Vancouver, BC  (Oct. 27/21) -- As a young boy growing up in British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley, Dave Bennington would watch his grandfather clearing land with a team of horses at the five-acre family farm near Duncan on Vancouver Island.
 
“I dare say it was some time ago - the mid 1940’s - when I fell in love with horses as a five-year-old,” says the new president of CTHS-BC.  "Later we would go to Sandown Park in Sidney to watch the races."
 
And as the age-old theory goes:  some things never change.    
 
After serving CTHS-BC as Vice President and Finance Chair since 2018, Bennington was named President at a Board of Directors meeting earlier this month. He replaces Grant Watson, who spent two terms and a portion of a third as President after joining the CTHS-BC Board of Directors in March, 2014.
 
During that time Watson established fiscal responsibility that resulted in maintaining and ultimately increasing the Breeders’ awards and providing stability to assist the association through difficult times over the last two racing seasons. He decided to move back to Winnipeg to be closer to his family and enjoy time with his grandchildren.
 
The Board of Directors, as well as friends and a legion of racing acquaintances, extend thanks and best wishes to Grant for his devotion and hard work during the time he served with CTHS-BC.  David Pihl replaces Watson representing BC at the CTHS National Directors level.


Bennington sees positive signs on the horizon, beginning with the success of this year’s Yearling & Mixed Sale on September 14 at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.  
 
“Total sales figures and average price as well as median price were up from previous years,” Bennington says.  “The mood of consignors and buyers seemed to indicate that we are on the road to returning to a normal racing season with a great amount of confidence.”
 
There were 75 sales recorded at an average of $15,880 for a gross of $1,191,000 and the 74 yearlings sold resulted in gross sales of $1,181,000 at an average of $13,304. Leading buyer was James Redekop & Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds with six averaging $26,000 and leading consignor was North American Thoroughbred Horse Company (NATHC) with three at an average of $35,333.
 
“My mandate is to work with our CTHS members to increase the number of mares bred in BC so we can increase the BC-bred population,” Bennington says. “Without a solid breeding program, a racing program will not flourish.  Increasing the horse population is critical for Hastings to have a successful meet in 2022 and the years beyond,”


At a recent Board of Directors meeting the advantages of increasing the upset price for the annual Yearling & Mixed Sales were considered with these and other points being brought forward:
•    It would create an established starting price for the quality yearlings brought to the Sale.  Over the years, BC-bred horses have demonstrated they are valued horses and are capable of winning in all the jurisdictions they enter.
•    It would assist with establishing farm status for the smaller-acre farms that might have just one or two broodmares.
•    New breeders might be encouraged to take advantage of the broodmare incentive purchase program knowing the established sale price could be $3,000 or $5,000.            
1.    raise the upset price to $5,000
2.    raise it to $3,000 (the minimum commission is five per cent so it would not change the amount on that sale)
3.    raise it to $2,500, mid-point  
4.    have the upset price remain at $1,000.
 
Another encouraging development has been the tremendous support from within the industry to increase the BC-bred bonus on earnings to 35% from 25% and in addition, the increase to 50% for horses that sold through the 2021 Yearling Sale will add to those bonuses in 2022 and 2023.


We’ll start with the 3 & 4-year-old fillies at Century Mile on October 15, 2021 with Infinite Patience by Sungold out of Montero and bred by William DeCoursey winning for co-owners DeCoursey and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and trainer Barbara Heads.  Infinite Patience won the CTHS-BC Sales Stakes at Hastings on August 2, 2021.
 
Finishing third in the 3 & 4-year-old colts & geldings division on October, 16, 2021 was Toriado by Bakken out of Winning Toast, bred by Dr. Sheila McDonald, owned and trained by Milton Palma.
 
In the 2-year-old fillies division on October 22, 2021 Amanda by Sungold finished second for breeder BC Stable and owner Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd., trained by Barbara Heads.  Amanda is a half-sister to Here’s Hannah. In that same race Chica Hermosa by Bakken out of Ghost Girl finished third for breeder Ed Rougeau, owned by Milton Palma and Roxanne Sargent and trained by Palma.
 
Finishing first in the 2-year-old colts & geldings division on October 23, 2021 was Asyoubelieve by Second in Command out of I Believe in Angel, bred by the Bennett/Caravetta duo, owned by Shot in The Dark Racing Corp. and trained by Tim Rycroft. In that same race Mount Asgard by Sky Mesa out of a Song for Arbonne finished third for breeder Black Canyon Thorougbreds Ltd., owner Willow Creek Farms and trainer Robbie Henson. Mount Asgard won the CTHS-BC Sale Stakes on August 30, 2021 at Hastings.

FINISH LINES:  Ralis, the Grade 1 winning stallion who’s been at Canmor Farms in Aldergrove for the past three years, has been leased to Jim Alendal and will stand at Alendal’s farm in Chilliwack.
 
Mister Snickers (Empire Maker – Sis City by Slew City Slew) a two-time winner has been retired and will stand at stud at Road’s End Farm in Abbotsford.
 
For 2021-2022 the Industry has announced incentive programs to encourage racing stock and breeding stock in BC and to increase the horse population at Hastings. Details for all programs can be viewed at https://www.cthsbc.org/incentives
 

The working group committee consisting of President, Dave Bennington; Vice Presidents Dairen Edwards and Ralph Jesiak and Directors Pat Gormley and Paul Caravetta continue to meet on a regular weekly basis and encourage CTHS-BC members to submit pertinent information and comments to:  B-J Davidson, Regional General Manager, CTHS-BC or to any one of the Directors of the Association.