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Serving the British Columbia Horseracing community

www.horseracingbc.ca

HorseRacingBCJuly 2012Issue # 43

HorseRacingBC is owned and produced by Jim Reynolds.

courtesy Michael Burns Photography

Canyon Farms’ homebred Strait of Dover, ridden confi dently by Justin Stein, made every pole a winning one while taking the $1 million Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most famous horse race, in record time Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack.At the fi nish of the mile and one-quarter classic for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, Strait of Dover held a one and

one-quarter length margin over fi lly Irish Mission, winner of the recent Woodbine Oaks, with Dixie Strike, the only other fi lly in the race, a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third. The fi nal time was 2:01.4, eclipsing the former Polytrack mark of 2:02.1, set by Pachattack two years ago. The

Plate record of 2:01 4/5 seconds is held by 1990 winner Izvestia, “I loved this horse all along,” said an elated Stein. “He’s shown me and I have said it time and time again that he

is a racehorse. He wants to get out there and he wants to win. He calmed right down as soon as he saw that we were going into the gate and he just stood there and waited for his turn to be loaded. That’s what he wants to do.“I didn’t have to be on the lead with him today but no one else wanted to go and we were going pretty easy so I

just let him roll on up there. I have faith in this horse and he just galloped around there like a champ.”Stein, was leading rider at Hastings in 2005, his father, Bobby Stein, a steward at Hastings, is a former jockey.“He rode a great horse and gave him a great ride. I had a few tears in my eye when he crossed the fi nish line,”

said the senior Stein. Strait of Dover began his career at Hastings as a 2-year-old but fi nished sixth and fi fth in his only two starts.

continued on page 7

New Stride Special EventThe Winners Circle Day at the Races Charity Event, benefi tting the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society!The fi rst annual Winners Circle Day at the Races charity event will include a cocktail-style appetizer buffet, complimentary cocktail upon arrival, race program, musical entertainment and a silent auction while enjoying the races. Tickets are $55 per person. Dress is derby attire. For more information please go to www.winnerscircle.ca

Canyon Farms’ Strait of Dover First BC Bred to win Queen’s Plate

The BC Lottery Corporation has given the go ahead to a plan which would see another full-fl edged casino come into competition with Fraser Downs, local business leaders are forgoing the Surrey Board of Trade and are demanding that expanded gaming be granted solely to the harness raceway if gambling expansion is indeed coming to the area by 2014.

Go Ahead For New Casino In South Surrey

The Thoroughbred Ladies Club of BC meets the fi rst Tuesday of the month. If you would like to help or join them please call: Linda Sentes 604-318-7949Eleanor Vanden Born 604-534-2879 orDiane Cardinal 604-524-6793.

The Thoroughbred Ladies Club

Looking for PhotosHorseRacingBC is looking for old photos of people or horses from the past. Jockeys, trainers and backstretch personnel from BC’s racing history are welcome and will be used in future issues. Each photo will be scanned and returned to it’s owner in the condition it is received.No win-photos please

Incentive PlanA new incentive plan to attract

additional horses to Hastings went into effect July 2.

see pg 2 for details

Standardbred Broodmares Harness Racing BC has announced that Oct. 1 will be the date of their 2012 yearling sale at the Showbarn, Cloverdale Fairgrounds at 6 p.m.

www.horseracingbc.ca July 2012Issue # 43

Interior Racing DatesThe following are the race dates for the BC interior. These dates are confi rmed with the BC Government.

Princeton: Vernon:

June 29, 2012 July 8, 15 and 29, 2012 September 8, 2012 August 5, 2012

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Emerald Downs Announces Overnight Purse Increase The amount of purse money available for

overnight races at Emerald Downs will be raised fi ve percent, track Vice President Jack Hodge announced. The purse increase will take effect July 3 and be retroactive to opening day, April 13.Hodge said several factors enabled the increase

including a boost in on-track attendance and wagering fi gures almost identical to last year’s. “We would like to emphasize what a great job the

horsemen are doing at the entry booth, and commend our racing secretary Bret Anderson and his racing staff for their hard work,” Hodge said.On-track attendance, up 11 percent in 2011, has

risen another 1.4 percent in 2012, and the better weather months of July and August usually mean even better attendance.“We’re exceptionally pleased to be ahead of last

year’s 11 percent gain in attendance,” Hodge said. “It’s a very good sign, and obviously bodes well for the handle too.” The purse increase does not affect Emerald

Downs’ stakes schedule, which includes the 77th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) Aug. 19.

Hastings: Incentive Plan To Attract Additional Horses In an attempt to attract more horses to Hastings

Racecourse, the thoroughbred horsemen’s associations in British Columbia have agreed they will reward horse owners this summer if they ship runners from other provinces or countries. Beginning July 1, 2012, owners will receive a

$1,000 bonus when a horse they ship from another jurisdiction makes its second start this season at Hastings Racecourse. That same horse will be eligible for a further 25 per cent bonus if it wins its fi rst start and goes on to run at least twice at Hastings. The 25 per cent bonus applies only to horses that

win their fi rst start and is based on fi rst money for that race. Neither bonus applies to stake races. To be eligible, a horse must not have a race in British Columbia for the same owner or ownership group in the past six months. Forming a united front, the following statements

were spokespersons from Hastings Racecourse, British Columbia Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association and the HBPA of B.C. “We are doing this to try and beef up our racing

stock. All of the associations are in agreement with this plan, so we have their blessing to do this.” said Paul Ryneveld, Director of Racing at Hastings.

Desert Blanc, winner of the June 9 Gr. I Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, suffered a tendon injury and has been retired because of a tear of his left front superfl exor tendon.Partly owned by Swift Thoroughbreds’ Desert

Blanc retires with four wins, a second, and a third in seven races and earnings of $428,133.

Desert Blanc Retired

Green Light For New Casino In South SurreyIn light of a revealed BC Lottery Corporation

plan which would see another full-fl edged casino come into competition with Fraser Downs, local business leaders are forgoing the Surrey Board of Trade and are demanding that expanded gaming be granted solely to the harness raceway if gambling expansion is indeed coming to the area by 2014.The situation has reportedly been ignited due to

the fi ndings that the BCLC has told the Surrey Board of Trade that it has given the green light for a new casino to be erected in South Surrey and, at this point, that it is up to City Council to give its blessing to the plan.The CDCC and the Cloverdale BIA have

requested meetings and explanations from multiple organizations in regard to the developments, and are stressing the importance of Fraser Downs and the horse-racing industry to business. The report also quotes Cloverdale BIA President

Lyle MacMillan as saying that the decision will not just affect Fraser Downs, but will also then affect the GCGC-owned and operated Hastings Park in Vancouver.“Horse racing is at a crossroad in BC, and we

cannot afford to lose this vital industry,” said MacMillan.

…Courtesy Standardbred Canada

Desert Blanc was three-for-fi ve in France in 2011. Chad Brown trained Desert Blanc in the U.S. for owners Swift Thoroughbreds Inc., Mackie Racing, Vintage Thoroughbreds, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.


Terlani — Dk b or br mare by El Corredor - Golden Lake -Salt LakeOwner: Sharlea Stable. Jockey: Jeff Burningham. Time: 1:44.3

Evelyn’s Dancer — Bay filly by Songandaprayer -Seraphic Too - Southern Halo Owner: Mark DeDomenico & North American Thoroughbred Horse. Jockey: F Perez. Time: 1:44.2

Taylor Said — Dk b or br g by Stephanotis - Fleet Amyanne - Western Fame.Owner: North American Thoroughbred Horse. Jockey: F Perez. Time: 1:43.3

Devil in Disguise — Ch colt by Smarty Jones -Bay Harbor - Forty Niner Owner: North American Thoroughbred Horse. Jockey: F Perez. Time: 1:44.4

River Rock Casino Stakes Sir Winston Churchill Hcp

Vancouver Sun Hcp Emerald Down Stakes

CatchaMoment photos CatchaMoment photos

CatchaMoment photosCatchaMoment photos

Thoroughbred Stakes Winners


This painting is a fantastic work by Cathy Rycroft, a local Hastings artist who has been painting Thoroughbred race horses for over 20 years. Her years of working with her husband, trainer Kelly Rycroft, have given her an eye for detail that brings her paintings of horses to life. Her newest painting of Mario Gutierrez and I’ll Have Another was inspired as soon as they crossed the wire in the Kentucky Derby, “ I started the painting shortly after the Derby win. I was so thrilled for Mario and all the connections with the horse, it was just such a joy to see our hometown boy be the hero.”Cathy has partnered together with New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society, giving part proceeds from the sales of the Limited Edition Prints at

Hastings Racecourse. “ I wanted to give back to our own community and New Stride is perfect, they rehabilitate retired racehorses and give them wonderful new careers, and thanks to Hastings Racecourse for allowing us to sell the prints at the track, so everyone can enjoy a piece of history and contribute to a great society.” The cost of the 12 x 18 inch paper print is $25 and the 19 x 24 inch canvas print is $125. New Stride and Cathy will be at Hastings Racecourse, Monday

July 2nd, Canada Day long weekend.

A Tribute From an Artist


The Surgeon’s Corner by Dr. Antonio M. Cruz DVM, MVM, MSc, DrMedVet

It was a

disappointing outcome for racing fans to see I’ll Have Another abandon his pursuit of the most coveted prize

in horse racing. Horses are not predictable machines, which leads to the statement ‘that’s horse racing’ As a biologic structure, any living being has an element of uncertainty when it comes to health. This is what we call “risk” and its appropriate management is a juggling act. I’ll Have Another’s owners preferred not to tempt fate and withdraw him from his most important race before any risk would be taken. It was a correct decision for the horse, for them, and for racing! So, what is tendonitis? It is simply a general term indicating inflammation of a tendon. This inflammatory process can be the result of different severities of damage, from a slight filling around the tendon, case in point, to the typically known “bow”. In most situations “a slight and persistent, almost innocuous, filling” heralds the high likelihood of a catastrophic event, like a severe “bow” or worse. A tendon is a hierarchically organized structure composed of microscopic collagen fibers that keep bundling up in progressively larger bundles to form what we recognize as a tendon. Tendons are elastic and they stretch as the horse loads the leg and spring back once the horse lifts it contributing to the horse’s movement. As an elastic structure it has a point of breaking, which is represented by the tearing of collagen fibers producing an

associated hematoma (accumulation of blood) and inflammation. Depending on the severity of this tearing, we encounter different stages and severity of heat, pain, swelling and lameness. Like many other catastrophic injuries in race horses, although they can, they usually do not happen “all of a sudden”. If you ignore or do not recognize the early signs, chances are that something “bad” will occur.

Once the structure of the tendon has been disrupted, its mechanical ability and strength is also compromised. Since the strain horse racing puts tendons at the limits of their physiological capabilities there is really no margin for error, and if ignored, any little damage could mean the difference between a healthy or a crippled horse. Given I’ll Have Another’s future prospects, not to mention what a highly televised event could have done to the racing industry in case of an on-course injury, the decision to pull him out was more than appropriate.

Once an injury like this is recognized, backing up from exercise is of foremost importance. There is no easy nor immediate fix

in elite thoroughbreds. Unfortunately tendons are very poorly populated by cells, which makes their healing capacity very limited and protracted in time. In addition the scar tissue that forms following a tendon injury has inferior mechanic capacity making the rate of re-occurrence approach 70 %. As publicized I’ll Have Another’s lesion was just a bit of inflammation which will subside in time not necessarily affecting the overall tendon structure and its strength. However, the decision appears to be at this point in time to retire I’ll Have Another to the breeding shed. We will wait impatiently to see how his two and three year old crops perform.

Paton & Martin Veterinary Services Ltd.Dr. DAvid Paton Dr. Eric Martin

Dr. Antonio Cruz Dr. Marelle St-Laurent

Paton & MartinVeterinary Services is a multi-service equine practice and hospital which offers four skilled veterinarians to serve you.Located 10 minutes from Thunderbird Show Park it offers a full service hospital including surgical facility.

25939 - 40th Ave. Aldergrove BC V4W 2A5Telephone: 604-856-3351www.pmnetservices.com

[email protected]

winners circle2012 day at the races

char i ty event

BENEFITING NEW STRIDE THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION SOCIETY

15th2012

July

marquee tent | hastings racecoursegates open at 1:30 | first race at 1:50

dress code is derby attirecocktail style buffet • complimentary cocktail upon arrival

race program • musical entertainment • silent auction

purchase tickets at winners-circle.ca

winners circle | day at the races charity event

…Tendonitis

One day at the track, I got a tip from my backside friends. A horse named “The Power of Prayer” was running in the sixth race. I placed my bets and found my seat. I should have known better:—when the starting gate opened, he broke on his knees.


LEON’S FARRIER SERVICE l15+ years experience lHot/Cold/Trims lServing the Lower Mainland lLocal/Alberta references available Cel: 604-613-5310 Home: 604-758-0811

Can-Am Auctions Ltd. Industrial, Marine, Farm & Ranch

P.O. Box 1080 Fort Langley BC V1M 2S4Website: www.canamauctions.comemail:[email protected]

fax: 604-532-9841

Harness Racing BC has announced that Jim Marsh will again be the auctioneer at the Standardbred Yearling sale to be held October 1 at the Showbarn of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.For additional information please contact Diane at 604-574-5558 or visit the Standardbred website at www.harnessbc.ca

Jim MarshAuctioneer

Tel: 604-534-0901Cel: 604-825-7111Industrial, Marine,

Farm & Ranch

Condition Book – KIN PARK, Vernon, BC

Entry Date: Wednesday, July 4, 2012 9:00 AM to 12 Noon Race Day: Sunday, July 8, 2012 Phone: 250-542-1193 Post Time: 1:30 PM ****SUBJECT TO CHANGE**** Race 1 Purse $3,000 TB Maiden Allowance 4 – 6-1/2 Fur BC Bred…3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 2 Purse $3,000 TB Claiming $2500 6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 3 Purse $3,000 TB Allowance NW2 Races Life 4 -6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 4 Purse $3,000 TB Allowance 4 – 6 1/2 Fur Non Winners of 3 or 4 Races Life 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 5 Purse $3,500 TB Allowance Fillies & Mares 4 – 6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 123 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 6 Purse $4,500 TB Allowance Interior Starters Pref 6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Race 7 Purse $3,000 TB Claiming $2500 NW in 2012 4 – 6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Extra 1 Purse $3,000 TB Allowance 4 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Extra 2 Purse $3,000 TB Claiming $4000 4 – 6 1/2 Fur 3 year olds & up Weight 126 lbs – 3 yr olds alw 3 lbs Mixed Races – Fillies and Mares allowed 5 pounds Any questions – call Denise Rogers at home 250-542-0150 * Note to Jockeys: $25 bonus per mount ** plus hotel accommodations – 2 jocks per room for 1 night

The Good Old Days

Sue & Wendy Fisher with the Lansdowne Racetrack in the background

Queen’s Plate In Jeopardy After 153 YearsNick Eaves, president of the Woodbine Entertainment Group, shocked

today’s Queen’s Plate breakfast by saying that the fabled race’s existence is in jeopardy after this year.Responding to the Ontario government’s cancellation of the slots at

racetracks program, Eaves said that after negotiating with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming commission, “If that situation were to continue after next April 1, Woodbine Entertainment Group’s revenues would decrease by 50 per cent and we would not be in a position to continue on. This is an impossible

position for us to be put in.”The Queen’s Plate is

the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America and Canada’s premier racing event.


Strait of Dover, a son of English Channel-Bahrain Star, is a BC bred, as is the 32 year old Stein, who was born in New Westminster. It was the first Plate win for Stein, whose best previous finish was fourth with Ascot Bill in 2006. It was also the first Plate win for owner-breeder Canyon Farms (Wally and Terry Leong), who had one previous Plate starter, Illusive Force in 2003, who finished last behind eventual Triple Crown winner Wando.

Trained by Dan Vella, Strait of Dover, winner of the Marine Stakes on May 12, had been forced to miss the June 3 Plate Trial because of sickness. But on Sunday he didn’t miss a beat, as he won his fourth race in a row at Woodbine to remain undefeated on Polytrack. (fifth unofficially, after being disqualified in his Woodbine debut last November).But it was the second Plate triumph for Vella, who conditioned 1994

winner Basqueian for Stronach Stables.“Good horses do good things,” said Vella “We all like to take a little credit

but truthfully he’s a great horse and that’s what it’s really about, the people that bred such a great horse and just being associated and being able to train these types of horses. It’s what us guys in this industry, that’s what we want to do.“We talked about it with Justin and we analyzed the race and we thought it

was a possibility we would end up on the front end. We really didn’t want that. You’re doing the work for everyone else, but if you’re there, you’re there.”Strait of Dover, sent postward a close 7-2 second choice to Plate Trial

winner River Rush, who finished a non-threatening sixth, went immediately to the front and never looked back, taking the field of 14 through splits of :23.85, :47.74, 1:12.31 and 1:37.07.As the field turned for home, the pacesetter had opened two and one-half

lengths on his rivals but Irish Mission, with Alex Solis, was a determined pursuer, as she tried to run down the leader and become the seventh filly to win the Plate since 1956. Meanwhile, Dixie Strike, who was last early, made a late run for third.

His connections will now have to decide whether to enter Strait of Dover in the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, July 15 at Fort Erie, on the dirt over one and three-sixteenth miles, the second leg in Canada’s Triple Crown. The third and final leg is the $500,000 Breeders Stakes, August 5 at Woodbine, at one and one-half miles on the lawn.Canyon Farms also ran Illusive Force in the 2003 Queen’s Plate but the

longshot finished last. This time Wally and Terry Leong stood proudly alongside Stein in the winner’s circle for the presentation of the Queen’s Plate trophy. The very first thing mentioned by national CBC Television host Elliotte Friedman was “the B.C. connection”.

King Of The Bushes… As they approached the farm Old Doc pointed towards a large paddock. “That’s him over there,” he said. “Good looking son of a gun isn’t he.’“Sure is,” said Trains. “Pretty good lookin’ hoss.”“Under all that mud, you mean?” said King.“Poor’s a judge, picks a book by the cover,” replied Old Doc. “Let’s go meet the widow Fletcher.”

Old Doc was having second thoughts since he first brought up the existence of the colt to King. He wanted to help his friend and he knew what King was capable of, but he also knew that the colt would be a long shot and a lot of work. And then there was the widow Fletcher. Putting her and King together…well, the woman could be difficult. But then so could his friend and it was better than seeing King mope about the barn area in the company of that old freeloader Benny Trains. As they approached the woman struggling with a large bail of hay he put on a smile.“Hi there Gladys. This is that trainer I told you about. King meet Gladys Fletcher.”“Here. Let me get that,” said King, trying to be helpful.“I can do my own work Mr. King,” snapped the woman.Startled King stepped back. He wasn’t used to an abrupt woman and around the racetrack offers of help were seldom refused. His first thought was that the woman was rude and he should just leave.“I’ll be direct, Mr. King,” the woman said. “My problem is simple. I’m too busy running my late husband’s business to train this horse myself. I don’t need this farm work and that colt is all that’s left. I need someone to train him and I can’t afford to pay. That colt was my husband’s dream, cost too damn much if you ask me.”King’s second thought was that the woman talked in one breath like Benny Trains and that he should just leave.“Late in the spring to start training a green colt,” he replied.“Straight lease. I’ll split purse money and expenses 60-40,” the woman said. “Take it or leave it.”

King’s third thought was that he should just leave.“I’ll also tell you up front,” the woman said. “You aren’t my first choice. I’ve asked a very successful trainer named Sheridan to train him but Old Doc here wants me to give you the chance.”King’s fourth thought came too late.“Jeez,” said Trains as they were leaving. “Why’d ya go and take ‘at deal for? Ain’t no day money in it and the splits all her way.”A few days later King stood in the corral facing the big mud encrusted colt.

“You need a bath,” he said in the same monotone he had been using for the last half hour.The pen was big, about twelve feet across, with a good floor of sand. He had been standing in the center staring at the colt for twenty minutes, turning only as the young horse moved. “This is kind of like a Mexican standoff boy,” he said, his voice droning in the afternoon air. He took a small step forward. This time, unlike the other steps forward the horse never moved.He studied the horse’s movements and form. The colt was dirty, but there was no denying the good solid form of him. He was a bay horse, big, about 16.2 hands and straight legged, with everything in the right places. His body was long, and his chest and hind-quarters were well developed and powerful. The late Mr. Fletcher had done a good job of putting a ‘bottom’ on the young horse and he looked fit enough to start serious training—but he had questions.“You don’t show much heart though, do you son?” he said aloud.“Hey King. How long ya gonna keep this up?” shouted Benny Trains, his head thrust through the gate.

The colt bolted away from King and pranced around the pen. King turned and walked angrily towards the gate.

“Goddamn it,” he said angrily as he opened the gate. “How many times do I have to tell you to keep the hell away when I’m working with horses?”

“Sorry,” said the little man eyeing King’s clenched fist. “Ya, well…ya just been in there all morning. Come on. Let’s get breakfast.”

“Get your own damn breakfast and leave me alone when I’m working. You do that again and I’ll wring your scrawny little neck.”

“King takes this too seriously.” said Benny when he saw Old Doc by the rail. “Don’t he?”

“Don’t take it too hard Benny. It was your own fault. You know how he is with horses. Sometime I think that they’re more important to him than people.”

“They are,” Trains pouted.“Well then, give him space to work and we’ll all be happier,” said Old Doc,

but he was concerned about King’s over-reaction. It seemed to him that King was either not pleased with himself for getting into a bad deal with the widow Fletcher or he simply wasn’t happy with the horse. The horse looked fine— healthy and well put together — but King obviously had concerns.

Queen’s Plate to Strait of Dover and Justin Stein …continued from page 1

Michael Burns Photography

Michael Burns Photography

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