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.