BC Racebook Newsletter - May 3, 2022

MAY 7th, THIS SATURDAY,
HASTINGS BEGINS SEASON!

Vancouver’s spectacular view of the North Shore mountains from Hastings Racecourse has essentially gone unnoticed during the last two consecutive Covid-disrupted thoroughbred racing seasons. That all changes Saturday, May 7 with the launch of the 2022 live racing schedule of 45 race dates through mid-October.

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BE IN THE MOST FLATTERING
KENTUCKY DERBY ATTIRE AND WIN!

What to wear on the Kentucky Derby Day

Ladies typically wear spring dresses, pastel-coloured suits or bold separates. For men, Sun-drenched, tropical colours in bold stripes or busy plaid with a bow tie.

It’s the Hats!

Wearing a hat to the Kentucky Derby is believed to bring good luck. Generally, women wear wide-brimmed hats decorated with flowers, feathers, bows and ribbons.

BACKSTRETCH STORY : HOW WE FIRST MET “NICOLE & GUS”

Like a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, it was love at first sight when groom Nicole Rycroft met Bluegrass Angus in the spring of 2014.

“Gus was a sweet, short-legged and chubby 2-year-old colt,” Nicole said the other day, breaking into a smile. “There’ve been a lot of victories over the last eight years. But my favourite race was the start of his 3-year-old campaign at Hastings. “That was the day we knew how special he really was.” Although Bluegrass Angus didn’t win that day, he went on to win three consecutive stakes that same season.

Nicole is now assistant trainer to long-time boss and mentor Craig MacPherson. She and fiancé Geovani will be looking forward to a long and successful run training their first horse together, Counterfeit Dinero.

HEY, ARE YOU IN KELOWNA?

There is Kentucky Derby Watch Party at Kelowna Chances Casino this Saturday. The party starts at 1pm, if you can not make it to the track, Join us and feel the excitement of Kentucky Derby together and get prizes!

FRASER DOWNS EXTENDS THE SEASON
TO JUNE 2022

It’s a good news for Standardbred racing fans! Fraser Down extends season to June 27th, 2022. For more details, visit FRASER DOWNS website.

BC RACEBOOK IN RIVERROCK CASINO RE-OPENED

After long break through pandemic, BC Racebook in Richmond finally re-opened on April 27th. RiverRock Casino is one of the most popular one in British Columbia which a lot of tourists and Racing fans visit. BC Racebook is located on second floor in RiverRock Casino Richmond.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO HORSE ADOPTION..

After years of racing, where do retired horses go? There are societies looking after them. NEW STRIDE for Thoroughbred and GREENER PASTURES for Standardbred. You can see the pictures and stories about each horse on their website!

PASSING OF CTHS-BC PRESIDENT
DAVE BENNINGTON MOURNED BY HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

Dave Bennington, President of CTHS-BC, peacefully passed away April 23, 2022 with family at his side following a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Bennington, 81, was named President in October, 2021 after serving on the CTHS-BC Board of Directors since 2018 as Vice President and Finance Chair.

A long-time owner and breeder of thoroughbreds in both British Columbia and Ontario, he grew up in the Cowichan Valley and would watch his grandfather clearing land with a team of horses on the five-acre family farm in Duncan on Vancouver Island. “I fell in love with horses as a five-year-old,” he said in a recent Breeders Banter article.

Dave and his son Mike had been partners in Shamrock Racing Stables in Surrey for the past 20 years. Dave is survived by his wife Arleigh, son Mike, daughters Debbie and Dolly and four grandchildren.