Blog Post
Nigel Reid • Jul 10, 2020
Breeders Round-Up
Six of the 14 races run at Hastings on Monday and Tuesday went the way of BC-breds, with significant victories for some of our Province’s leading owner/breeders.
However, the appetizer to the first forays into this “New Normal” racing era came on Hastings-eve (Sunday) when INFINITE PATIENCE, made her seasonal bow in a Stakes contest at Woodbine.
With so few suitable options now available to the daughter of SUNGOLD, it made sense for connections to cast an eye further afield on behalf of their all-conquering Horse of the Year. And the sophomore didn’t let anyone down, staying on resolutely to finish third in the $125,000 Fury Stakes.
Running a little keen early under Emma-Jayne Wilson, last year’s unbeaten juvenile, who was putting a five-from-five record on the line, proved eminently worthy of her place in the field, finishing just over a length behind the winner (and last season’s top Woodbine two-year-old), Curlin’s Voyage.
HOMEBREDS
Still part-owned (with hockey star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) by her breeder Bill Decoursey, INFINITE PATIENCE was the first of some notable homebred performers this past week.
Indeed, the Heads’ team responsible for producing Infinite Patience in such splendid form for her seasonal bow enjoyed more success with progeny of Sungold when R. J. and Lois Bennett’s homebred SYNERGY, winner of last season’s Jack Diamond Stakes, showed he has progressed the right way during the lay-off.
Quickening smartly through the home turn under luckless Antonio Reyes (a fall later in the day put him out of action for the foreseeable future with a wrist injury), Synergy got the jump on the patiently ridden CAPILANO CANYON and held off last season’s Ascot Graduation winner by a nose.
The first two home have been trading blows throughout their young careers and, while this was very much round 1 to Synergy, it will be a fascinating rematch when next they meet.
ZEN BABY (Texas Wildcatter) was the second Glen Todd homebred winner of the opening two days to be bred by Todd in Kentucky, after his FORT LANGLEY (Majestic Warrior) prevailed on the opening day. The homebred double was two-thirds of a three-timer for Todd’s quick-starting stable.
Swift Thoroughbred’s striking homebred MOLESLEY (Pop Artist) took the opener on Monday for the Dino Condilenios barn, while the same afternoon White House Stables’
homebred SUZY MASCARA (Second In Command) broke her maiden tag for trainer “Twink” Baumgartner in a manner that suggests the four-year-old may not have finished improving.
HASTINGS RACING CLUB
The Hastings Racing Club II could not have dreamt of a better or more exciting start to their 2020 campaign, and the absence of the enthusiastic owner’s group from the racetrack highlighted perfectly what we are all having to endure while we await a solution to Covid 19.
WARRIOR’S PROMISE (Warrior’s Reward) looked to have zero chance approaching the home turn. However, when rider Enrique Gonzales selected “sports drive” the four-year-old filly surged through the field to grab the leaders close home and prevail by a neck. What a thrill for the hundreds of members who were presumably shouting at their digital devices – what a Zoom party that would have made!
PLENTY OF VARIETY
Unusually, the winners of the 14 races held at Hastings on Monday and Tuesday afternoon were won by the progeny of 14 different sires with local stallions POP ARTIST, STORM VICTORY, SECOND IN COMMAND, SUNGOLD, TEXAS WILDCATTER, FINALITY and CAUSE TO BELIEVE all notching winners.
FAST START
Glen Todd’s three-winner salvo was matched by trainer Steve Henson, whose three winners (TIZ MEOW (Courageous Cat), JAY LOST CONTROL (Mineshaft) and FRANKIE MACHINE (Wilburn) were supplemented by three third-place finishers from just eight runners.
With reigning champion trainer Phil Hall plying his trade at Woodbine this year, the trainer’s title race will be a fascinating affair and both Todd and Henson will be delighted to get off to such rapid starts.
HANDLES
While the nature of Hastings’ business model significantly penalizes racing behind closed doors, full, competitive fields provided terrific action for the online betting public. As a result, the combined wagering handle saw a gross increase compared to the same two days last year.
The two-day aggregate total handle for Monday and Tuesday was $1.3 million, while the figure for the same two days last year (run on a Saturday and Sunday) was $1.08 million.
Many congratulations to the all the winning connections at Hastings on opening weekend. The healthy handle is hopefully just the beginning and, with your support, there will be lots more excitement to come in this most extraordinary of racing seasons.
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 .
GENEROUS INCENTIVE REWARD PROGRAMS ADD TO CTHS BC YEARLING & MIXED SALE EXCITEMENT This Weeks Calendar - Parade Wednesday; Sale Thursday
Contact Us
#7 - 5492 - Production Blvd. Surrey, B.C. V3S 8P5
(604) 534 -0145
FAX: (604) 534-CTHS (2847)
Subscribe to receive Sales Catalogue
