Blog Post
Nigel Reid • Oct 01, 2020
Michael Bye photo - SYNERGY
There were 59 races run at Hastings in September, with BC-bred horses winning no less than 33 of those.
However, the two biggest wins for horses bred in the Province came the other side of the Rockies on Canadian Derby day at Edmonton.
Trainer Barb Heads saddled SANGRIA (Sungold) to win the $75,000 Black Type Century Casino Oaks under Rico Walcott and then, just an hour later, legged-up Antonio Whitehall to win the $75,000 Listed Northfields Distaff Handicap on SUNBURST (Sungold).
Both fillies are owned and were bred by “RJ” and Lois Bennett, who also stand the duo’s sire, Sungold. There can be few more satisfying feelings in racing and breeding than being so involved in every aspect of “creating” quality winners and, not for the first time this year and countless seasons previously, many congratulations are due to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett.
The two valuable victories on Derby night (the same team also sent out the pictured SYNERGY (Sungold) to finish fourth in the big race) helped propel SUNGOLD (A. P. Indy) into the top 15 on the nation’s leading sire list - which is something of an achievement when considering the number of quality sires and prize-money available in Ontario.
Sitting several places above Sungold on the general table is the Stone Ridge Farms’ stallion, BAKKEN (Distorted Humor). The young sire has made real waves at Hastings this season, with five wins in September alone and he is now the leading second-season stallion in the whole of Canada by individual winners.
BC-bred horses had quite the Derby night at Edmonton. Between Barb Heads’ two big winners, the Sandra Loseth-bred NORTHERN JAGER (Lent) broke his maiden for trainer Allen Goodsell, while the evening’s final two events went to horses bred in our Province.
TRANSPLANT (Sir Gallovic) landed the fifth win of his career for breeders North American Thoroughbred Horse Company (NATHC) and Mark Dedomenico by taking the penultimate race and then, to put a nice full stop to proceedings, the CTHS Yearling Sale graduate ADRIEN’S AURORA brought the curtain down with a near six-length romp for trainer Ron Grieves.
The four-year-old gelding by SECOND IN COMMAND (Silver Deputy) was yet another winner this season produced by White House Stables – this one in partnership with George Robbins and out of the former broodmare of the year, CHILLI CHINES (Katowice).
The foreshortened racing season at Hastings ends this week with the leading trainer title still up for grabs. Mark Cloutier and Glen Todd are both on 19 wins apiece with, respectively, five and four bullets left to fire on Thursday. The to-and-fro race adds further spice to an already exciting-looking 14-race card.
Meanwhile, Todd’s NATHC has leading owner honours stitched up both numerically and in terms of prize-money won, while Amadeo Perez will be crowned leading rider.
Finally, to call this season “difficult” for everyone involved would be to minimize the hardship many have had to go through. If there is a silver lining, it is that few can harbor any doubts as to where Hasting now sits in the pecking order of British Columbian industries, or how difficult the road ahead is likely to be.
Many people have worked tirelessly and thanklessly to ensure there was a Hastings’ racing season at all. However, it has also been sobering to witness other Provinces make more than the best of a bad job. Moving forward we can, and must, learn from them.
Racing and breeding in British Columbia can only start again from this point with the knowledge that every long and arduous journey begins with a single step.
However, the two biggest wins for horses bred in the Province came the other side of the Rockies on Canadian Derby day at Edmonton.
Trainer Barb Heads saddled SANGRIA (Sungold) to win the $75,000 Black Type Century Casino Oaks under Rico Walcott and then, just an hour later, legged-up Antonio Whitehall to win the $75,000 Listed Northfields Distaff Handicap on SUNBURST (Sungold).
Both fillies are owned and were bred by “RJ” and Lois Bennett, who also stand the duo’s sire, Sungold. There can be few more satisfying feelings in racing and breeding than being so involved in every aspect of “creating” quality winners and, not for the first time this year and countless seasons previously, many congratulations are due to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett.
The two valuable victories on Derby night (the same team also sent out the pictured SYNERGY (Sungold) to finish fourth in the big race) helped propel SUNGOLD (A. P. Indy) into the top 15 on the nation’s leading sire list - which is something of an achievement when considering the number of quality sires and prize-money available in Ontario.
Sitting several places above Sungold on the general table is the Stone Ridge Farms’ stallion, BAKKEN (Distorted Humor). The young sire has made real waves at Hastings this season, with five wins in September alone and he is now the leading second-season stallion in the whole of Canada by individual winners.
BC-bred horses had quite the Derby night at Edmonton. Between Barb Heads’ two big winners, the Sandra Loseth-bred NORTHERN JAGER (Lent) broke his maiden for trainer Allen Goodsell, while the evening’s final two events went to horses bred in our Province.
TRANSPLANT (Sir Gallovic) landed the fifth win of his career for breeders North American Thoroughbred Horse Company (NATHC) and Mark Dedomenico by taking the penultimate race and then, to put a nice full stop to proceedings, the CTHS Yearling Sale graduate ADRIEN’S AURORA brought the curtain down with a near six-length romp for trainer Ron Grieves.
The four-year-old gelding by SECOND IN COMMAND (Silver Deputy) was yet another winner this season produced by White House Stables – this one in partnership with George Robbins and out of the former broodmare of the year, CHILLI CHINES (Katowice).
The foreshortened racing season at Hastings ends this week with the leading trainer title still up for grabs. Mark Cloutier and Glen Todd are both on 19 wins apiece with, respectively, five and four bullets left to fire on Thursday. The to-and-fro race adds further spice to an already exciting-looking 14-race card.
Meanwhile, Todd’s NATHC has leading owner honours stitched up both numerically and in terms of prize-money won, while Amadeo Perez will be crowned leading rider.
Finally, to call this season “difficult” for everyone involved would be to minimize the hardship many have had to go through. If there is a silver lining, it is that few can harbor any doubts as to where Hasting now sits in the pecking order of British Columbian industries, or how difficult the road ahead is likely to be.
Many people have worked tirelessly and thanklessly to ensure there was a Hastings’ racing season at all. However, it has also been sobering to witness other Provinces make more than the best of a bad job. Moving forward we can, and must, learn from them.
Racing and breeding in British Columbia can only start again from this point with the knowledge that every long and arduous journey begins with a single step.
The office will be closed Tuesday, December 19, 2023 - Wednesday, January 3, 2024 The office reopens on Thursday, January 4, 2024 Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season and good racing in 2024! The Directors and staff - CTHS BC
Plan to attend on Monday August 7th BC Cup Day at the Marquis Tent area
On the Move: Current leading second-crop sire in Canada COUNTERFORCE (seen with Jack Bennett at Road's End Farm)
An Inspiration for 2023 CTHS BC Yearling & Mixed Sale
To: All members of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division) NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TAKE NOTICE THAT the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division) will be held: Time: Commencing at 11:30 am Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 Place: CTHS (BC Division) Office - Boardroom #7 – 5492 Production Blvd. Surrey, BC The main purpose of this meeting is for the following: 1. to receive the annual reports of the Society; 2. to approve the appointment of the auditor for the 2022 fiscal year; 3. to transact such business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Dated this 30th day of May, 2023. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Note: Copies of the 2022 financial statements and minutes of the June 23, 2022 annual general meeting will be available at the meeting or upon request by contacting the office. As per Article XI, Section 9 (a) of the CTHS By-Laws, new business proposed to be discussed at the meetings of the Society, or any Regional Division thereof, shall be delivered in writing to the National Executive Secretary or Regional Secretary/General Manager as the case may be. Proposed new business, endorsed in writing by at least three (3) members entitled to vote at the meeting and received prior to the mailing of the Notice of the Meeting, shall be included in the agenda and may be subject of a vote at the meeting. Only voting members who are present are eligible to vote (no proxies).
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.”
COUNTERFORCE LEADING FRESHMAN SIRE IN CANADA; LEADING JUVENILE SIRE IN BC BC HORSE RACING INDUSTRY BONDS WITH POSITIVE NEWS ON ALL FRONTS
Standardbred Canada (SC) and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) are pleased to announce the development of a National Economic Impact Study. The two organizations are working with Serecon, a third-party research company, to conduct an economic scan and facilitate key stakeholder interviews through a national survey and provide further analysis. The goals of the project are: To increase the understanding of the current state of the sector; To identify and articulate the economic and social impacts of horse racing across the country; To develop strategic recommendations to ensure the sustainability and inclusivity of the horse racing sector; Socialize findings with key federal government stakeholders The study will review such economic drivers as cost of ownership, economic contribution from horses, and industry trends. “We are pleased to collaborate with Standardbred Canada to conduct the economic impact study for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing breeds,” said Adrian Munro, President of CTHS. “The study will build off of the pre-pandemic era to begin tracking overall impact drivers for our industry.” “This is a first for both national breed registries who have agreed to work together to collect data and information on the horse racing sector in Canada and using the key performance metrics that the survey provides will help us understand and measure our lines of business with the ultimate goal of building a sustainable future for the industry,” said Dan Gall, President and CEO of Standardbred Canada. The final report will be reviewed by CTHS and the SC Board of Directors and is scheduled to be submitted in January 2023. This report will provide an overview of the evolution and current state of the Canadian horse racing industry and highlight the economic and social impacts of the sector, outline challenges, opportunities, and recommendations to consider. Bob Burden, a Senior Director with Serecon, added that “Our team will accurately assess the total contribution of the Canadian horse racing industry to Canada's economy so that both associations will be better equipped to address challenges going forward”. Both parties, SC and CTHS, encourage the horse racing sector to provide information into the research being conducted to allow our sector to be as thorough and accurate as possible with the data collected. To take the survey click here .
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