BC Racebook Newsletter - October 30, 2024

Breeders’ Cup is here!!

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 2 at the beautiful Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. Breeders’ Cup has finalized the race order, post times, and wagering menu, promising another exciting two-day extravaganza with multi-million-dollar pools for horseplayers and some of the world’s best racing for fans of all types.

The Championships kick off with “Future Stars Friday” on Nov. 1, featuring 10 races, five of which are Breeders’ Cup races. The first Breeders' Cup event of the day is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at 2:45 p.m. PT, while the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) will close the day at 5:25 p.m. PT. The Friday card begins at 11:35 a.m. PT with five undercard races.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, the action starts at 10:05 a.m. PT with three undercard races. The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is Race 8 and is the signature event on Saturday, Nov. 2, with a post time of 2:41 p.m. PT.

Following the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic are four additional Breeders' Cup Championship races, including the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The final race of the day will be the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at 5:25 p.m. PT.

This year’s wagering menu includes a range of options for bettors. Friday offers a Breeders' Cup $3 All-Turf Pick 3, featuring the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Juvenile Turf races. Saturday’s wagering menu includes both an All-Turf Pick 4 and an All-Dirt Pick 4, each with a $.50 minimum wager. Saturday also offers three Pick 5s, including one that spans races leading into and out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Horseplayers can follow all Breeders’ Cup World Championship races live through NBC and Peacock in the US. In Canada, all the action will be streamed live through HPIbet.com, and Sportsnet will be showcasing the races beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT on Friday and 1:00 p.m. PT on Saturday.

More global audiences will be participating this year, with countries such as England, France, Germany and Ireland commingling through the Breeders’ Cup Global Pool. Australia, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico and Turkey will be offering separate pool wagering.

This 2-day event has truly become an international experience and clearly the racing highlight of the year.

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Dairen Edwards

Huge blow to Hastings as CTHS President passes just two weeks after his Willow Creek Farms secures its second consecutive leading-owner title.

By Nigel Reid

The Hastings backstretch community is in mourning this week, following news of the untimely passing of this year’s leading owner, Dairen Edwards, who has died suddenly at the age of just 59.

Under the direction of Dairen, his daughter Makayla and trainer Steve Henson, Willow Creek Farms has grown rapidly into a powerful force at Hastings and further afield. Willow Creek’s colours were carried to victory in 32 races this season at Hastings and beyond; a total that was further boosted by several high-profile horses owned in partnership – including this year’s leading juvenile at Hastings, Mount Doom.

Willow Creek finished the season at Hastings with 26 local wins, making the owner/breeder operation Vancouver’s leading owner numerically for the second consecutive season.

A keen hunter and fisherman, Dairen was the owner of SRL Industries Ltd, a successful manufacturing company, producing high-quality products for use in the construction sector.

The rapid growth and success of Willow Creek, achieved in less than a decade, put Dairen at the heart of the racing and breeding sector in British Columbia and led to him taking a more active role in the industry. He took over as President of the local division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) upon the passing of Dave Bennington and was a conciliatory figure, always available to chat about the issues facing the local industry and, according to HBPA President David Milburn, committed to doing everything he could to see racing succeed in Western Canada.

Milburn said: “Dairen was an important part of the Hastings’ community and, as President of the CTHS, he was a positive force for change and very much a unifying influence within our industry. His passing is a huge blow to us all.”

“On behalf of the HBPA, its members and everyone connected with racing at Hastings, we would like to extend our very deepest sympathies to Dairen’s wife Tia, his daughter Makayla, son Jacob and to their extended families.”

Dairen’s interests also extended to Standardbred racing and he would have been at Fraser Downs this week to see two young horses, owned in partnership by Willow Creek, land two valuable Stakes events.

MOUNT DOOM, ridden by Antonio Reyes and sporting the distinctive Willow Creek silks, was the leading juvenile at Hastings in 2024. Photo Michael Bye.

About Greener Pastures

Greener Pastures, BC Standardbred Horse Adoption Society, is a non-profit charity organization founded in 2003.
The purpose of the society is to take in and transition retired standardbred racehorses to responsible and suitable homes. Standardbreds have great potential to take on a new career after racing such as trail riding, endurance, jumping, back country riding, packing, driving, gymkhanas and much much more.

Meet Connie!

“Connie” is a 4 year old standardbred mare! Connie last raced on April 25, 2024 and comes with the shoes she wore as she crossed the finish line first that night. On the track she wasn’t staying totally sound so her owners decided to let her move on to a new career. Connie is going to take some time off before starting her under saddle journey.

See more available Standardbred horses for adoption at greenerpasturesbc.com.

Matthew RuhlmanOctober 30, 2024