collaboratively with our western provincial partners who are so energized to put an even brighter spotlight on these historic Derby events.”
Allen Goodsell, Racing Manager at Century Casinos, saluted officials at both Assiniboia Downs and Hastings Racecourse fortheir participation. “This initiative will bring additional fanfare and excitement to Western Canada’s premier races for three-year-olds,” Goodsell said. “We look forward to additional collaboration in the future which only strengthens our collective industries.”
Nichelle Milner, BC Director of Racing, is pleased Manitoba and Alberta asked Hastings Racecourse to be involved in the concept. “A Western Canadian Triple Crown has such great potential. I can see eventually awarding points for first, second and third place finishes and have the top three connections profit from it. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Western Canadian Triple Crown
$125,000 Manitoba Derby
Assiniboia Downs
Monday, August 7, 2023
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$200,000 Canadian Derby (G3)
Century Mile
Saturday, August 26, 2023
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$125,000 BC Derby (G3)
Hastings Racecourse
Saturday, September 16, 2023
$100,000 bonus to the owner who wins all three of the 2023 Derby events.
Jockeys at Hastings Racecourse 2023.
Magic Number Three Played a Key Role During Hastings Racecourse Weekend
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
With the total handle expanding to a season high $543,876 Sunday afternoon at Hastings Racecourse, the ‘numbers game’ was evident everywhere you looked on the Mother’s Day weekend.
With back-to-back cards Saturday and Sunday for the first time during this young 2023 thoroughbred season, owners, trainers, jockeys and even track handicapper Lisa Russell shared the spotlight with individual accomplishments.
Amadeo Perez gave notice he’ll be gunning for his sixth Leading Jockey title at Hastings by coming out of the sun-drenched weekend with eight wins in 22 starts, including three on Sunday. There was, in fact, a certain magic to ‘hat-tricks’ throughout the weekend.
The combination of owner Jordan Froelich and veteran trainer Dino Condilenios dominated the winner’s circle with three wins Sunday to boost Dino’s win total to seven on the season in just 17 starts. Fellow long-time trainer Craig MacPherson had enjoyed his first three wins of the season the previous day.
And here comes that number ‘three’ again. Both Condilenios and MacPherson are two-time winners of the Leading Trainer title. Dino won it back-to-back in 2003 and 2004 while MacPherson swept the honours in consecutive years, 2013 and 2014.
It is only reasonable to suggest these highly competitive gladiators have given some thought to capturing a third Leading Trainer crown even though this 2023 campaign is merely in its infancy.
Lisa Russell’s contribution to the ‘numbers game’ on the weekend was in her new role as a handicapper on the pages of the Hastings program alongside revered analyst Mike Heads. Lisa was the centre of attention Saturday by picking five winners on the seven-race card including four in a row.
The co-winner of the 2022 HBPA Richard Yates Backstretch Award along with Cindy and Darcy Barroby, Russell is part of the Hastings’ clocking crew, assistant Equibase chart caller and recently inherited the Daily Racing Form analyst duties when Randy Goulding stepped aside after 20 years. Patrons will obviously be looking for her selections on Saturday, May 20 when the 148th running of the Preakness will be shown on the jumbo screen at Hastings Racecourse.
Bailey on the Backstretch
By Bailey Williams
If there appeared to be more enthusiasm than usual in the winner’s circle after Race 3 on Saturday, May 13 at Hastings, it was with good reason.
It marked the return of veteran trainer Jim Loseth after saddling Shamra, his first winner in more than a decade dating back to September, 2011. And, as usual, the lady listed as assistant trainer – Jim’s wife Sandra – was right smack in the centre of the celebration.
No strangers to the BC breeding and racing industry, Jim and Sandra are two of the hardest-working people you’ll ever find behind the scenes at a racetrack.
They own and operate Emerald Acres, one of the lower mainland’s last standing breeding and training facilities. Through the fall and winter months there are upwards of 60 horses experiencing their first steps towards a racing education as multiple trainers send their horses to Jim and Sandra.
Along with the beautiful training amenities at Emerald Acres is the breeding shed. Two standing stallions are on site – Pop Artist and Lent.
Lent is the sire of 4-year-old filly Shamra out of Honey Dew Honey, bred by Sandra Loseth, owned by Sapphire Stables and Ted Feentra, trained by Jim Loseth and ridden by Brian Boodramsingh, a newcomer to the jockey colony at Hastings.
With the Jim and Sandra training tandem just shy of 300 career wins, there is still plenty time for the husband-and-wife team to add to their victory dances this season at Hastings.
Terry Clyde, left, and Barb Heads tied for the thoroughbred training title at Hastings in 2006, the first time a woman has won — let alone two in the same year. photo submitted.
Randy Goulding: Fifth race Sunday at Hastings dedicated to the Johnsons
It’s hard to find anyone who had more fun at the races than Ken and Sharon Johnson. Sadly, Sharon died in September 2019 and Ken not long after, in July 2020. The fifth race at Hastings on Sunday is dedicated to their memory.
On race days, the Johnsons could be found at the bar in Silks. Ken was famous for offering drinks to passersby and was always happy to offer his wisdom.
In 1978, sons Mark and Lyle were somewhat shocked when Ken announced he was going to get involved in horse racing. “Dad was sitting back in his armchair when he declared to a mix of family and friends in his Horseshoe Bay home that he was going to get a race horse,” Mark recalled. “Most of us laughed, because, as everyone knows, racing is the Sport of Kings, and for those with a king-size bank book.”
Undeterred by the laughter, Ken proceeded with his quest to become a horse owner, convincing nine friends and family members to put up $500 each. The first thing they needed was a trainer. A friend introduced them to Heather and Doug Clyde, who were among the leading trainers at Hastings at the time. Their daughter, Terry Clyde, also became a successful trainer.
A picture of mare My Special Angel, and the first foal sired by Bachelor States winner Counterforce, born Feb. 10, 2020, at Thoroughbred breeding farms in Aldergrove.
”They were so lucky to have met and engaged with the Clyde family,” said Lyle. “The first horse they claimed didn’t win for the group, but thankfully, he was claimed and the next low-end claimer they purchased turned out to be Dawn Duster. Though Dawn Duster was past his stakes-winning days, he won a couple of times for the syndicate and they were hooked on racing.”
Among the many horses owned by the Johnsons, My Special Angel was a standout. With Terry Clyde as her trainer, she finished second in the 2007 Sadie Diamond Futurity. She retired with five wins and $115,529 in earnings. As a broodmare, she has produced multiple winners. The daughter of Finality is still owned by the Johnson family.
“Mom and dad would be so pleased to be recognized for their part in this industry,” said Lyle. “We have met so many good people on the backstretch and the front end, and have formed lifetime relationships through racing.”
Bold Arch should be tough to beat in the race the Johnsons are being honoured. The six-year-old B.C.-bred runs well fresh, has been training well for trainer John Morrison and could be gone if he breaks on top. He will not offer a lot of value, though. Quagmire might be worth taking a shot at in the sixth race. He can stalk the speed and he gets in light with apprentice rider Frazer Aebly aboard.
Due to the competitiveness of the races, I have no strong feelings about any of the horses running Saturday. However, if Just Misty behaves and makes it into the starting gate without any mishaps, and that is a big if, she could pull off an upset in the sixth race.
The Province, May 11, 2023 - Randy Goulding, Special to Postmedia
