Northlands Park Sugar Doyle Recaps all the action from the past weekend

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/harness/item/109-weekend-recap-for-february-3/4

ASHA Award Winners

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/thoroughbred/item/68-fantastic-finish-freedoms-traveller-wins-canadian-derby

 

Alberta scored big today at the Queens Plate.

Dover Stables Inglorious fresh off her outstanding win in the Woodbine Oaks managed to beat the boys today with an outstanding late kick .

Inglorious is owned by Donna and Vern Dubinsky of Sherwood Park.

Luis Contreras rode Inglorious and timed her late move well as the early pace setters began to tire. Josie Carroll trains the 9-2 third choice.

 

Pender Harbour continued his late moving racing style to capture Third place in today’s Queens Plate. 

Pender Harbour is owned by Roberta and Robert Giffin, Denny Andrews and Sandra Lazaruk .  

 

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
It was something Lethbridge hasn't seen much of this Spring, sunshine - but you must remember
it was Lethbridge, so there was wind, plenty of it.
But the wind, and a good break from the gate, moved Czech down the 220-yard chute in great
style to win the All Canadian Futurity and the winner's share of the $15,580 purse.
Guided by Larris Allen, the Stan Webb-trained Quarter horse speedster gave Stan, one of the
best trainers at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club, a rare victory this Spring.
"This helps our Spring. That's for sure," said Stan, carrying two of the outside fingers on his
right hand tightly wrapped. "I was kind of confident going in here, we were feeling good about
this race."
Czech in by Corona's Czech out of In Special Star by Strawfly Special, bred in Oregon by owner
Richard R. Settje.
Stan's wife Chrissy found herself without cash and had to borrow to place a wager, one of the
best loans she's ever made. The win paid $35.10, $6.60 and $3.90.
Stan's incapacitated hand came when he had dallied up and a horse went over backwards,
dragging Stan, and his finger, with it. He had always seen team ropers with decapitated thumbs
and was worried about dallying up.
"I had promised myself never to learn to dally and then this accident just happened. I still have
my little finger though . . . if I keep from banging it too often.
The next race for Czech will be a Futurity in Grande Prairie this summer.
"She's little but she's a professional, and by that I mean she just walks around in the paddock,
walks into the gate and charges right out of it. She just does her business."
In Saturday's other major race of the weekend the highly anticipated five and a half furlong,
$8,250 Spring Sprint for Thoroughbreds wasn't quite as thrilling as it was billed - except for
Norm Cuthbertson.
The former champion chuckwagon driver saw his speedster, Beau Gris, cruise to a victory under
the guiding hands of Brooke Mellish.
"He'll have some rest now before the RMTC Fall Meet," stated Norm. "He's won six in a row
and set two track records along the way. He's in his prime, just five. He was in tough today. He
likes to go to the front end and keep it."
The expected head-to-head match with another undefeated horse this Spring, Mr. Excessive, just
didn't happen with Skimming Song placing second and Mr. Excessive a fast-closing third..
Barb Depew, wife of Mr. Excessive's trainer Jim Depew, shrugged and said: "That's horse
racing. He just didn't fire and we were worried about that all week. That Beau Gris is sure a nice
horse though."
The race was supposed to be run last Sunday but was cancelled due to muddy track conditions.
Saturday's card was kicked off in the proper fashion, at least in RMTC CEO Max Gibb's mind,
as his horse, Hey Italian Lady, came from back of the pack to win the opening race with ease. 
This Alberta-bred, by Gibb, is by Real West out of Hey Reba by Rahy and is trained by Corrine
Draper.
Friday, Jim Depew overcame his Saturday's disappointment early with two wins, both with
Valentino McBean aboard. The first was Zoar, to pay 14.30, 5.90 and 4.30 for a $2 triactor of
$151.80. The second was with Dr. Hoodoo, paying 9.20, 4.30 and 2.40 with a $2 tri of $121.70.
McBean, who came to the Spring meet late in the month won three races on Friday's card.
My favourite wager is $5 across the board and boy what a hit that would have been las Sunday
when Kym Espy brought her husband's horse hoe, You Take It Easy. They paid $19.00, $17.40
and $6.40.
You Take It Easy is by Margie's Wildcat out of Stony Jody by Silver Surviour and was bred in
Ontario.
BEHIND THE STARTING GATE . . . .Trainer Stan Marks, who had Comic Fool all primed in
the Spring Sprint figured his horse had a real shot if is didn't blow the first turn . . . "I was
worried about that turn, and she went out wide," Stan said with a shake of his head after the race
. . .The RMTC horses, trainers and riders move to Millarville, Friday July 1, with a 1 p.m. post
time, and then return to Whoop-Up Downs in Lethbridge July 2-3 to close the Spring Meet . . .
The Spring's leading trainer, Lyle Magnuson, was pleased as On The Hill won Saturday
afternoon in front of his Dad, Harold . . .  Well, that's really not true, you see Lyle's father is
Harold, and Saturday a family friend, Harold Magnuson from Vulcan (not the father, or a
relative) was on hand to see Lyle's horse win . . . it must really be something when they're all
together and someone calls for Harold . . . One of the rail birds, paying keen attention to the
Spring Sprint horses in the paddock, was heard to say "I'm going to bet big here, I'm gong up to
four bucks" . . . Donalda Cochrane had three of the seven horses in the Futurity and the best she
could do was a second with Choose An Ace . . . Teagan Oulton rodeo Snowbird Kila to victory
Saturday for Marcie to pay a $216.50 triactor . . . Valentino McBean, who came on the scene
late this Spring, racked up five winners this past weekend and without a doubt is the hot jockey
going into the final weekend of racing this coming Saturday and Sunday.

Wednesday June 1, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Horse Racing Alberta

Announces Shirley McClellan

As Chief Executive Officer  

 

Edmonton, Alberta – Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) announced today the selection of Mrs. Shirley McClellan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a term of three years.

 Horse Racing Alberta also announced Mr. Peter Bidlock will assume the role as Interim Chair. The HRA Board will be undertaking a search to recruit a suitable candidate for the position of Chair for the fall of 2011.

 Peter Bidlock emphasized the important role the CEO will be tasked with,

“The CEO will closely look at HRA’s operational and business plans in order to address the unique needs of all breeds and racing facilities in these difficult economic times.”

 Shirley McClellan re-enforced the challenges that are ahead,

“Our industry spans the agricultural, entertainment and gaming sectors in Alberta. It is important the industry works together and recognizes that more work is needed to the framework that currently is in place. We must continue to stabilize and grow live horse racing and breeding in Alberta during these difficult economic times.”

Horse Racing Alberta is a private, not-for-profit organization mandated to govern, direct, control, regulate, market and promote the Alberta Horse Racing and Breeding Industry.

 

-30-

For further information, please contact:

Horse Racing Alberta

Mrs. Shirley McClellan

780-415-5432

Rmtc 2nd weekend...

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
Thus far in the Rocky Mountain Turf Club's presentation of the Spring Meet, Lyle W. Magnuson
is the talk of the rack.
If he's not winning races - another three Saturday and one Sunday to go with his three opening
weekend - he's the star of the Claiming box.
Its tough to pick a saying for the back of his jacket - either Pay Me or Claim Me.
"Thing is, I run good horses where they can win, where they fit. Some get claimed that way,"
said Lyle on a sunny but windy Saturday afternoon at Whoop-Up Downs.
"If you run against only the best horses, you likely won't win or get claimed.."
Lyle brought 22 horses to the RMTC, and has lost five. He had one scratched and among the
others claimed he lost Lucky 13 and At The Bada Bing.
"They were nice animals, easy to deal with, but that's the way it goes.
"This year I've been lucky to have Scott Sterr and Nate Smith on my horses. I've been winning
at a good pace and I hope that continues. After all, that's what we're here for, to run and to win."
Saturday Nate Smith brought home Lyle's Fuzzy Pitch, owned by Jackie Smith - not to be
confused with the jockey - to pay 11.30, 6.20 and 3.60 and with a $2 Triactor $127 (1-2-5).
Fuzzy Pitch is by Cascadian out of Touched by N Angel by Claim. How's that for an appropriate
name! The horse was bred in Washington by Jackie Smith.
In the third, Scott Sterr out-ran the field on Lyle's Buckshot West, by Ihitman. For his third win,
and in the fourth race, Magnuson saw the field narrowed to five horses when Hey Italian Lady,
owned by the RMTC, rear up in the gate and end up a vet's scratch. Nate Smith on La Valle Girl
beat the remaining five horse home.
The feature race of the weekend was the closing race Sunday, a $16,000, 300-yard dash. The
eight-horse field was narrowed to seven when Memories Moments got excited in the paddock
and after a couple of flips was scratched by the stewards.
On the track, Nate Smith made it win number nine for the four days of racing when he brought
The Fire Fly home on top, a horse trained by his wife, Amanda Smith. The Fire Fly paid 21.10,
6.10 and 3.30 with the 6-2-1 Triactor at $252.60. The winning horse is by Sixes Royal out of
Thatsa Blasin Chick by Chicks A Blasin, bred in New Mexico.
"You've got to get out of the gate, that's what's needed, and we did that," said winning rider
Nate Smith. "By the last few hundred yards we were sitting fine. About half this field was pretty
tough and really, it was whoever broke first.
"I came back healthy this Spring and that's good, it helps a guy perform," Nate added about his
nine wins the first 23 races of the season.
Brooke Mellish, one of the fans' favourite riders the past half dozen riders, missed the first
weekend of racing but was back his past weekend, bringing Norm Cuthbertson's Beau Gris
home in front - almost a runaway in fact - to close out the day in the sixth race.
"I was sitting at home last weekend and next weekend I may race in Vancouver. But I will be
back in Lethbridge from time to time this year, especially if Norm calls and wants me to ride his
horses."
Beau Gris is by Diligence out of Vienna Dawn by Chromite and was bred in Florida.
Sunday, Brooke opemed the card with a win on End Game, trained by Allen Goodsell, and raced
in the money in the majority of the rest of the card.
BEHIND THE STARTING GATE . . . The highest payout Saturday was $18.20, 6.40 and 3.60
with a $202 Exactor with Gorgeous Gabrysia combined with Viva Vavoom . . . Antonio Ramirez
rode the winner with Dwight Anthony Lewis on the second-place horse, owned by one of the
classiest women in racing, Linda Kropius . . .  It paid to be early Sunday as the first 5o people at
the races received a hot dog and drink coupon . . . Dwight Anthony Lewis, tall enough to play
basketball, riding a small kid's bike, with his riding crops under his arm, through the crowd at
the end of Saturday's race day . . . The Lethbridge wind was present both days, but it was coning
from the south, not the west . . . Scott Sterr, with three wins Sunday, has six for the meet, second only to Smith . . .
Lyle Magnuson leads the trainers with seven wins and Stan Marks picked up his first two Sunday . . .There'll be no racing this coming Friday, but the horses will be
on the track Saturday through Monday . . . Post time all three days is 1:05 p.m.

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
To quote owner/trainer Jim Depew, it was "a great way to start the year."
Depew's Jorae, Antonio Ramirez aboard, outraced Kilkenny Aileen down the lane in the
opening race of the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Spring Meet to pay $26.80, $4.80 and $3.20. The
Exactor paid a nice $123.
Jorae is by Elegant Fellow out of La Vie Rn Rose by Apollo.
"She's got a lot of gas. She won three races last year, She took this race out early and held the
lead." said Depew, as son Adam, just back from a two-year LDS Church mission to
Mozambique, led the horse to the test barn.
"We got Jorae out of California and we've run her now for a couple of years," said Barb, wife
and mother of the Depew family."She's a good horse but can be kind of nutty sometimes. She's
not the easiest horse to handle."
The Depews were still basking in the glory of winning the first race of the RMTC season when
one of their tried and true mounts, Mr. Excessive, took the third race with relative ease.
"I started my training back in March on my farm, in the snow. As a result I've got some more
days in than some of the other guys," said Jim.
Barb said all the Depew horses train early in the year in the snow, which seems to last forever on
the Depew farm south of Raymond, along the Milk River Ridge.
"Two years ago Mr. Excessive (by In Excess out of Mis Upstart by Flastaff) was the horse of the
year at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club. He was kind of sickly last year but was running well at
the end."
Sunday the Depew's bubble burst when Maputo finished fourth, but had the race been two
strides longer he was challenging for first.
However others were smiling Sunday.
Owner/trainer Lyle Magnuson had three winners, Box Top, Manningshill Road and Lucky
Thirteen. Two of the winners were ridden by Nate Smith, and the other by Laurina Bugeaud.
Smith booted home five winners in the 11 races opening weekend, an average he'd like to see
continue all spring long. His closest rivals were Scott Sterr and Antonio Ramirez with a pair of
wins apiece.
Magnuson was the busiest trainer Sunday, getting his horses to the paddock, watching his horses
win and then running off to the test barn on the backside of the track at the end of each race,
never having time to stop and comment about his good fortune. His fist winner, Bugeaud in the
irons, paid a nice $13,50 to win.
Box Top is by He's Tops out of No Forgiveness by Basket Weave, coming to Whoop-Up Downs
via Washington.
Sunday's biggest payday came from And That's The Truth with Jackie Smith aboard. The $2
triactor of 6-2-1 paid $155.40 with Jackie's mount paying $20, $8.30 and $3.40.
Jackie Smith was supposed to be in retirement but stepped in he irons when a number of injuries
cut the jockey pool way down. Ironically Jackie injured her leg in the first race Saturday and
ended up being a scratch as she subbed for Kym Espy, out with pulled ligaments in her thumb.
BEHIND THE STARTING GATE: Longtime race enthusiast and a great friend of the RMTC,
Melvin Christianson, was all smiles when his horse, Miss High Society, posted a nice win with
Scott Sterr aboard . . . "It's a nice start, I hope this holds on for the meet," he said as his son-in-
law and trainer Daniel Oberholtzer led the horse away . . . there were only four races on
Saturday's opening card in order to allow race fans to take full advantage of the Kentucky Derby
and the annual Derby party at Bullys . . . Not only did the Depews win two of the four races
Saturday but they held winning tickets on the Derby . . . There were splotches of Sun for
Saturday's card and Sunday would have been warm, except for a chilling wind . . . But then its
Lethbridge . . . While Jackie Smith was riding, she was also the winning owner in the second
race Sunday, the Magnuson's trained Manningshill Road . . . Last year's trainer of the year, Pete
Dubois, had his first win Sunday with Bam Bam, a horse owned by his wife Erna . . . Racing
continues at the RMTC this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

BY GARRY ALLISON

Rocky Mountain Turf ClubEach year the Rocky Mountain Turf Club plays host to a Kentucky Derby party, of which RMTC CEO Max Gibb says: "If you can't be at the Derby, Whoop-Up Downs is the place to be."

And, usually Gibb has somewhat of a tie-in with one of the Derby runners, this Saturday its second-favourite - in some people's books- Mucho Macho Man.

"This horse is trained by a super lady who has to be an inspiration to us all," says Gibb. "Kathy Ritvo trains a Derby entry, and is a survivour of a heart transplant. She began rubbing legs and wrapping legs, and now she's a trainer in the Kentucky Derby, despite having undergone a complete heart transplant. What an inspiration!"

Gibb, RMTC Race Manager Dot Stein and Bully's General Manager Rose Rossi all met Ritvo, and Mucho Macho Man, during a recent visit to the Florida Derby.

"I think Macho Man has a great chance, he loves this cold weather and he's had two good workouts here," said Kathy Ritvo, who has been in great health since her heart transplant in 2008. "Our horse is fit and ready to go"Speaking by phone from Churchill Downs, Ritvo said her horse is very tall - over 17 hands high - and has a huge stride.

"He's such an easy-going horse."

Ritvo and the owners, Dean and Patti Reeves, who have supported Kathy in all her endeavours with Mucho Macho Man, are not looking past Saturday's Derby, but . . .

"As long as he runs well and comes out of the Derby in good condition we are looking forward to the Preakness and then the Belmont."

Not wanting to jinx her horse, she did admit it would be nice to be going for the Triple Crown come Belmont time.

In the high-pressure world of major hose racing Ritvo has won more than 150 races and seven Stakes races, including the Calder Breeder's Cup.

"Kathy's horse has beaten two Derby favourites and it would be a fun wager on this horse with a chance," says Gibb.

Mucho Macho Man is by Macho Uno out of Ponce De Leona by Ponche and will be ridden by Jamaica rider Rajiv Maragh is a grandson of Holy Bull.

Gibb says Mucho Macho Man is a "game, genuine horse and always gives his best. He has a better chance of winning than it may look. In the Holy Bull Stakes in Florida, he threw a shoe and still finished fourth by less than a length and was closing."

Gibb now has a filly in Edmonton by Holy Boll, which sired Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. On the Lethbridge scene, Bullys and other RMTC TV's will feature all the races from Churchill Downs Saturday as well as other tracks throughout North America.

RMTC Race Manger Don Stein has a full first-weekend of racing live horse racing all set, with post times both days at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday is the start of the RMTC Spring Meet, with racing each weekend through July 2-3.

Everyone - fans, owners, trainers and riders at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club - hope the 2011 horse racing season is a much drier edition than the 2010 program.
"We have a whole rash of top trainers, horses and riders anxious to begin the Spring season May 7-8," says RMTC CEO Max Gibb. "We've had a fairly descent April for the horsemen to get in some serious training, and believe it or not we've actually had horsemen using the track during the winter months.

"Right now the track is in pretty fair condition for opening day Saturday, with the horses and the riders working their way into top shape.

I've always said the toughest job in sports is being a jockey. I have nothing but admiration for these men and women who lay it all on the line every time they climb aboard a race horse."

Along that line Gibb points out there are dozens of sports, and even professions, out there for a young person to aim at, yes even for those too small for football, baseball and maybe even soccer.

If you crave excitement and want to be among the top athletes in the world, have you ever considered becoming a jockey, Gibb asks?
"Jockeys are among the bravest athletes in a world jammed full of excitement and rewards. I have nothing but the greatest respect for jockeys," says Gibb, who rode himself back in the 1950s.

"Jockeys have to be in the finest conditioned athletes, able to control a race horse going at top speed for as many as eight or nine races a day. There are usually one or two short Quarter horse sprints a race card and the rest are filled out with distance Thoroughbred races, an both styles are thrilling on the back of a horse.

"A rider needs arm strength, upper body strength, leg strength and nerves of steel. I truly believe being a jockey is one of the most extreme and exciting sports in the world, right up there with bull riding."

Riding race horses is a trade you can learn at Olds College, as Omar Moreno recently did. Omar followed up his training at Whoop-Up Downs in Lethbridge and then went east to ride on the "big" tracks, becoming the winningest apprentice jockey in North America.

The racing season with the RMTC runs each weekend in May and June and the September through much of October. In the summer the horses, trainers and riders head north to Grande Prairie for July and August weekends.

The great thing about deciding to become a jockey is the field is open to either male of female riders. Roughly speaking, about 50 per cent of the riders with the RMTC are female, and some of them - usually three or more - are always ranked in the top five.

"Riding is as exciting as any sport you can name," says Gibb. "I would suggest any young person in the 105 to 112-pound range, contact Olds College and look into becoming a professional jockey. "As well, Olds offers courses for grooms and morning gallopers, or you can come just out to the track and pick up work yourself right at the track with any of the trainers on hand."

Through the Spring season the RMTC will race each weekend May 7-8 through July 2-3 at Whoop-Up Downs, then comes a two month break. The horses return to Lethbridge Sept. 2-5 to kick off the Fall meet, which winds up Oct. 14-16. As in past years RMTC will be featuring the exciting Quarter horse sprints as well as the majestic Thoroughbreds.
"Being this early in the season the Thoroughbreds will be sticking to five to five and a half furlongs, with the seven furlongs run not coming until later in the spring," says Gibb.
Dot Stein will be back as the manager of racing and Jim Ralph will return as the RMTC gate man. Purse money will be set at a $3,000 minimum, ut many of the featured races will be for higher purses, particularly for the Quarter horses this early in the spring.

Look for veteran trainers like Pete Dubois, Stan Marks, Phil Weist, Jim Depew and many others to be back in the paddock providing mounts for familiar riders likeNate Smith, Scott Sterr, Brooke Mellish and others. Barb Depew, wife of trainer Jim Depew - both with a racing pedigree going back many generations - are looking forward to a great Spring. Barb says Jim has six or seven horses in the barn, all ready to run. And like all horsemen, they look forward to a great season.
As usual admission is free at the RMTC, with post times at 6 p.m. on Fridays and 1:05 Saturday, Sunday and Mondays.