By Murray Slough

The Stanley Cup playoffs may be over for this year, but there were hat tricks abound at Alberta Downs this past weekend.

Hat tricks of the driving variety anyway were commonplace in a racing weekend that ended up being somewhat crammed into a furious two days of racing on Monday and Tuesday at the Lacombe oval. A large amount of rain that went from late in the week right through Sunday forced cancellations of the scheduled cards on Saturday and Sunday. We then raced on Monday what I termed an "Ernie Banks Special" which for old baseball fans like me means a doubleheader. Full 11-race cards started at 1pm and 5:30pm on Monday and the track just progressively got better and better throughout the day -- witness the first race of the afternoon card going in 2:09.3 and then the second last race of the evening card going in 1:57.3!

Driver Jim Marino accomplished a rare feat by driving to two separate hat tricks in the same day as he won exactly three races in the afternoon and in the evening. He did not get going until late in the afternoon card when he won the 6th race for trainer Dave Jungquist with A Midnight Promise. Then he scored in the 9th with another $4000 claiming mare, Roxy Roller for trainer Scott Knight. Marino then came right back with one of AD's hottest horses, Pop Gun for trainer Dan Sifert who won his 3rd in a row in what I thought was one of the most exciting races of the weekend despite the field being scratched down to only four horses.

Marino then likely dined on a hot dog (like the rest of us, I can only assume) and came right back for three more victories in the evening card. He seemed to click well with Rolyninaces in his first time driving this talented four-year-old for trainer Travis Tracey. He lost a tight photo with Feelin Flush to Sharon Blew Bye in one of the most exciting stretch drives of the day, but then won a photo with Spartan Law for Scott Knight the next race. Marino then found the winner's circle to complete the hat trick at his last possible opportunity, getting it done with Cotton Cowboy in the finale for his main supplier of winning horses, top trainer Lance Ward.

Bob Clark then topped Marino on the special Tuesday make-up card in a way, as he proved a worthy subsitute for brother Keith in the bike and drove to what I like to call the Natural Hat Trick: three winners in a row. All three were right out of the Clark stable with Ambers Best front-ending, Blue Star Charger winning a too-close-to-call nose photo off the pocket ride and then veteran mare Barossa showing her back class to hold off Real Vintage. With more stakes coming up (and more Keith Clark entries sure to be in those stakes), we should see more of Bob Clark driving at Alberta Downs which is a plus because he really is a very capable driver.

Also on Tuesday, Neal Diamonique captured his third Open Pace in a row, but this time had to come from 7th and last at the quarter pole to do it. Neal Diamonique was able to follow the cover of Wrangler Hitech around the final turn, and it was not great cover, but did not hold him up too badly, and he was able to hunt down Trust The Artist deep in the stretch after that horse had enjoyed the absolute perfect trip from Kelly Hoerdt. Last week Neal Diamonique was able to hold off Trust The Artist after cutting the mile, somewhat suprisingly, and then this week he was able to close from a tough spot and catch him again. No doubt, this horse is ultra-sharp, probably as good as he was here last year, and is the undisputed King of AD right now.

NOTES: good to see Jeff Stone back in the bike this past weekend after breaking his wrist in the ugly accident that has kept driver Rene Goulet sidelined as well . . . ASHA is holding a Fan Appreciation Day this coming Sunday, June 26 which will feature $2000 in free betting vouchers given away to lucky fans as well as hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks for only $2, free t-shirts and a draw to be part of the Fun For Fans stable which receives a portion of the top-class mare Starring Role's earnings . . . Alberta Downs partner 790 CFCW will also be live on location at AD . . . speaking of Starring Role, her long-time trainer Dan Sifert picked up his first 'A' track victory as a driver with his filly Alashazam on Monday (pretty sure it was in the evening, although after 33 races in less than 24 hours they all start to run together), congrats to him . . . stakes action returns to AD this coming Saturday with Alberta Princess stake for the 3yo fillies followed on Sunday by the Alberta Plainsmen for the 3yo colts & geldings.

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
Saturday was a day for the young and the old at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club. Sunday was a
day off for everyone.
Trainer Tom Reed saw his horse, Chick Power, win the five and a half furlong $8,700 Fillies and
Mares Spring Sprint and youthful Teagan Oulton won both the Division I and Division II of the
All Canadian Open Derby.
Oulton guided Chicks Snowbound (It was good to be a Chick Saturday) home first in the
Division II dash of the Derby and came right back in the next race to bring Howdoyalikemesofar
home on top in the Division I scamper.
"This sure came at the right time," a smiling Tom Reed said as he readied his horse for the test
barn in a race that was a true blanket finish with at least five horses in contention. "We had a lot
of trouble with her in the paddock in her second race here but she was perfect this time. In her
three starts for me before this she had three seconds, but today, at the right time, she won it all -
and in winning I beat Jane Doe (who had five first and a third in her last six races.)
"I bought her from Jack Root in Oregon and paid $9,500 for her.'
She has earned all, or most, of that back already.
Chick Power is by Seattle Shamus out of Happy Chick by Harlan, bred in Oregon by Jack Root
Jr.
Teagan classified both her wins as easy, and fun.
"I had no trouble out there. I like Quarter horses the best, that's where I started," the recent U of
A graduate stated. "I knew both races would be tough, but I felt both my horses would be right
up there.
"I'm having a pretty good meet here and I'll go to Millarville July 1 if I have a ride. I'll also go
to Grande Prairie this summer."
When asked when she'll start working and make use of her electrical engineering degree,
Teagan laughed and said, "never."
Chicks Snowbound is by Snowbound out of Chicks Starlite by Chicks Bedunio bred in
Washington while her other winner, Howdoyalikemesofar is by Oak Tree Special out of Sheza
Sovereign Dash by Royal Sovereign, bred in Alberta by former RMTC leading jockey, and now
an established breeder and trainer, Angelle Carter.
Sunday was a victim of heavy rains Saturday evening and the six-race card was cancelled.
Friday Scott Sterr ran up a pair of wins, as did Larris Allen.
Valentino McBean, close to the top for leading rider last year, but just making a real appearance
this year, brought home Agua Fuerte Friday to pay $28.80, 9.90 and 3.00. Boy, five dollars
across the board on that horse would have been great.
BEHIND THE STARTING GATE . . . Trainer Daniel Oberholtzer came up with a pair of wins
Friday night . . . Saturday's racing would up about 4 p.m. and about 5 p.m, rain hit this city with
a vengeance . . . Teagan's first Quarter horse win Saturday on Chicks Snowbound paid 9.60,
3.80, 2.90 . . . Racing fane Bob Ennis telling a fellow race goer, "we need more rain because the
waterfront property along the homestretch is receding." . . . He was referring to the muddy lake
in the Whoop-Up Days rodeo infield . . . Incidentally, work crews have removed all the bucking
chutes from the RMTC infield and the timed event chutes will soon follow . . . this leaves most
of the infield grass a nice green, thanks to all the rain . . . Vincent Palmer, a jockey who rode
here last year but is out with injuries this Spring, showing off his daughter and grandchild, and
then pedaling away on his bike . . . its safer than a horse these days . . . Saturday leading jockey
Nate Smith won his only race of the day aboard his wife Amanda's horse, Lone Star Slew . . .

Rmtc June 17-19...

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
To put it in horse racing terms, two gentlemen are running three furlong races and the rest of the
field is in for seven furlongs.
Lyle Magnuson, with 17 wins this Spring and jockey Nate Smith, with 28 victories, have
virtually uncatchable leads as the Rocky Mountain Turf Club enters its third weekend before the
completion of an exciting, though varied, Spring Meet.
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be six races each day with two Quarter horse sprints
opening up the Friday and Saturday cards. Post time Friday is 6 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. the remaining
two days.
The big race of the weekend takes place Sunday, the five and a half furlong, $8,250 Spring
Overnite Sprint. The race features two of the finest horses at the track this Spring, Mr. Excessive
and Beau Gris, both unbeaten, as well as a number of other worthy contenders.
Both unbeaten horses are owned by trainers in second place for the Spring laurels, though well
back of Magnuson. Norm Cuthbertson, with Beau Gris, and Jim Depew with Mr. Excessive,
both have five victories, along with Pete Dubois, Laurie Ferguson and Amanda Smith. The
scramble for second place among the trainers is extremely tight, with Nellie Pigeau, Marcie
Riley, Stan Marks and Daniel Oberholtzer all knotted with four wins.
Turning to the jockeys, where things a pretty strung out, Scott Sterr is second in line with 15
victories, Laurina Bugeaud at nine and the late-starting Brooke Mellish with seven.
As well there'll be the music of the Rocky Mountain Dixieland Jazz Band and the Junior Jockey
Club for the kids.

http://www.northlandspark.ca/thoroughbred/item/50-make-it-4-in-a-row-salt-flat-speed-wins-another-stake-race

By Murray Slough

The occasional shower did nothing to slow down the pacers at Alberta Downs this past weekend as the fans were treated to a fantastic stretch battle in the Open and another lightning fast performance by a young filly trying to follow in River Lass' footsteps.

Neal Diamonique matched up with Trust The Artist in the Open in what setup to be a two-horse race only seconds after the gate sped away as Neal Diamonique used his rail post to grab the front quickly and easily for driver Jim Marino while Kelly Hoerdt settled into the pocket just as quickly with his top horse Trust The Artist. These two have faced each other many times over the past few years in Alberta's top classes, but I don't recall them ever really have a match race, two-horse square off as they did in Saturday's Open Pace.

The other horses in the field were certainly capable of challenging, with KG Explorer having recently won an Open, Barona Ice having won two Opens in April, All Canadian MJJZ had finished only a length behind Neal Diamonique last week, and finally Clintons Escape making a return race, having been off since December but no doubt a capable horse and the all-time track record holder at AD with his 1:50.2 mile here last year.

But, KG Explorer got away third, and he is not one to keep up well in the early going, and he gapped out as the field went to the half in :56.1, leaving the rest of the field hoping to close just too far back. And considering those front two came a back half in :56 and change themselves, no one was going to close from the back in this race.

So it was Neal Diamonique against Trust the Artist in a good old-fashioned LONG stretch battle. When Hoerdt first slipped Trust The Artist off Marino's back, it appeared he gained about a length instantly and had the momentum to go by. Neal Diamonique then dug in and the two raced nose to nose right to the wire where it appeared in the final few strides Neal Diamonique came back on just a bit and he won it by a head in a stellar clocking of 1:52.3. Just a thrilling stretch drive between two very classy pacers and considering it was Trust The Artist's first start since February after a qualifier, an outstanding return by an Alberta fan favorite.

It also capped off another great day for trainer Lance Ward as he now not only has his trainer's average up over .400 (Ted Williams territory) but also has trained Neal Diamonique to victory in 3 of the past 4 opens as well as very nice three-year-old Silver Eagle to wins in 5 of his past 6 including two in 1:53 and change.

The fast filly showed her immense talent on Sunday afternoon, and it was the filly I mentioned last week, Barona Josie. Building off her 2011 debut where she trounced a field in 1:55.2, she was able to stay in the non-winners of 4-6 for her second start. She probably should have paid about $2.50 (that will be next start) but was sent off at more than even money and flew first over from the half to the front before the three-quarters and then coasted home for driver Bill Tainsh Jr., stopping the clock in 1:54.2. This horse has won with such ease and with that race being just 4/5ths of the track record for 3yo fillies held by River Lass, it brought to mind the dominant season that Kelly Hoerdt-trained filly had last year at AD in the same category. Time will tell, but considering her high speed, I would not bet against Barona Josie being the dominant horse in this category all season.

Interesting to look at the driver and trainer standings leaders in the back of our program, which I did the other day. The stats include the last 365 days at Alberta Downs, so not just 2011 stats are included. It was no surprise at all to see Keith Clark's name at the top of both the drivers with 69 wins and the trainer's list with 67 wins. The win% column I found the most informative however as for drivers it was JF Gagne nosing out Clark with a 18.93 win percentage to Clark's 18.02. I would have guessed Jim Marino but he was third at 17.08% wins from his 240 drives at AD. On the trainer side it was the aforementioned Ward topping all with a whopping 26.18% winnners in the past year. Battling for second are three names a bit further down in total wins but showing great efficiency in limited starts: Doug Stout at 20.62%, Ken Read at 20% along with Ryan Grundy (having a great 2011 at AD) also at 20%.

Also note seven of 10 winners on Sunday afternoon took new lifetime marks over a track that played very fast despite showers just before the card started. It seems a new addition to the surface of a fine sand and gravel mix has really improved the surface overall and we look forward to more fast miles this summer once the weather really warms up (if it ever warms up)!

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
Sometimes the racing gods smile on very deserving people and this Spring is no exception at the
Rocky Mountain Turf Club.
Sunday Nellie O. Pigeau saw her horses go to the post for the ninth time, and give her two more
victories, making it four on the meet, moving her well up in the trainer standings.
"Things are going just fine," shouted Nellie, still on horseback, as she gathered in her surprise
winner, Pipestone Flyer, in the sixth race. "The secret is good stock and then to treat them right"
as she reached over and gave Flyer an affectionate hug on the neck. She was also equal in her
praise for jockey Nate Smith.
Nellie's first win of the day came with Box Top, its third of the meet, ridden by Laurina
Bugeaud. Box Top looked good under Laurina's guidance, winning in an easy romp. Box Top is
by He's Tops out of No Forgiveness by Basket Weave and was bred in Washington.
Its almost monotonous - except for those backing the leading Spring jockey at the Rocky
Mountain Turf Club - but Nate Smith picked up four more wins Saturday and Sunday, one of
them for wife Amanda.
Nate was an easy length and a half ahead, which isn't easy in an eight-horse 350-yard sprint, to
give Amanda and The Fire Fly a win in the biggest race of Saturday afternoon, the Old Timer
Classic for three-year-olds and upwards.
The four-year-old gray, trained by Amanda and owned by Our Horse Holdings, racked up its
second-straight win this Spring to pay 5.40, 3.30, 3.30 and $145.80 for a $2 tri with Fire Fly,
Golden Exciter and Casino High. The Fire Fly is by Sixes Royal out of Thatsa Blazin Chick by
Chicks A Blazin, bred in New Mexico, a hot-bed for Quarter horse racing.
Nate's other win Saturday was aboard Leslie Ferguson's (her fifth win of the Spring) Sixtyeigth
Avenue.
Sunday, Nate won with Nellie's Pipestone Flyer and then - ready for this - with Lyle Magnuson's
Manningshill Road. It was the fourth win in four starts for Road, and in the following race Scott
Sterr guided Magnuson's Buckshot West home In a seven furlong run. Manningshill Road is a
Kentucky bred, by Pembroke out of Scootin Dana by Lord Avie.
Magnuson is the leading trainer with 16 firsts this Spring, giving him a winning percentage into
the high 70 per cent range.
Sterr had a pair of wins Sunday, his first on Stan Webb's Mountain Mandate in a 350 yard sprint,
giving Sterr 15 wins on the season. Leading rider, Nate Smith has 26 wins. Mountain Mandate is
an Alberta-bred by Mountains Majesty out of Jus Torche by Juscash.
"Nate just got an early jump on me, but I'll be all right,  I'll wind him in by the Fall, he's just got
that early jump on the rest of us," said Sterr.
Teagan Oulton won the opening Quarter horse sprint Saturday, a maiden over 220 yards. Five
horses were scheduled and only three left the gate.
"I'm totally embarrassed to run three horses," RMTC CEO Max Gibb stated with deep feeling.
"That's a problem with running young Quarter horses this early in the year. The two scratches
were legitimate, but we only had five in the race to begin with, a maiden dash for two-year-olds.
"This was meant to be a trial, for the All Canadian Open Futurity, and when we didn't have
enough to legitimize a trial we had to run a maiden race."
Gibb has always been proud of the fact the RMTC has been a leader in North America year after
year for running full horse fields, so you see what a three-horse race is embarrassing.
Magnuson added to his dominance of the Spring meet with two more wins Friday.
Opening Friday's card Blandford Stewart rode Nifty Special, a Magnuson horse, home in first
then Stewart rode Lyle's Restless River home on top in Friday's fifth race.
Also of note Friday was the return for the first time this Spring of jockey Kym Espy, and she
marked the occasion with a win in the second aboard Devil Be Good, trained by Pete Dubois for
Bar None Ranches, and followed up with a win on Thatsa Gimmie Jimmy, trained by Dale
Gunn.
Brooke Mellish also rode a pair of winners Friday, first Swingin Storm for Norm Cuthbertson
and then R Lumber, again for Cuthbertson.
BEHIND THE STARTING GATE . . . Saturday really belonged to a pair of veteran horsemen,
Ken and Anne Buxton, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary at the RMTC. Ken and Anne
ran race horses virtually every weekend on the "bush" tracks of southern Alberta dating back to
the 1940s . . ."Ken and Anne are fixtures here at the RMTC, and have won an uncountable
number of races here at Whoop-Up Downs," says Max Gibb. "It is a real pleasure to honour Ken
and Anne with this special day at the RMTC, for two very special people" . . . Ken and Anne
renewed their vows with John Fritzherbet of the Cowboys Christian Athlete's Association. He
said Anne asked him how much the service would cost, and he said same as the first. Anne
smiled and said, "Good, it was only $3 then" . . . Another veteran horseman Jim Monroe saying
Ken once made a really dumb bet with him. "He bet me I would fall through the ice and drown if
I tried to cross a river. Well I crossed it, but how was he going to collect if I drowned?" . . .
Veteran jockey and now trainer Elije Bourne once said the best horse he ever rode was the
Buxton's Tango King . . . As well, Friday, Ken celebrated his 85th birthday, just three years more
than veteran horse buyer Bill McBeth who was on hand for the grand affair Saturday, catered to
in fine fashion by Rose Rossie . . .  A regular in the RMTC's Royal Ascot Betting Lounge in
Bullys hit is big on the Belmont card. He had two $1 tickets on the win three - the 9, 10 and 11
races - and won, and then he had a combination of tickets on the Belmont Stakes and won again,
going home with about $27,000 . . .  A nice win but at RMTC patron once hit the pick six twice
in the same month at Golden Gate for more than $120,000 . . . "Just shows what you can win at a
B track," said RMTC CEO Max Gibb with a big smile . . . Trainer Jim Depew, who had some
bad luck last weekend was pleased Saturday when Valentino McBean rode Jorae home on top in
the third race . . . The chief bartender in the Champions Room on the fifth floor of the RMTC
grandstand has a two-year-old hopeful, owned by Max Gibb, named for her - Bernice On Bar . . .
Live racing continues this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the RMTC.

Buxton weekend June 10-12.....

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
Horse racing goes beyond parimutuel windows and win or lose, and a prime example of that is
Ken and Anne Buxton, a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this Saturday at the
Rocky Mountain Turf Club.
Anne, a well recognized bronze sculptor, was the first licensed female jockey in Alberta and Ken
ran race horses virtually every weekend on the "bush" tracks of southern Alberta, as well as
picking up a handful of outriding championships at the Calgary Stampede.
"Ken and Anne are fixtures here at the RMTC, and they have run an uncountable number of
horses here at Whoop-Up Downs," says RMTC CEO Max Gibb. "When we head to Millarville
July 1st its like going home for this horse racing couple. Not only did the couple run horses
there, and win, Anne was always among the top jockeys at the day-long race meet.
"It is a real pleasure to honour Ken and Anne with this special day at the RMTC, for two very
special people."
A special invitation-only affair will be held on the Whoop-Up Grandstand's fifth floor to honour
this couple who, for so many years, have been a vital part of horse racing in southern Alberta.
On the racing side of the schedule, the ponies go to the post Friday through Sunday, with post
time Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Saturday will also feature a Quarter horse Old Timers Classic. This Quarter horse sprint of 350
yards for three-year-olds and upwards has a purse of $8,400.
There will be 18 races this weekend, six each day.
Trainer Lyle Magnuson still leads the field with 12 wins in 30 starts, but with the Quarter horse
people moving into the picture this weekend his lead could be cut into. Right now Stan Marks,
Amanda Smith, Jim Depew and Daniel Oberholtzer, all with four wins apiece.
If you favour the jockey rather than the horse and all the statistics, you can's go far wrong with
Nate Smith. Nate has been at the pay window 71 per cent of he time, with 23 wins in 42 starts as
well as three seconds and eight thirds.

By Murray Slough

The Scott Knight stable had a horse turn in an amazing front-end performance in lightning-fast time on Sunday afternoon at Alberta Downs with a mile in 1:53.2. However, it was not the horse he expected but instead $4000 claimer Rays Edge.

If you had said Knight would wire a field impressively in 1:53 and change on Sunday the response would be 'sure, Jans Rich Girl is sharp right now she looked great last week, she could do that in the Fillies&Mares Open.' Well, that did not come close to happening as Knight was victimized by the continually unpredictable central Alberta weather as an intense but thankfully brief thundershower rolled through before that 4th race Open, making the track much more wet than it had been (or was even a couple of races later). Knight reports that his top mare Jans Rich Girl had a lot of trouble gripping the wet track and that greatly contributed to her fading to 7th after leading to the half. She did seem to be visibly labouring and I would not be surprised to see her return to her usual tough front-end form next week, assuming a dry track. The mares open was won impressively by With Bells On for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt, as she drove away to win after sitting the pocket, in a deceivingly good 1:55, considering that storm had just ended before this race.

But back to that shocking performance by Rays Edge. It came only three races later, but the track had noticeably dried up by this point. Undefeated filly Ashlynn Grace had just toured the oval in 1:56 the race before, making the lead early on for a change and winning her fifth in five career starts for driver John Chappell. Rays Edge, a six-year-old son of With Held-Rays Promise, had shown great promise as a young horse here in Alberta for breeder/owner Raymond Thebeau and trainer Travis Umphrey. He did not look like the kind of horse at that point that would be in a $4000 claimer anytime soon. However, Rays Edge struggled to win races the past three years and eventually slid into the bottom claimers.

He had won two races last year for Scott Knight and none so far this year until last week when he sat the pocket behind Modern Man and came on to win in 1:55.4. Those two horses were matched up again on Sunday but this time Rays Edge cut the mile and Modern Man had the two-hole, with driver Keith Clark giving him an absolute perfect trip. Only problem was, Rays Edge just kept going, even after fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.3, he did not fall apart and paced home in :28.4 to hold off Modern Man in an astonishing 1:53.2. Haven't seen too many horses other than the Open go that fast in Alberta before in what was a testament to the track really getting fast after tightening up a bit from the rainstorm and perhaps a talented horse rediscovering his speed on a big mile oval where Knight can just let him roll and not worry so much about rating and tight turns as he would have to at Fraser Downs where this horse has been racing in recent years. Interesting to note that while Modern Man kept up and was only a head back in second, it was 14 lengths back to Rossridge Express in third showing how powerful this mile really was.

The next race was a real thriller as well, especially with about 200 Legion members cheering like crazy for Wrangler Bignrich, who was adopted as a "Legion horse" after owner Bob Allen had donated 40% of this horse's earnings on the day to Red Deer Legion #35. It ended up being a close five-horse photo with Silent Rescue winning by a thin nose and Wrangler Bignrich at least lighting the board in fourth, pleasing the large contingent of Legionnaires. Two busloads had traveled to Alberta Downs for the day from Legions across Alberta and were a very enthusiastic fan base, enjoying each of the 10 races on the Sunday afternoon. A hand-carved trophy donated by Red Deer legion member Mickey Simonsen was presented to the Silent Rescue and owner/trainer Sam Johnson for winning that 8th race with several Legion members in the winner's circle photo, a great way to end off the day.

Also of note on Sunday was the 9th race victory by Barona Josie. This talented filly was making her first start as a three-year-old after winning three of her five starts as a top Alberta two-year-old filly for trainer Doug Stout. She had qualified nicely in 1:58 and seemed ready to roll first start, I made her a pick on CFCW, and she came through as driver Bill Tainsh Jr. was able to circle her up on the final turn and win handily in an impressive 1:55.2. Had to feel good for Tainsh as I'm sure he wanted badly to win one on Sunday before having to travel Monday to attend the funeral services for his father Bill Tainsh Sr. after he passed away last week at the age of 75. Bill Tainsh Sr. was both a famous curler and successful harness horseman racing under the Triple B Stable and competing with such greats as Herbert Dundee. My condolences go out to the entire Tainsh family.

Monday saw another monster mile turned in by a claimer as Revoler torched the track to the tune of 1:53.1 for driver Keith Clark and trainer Harold Haining. This four-year-old son of Dragon Again had shown nice front-end speed before at AD when he wired a field in 1:57.1 back in April for Mike Hennessy, but he appeared all out at the wire that day and on Monday was still pacing hard right to the line in a very impressive display. The front-end was really the place to be on Monday as four of the first five races were won on the engine.

BY GARRY ALLISON
Rocky Mountain Turf Club
You'd be hard pressed to find a better day of racing than Sunday at sun-drenched Whoop-Up
Downs.
Nate Smith won two of the six races on the card - as did Blandford Stewart - but it was Nate
aboard Legacy's A Streakin who won the $26.200, 350-yard Bank of America Maiden
Challenge.
Winning trainer Laurie Ferguson also owned and trained the second place horse, KR Just A
Dream, Brooke Mellish in the irons. The feat made for a rare two-horse winner's circle photo.
Owners Peggy and Ed Borgstrom had smiles as bright as the day when Legacy's A Streakin
grabbed the winner's share of the Maiden Challenge in convincing fashion.
"We chose Laurie to train our horse (Legacy's A Streakin) because she's a hands-on trainer, who
does her own exercising," said Ed "She's done a lot of work with her."
Ed and Peggy live in Forestburg, just northeast of Stettler. Peggy says they purchased Legacy's A
Streakin as an 11-month old and she got her ready for her racing career.
"She ran last year in the big Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity here at Lethbridge and finished
second, along the rail, which was darn good.," says Ed. "She'll run here again in the Fall, this
time in the Derby Finals, we hope. Right now her next big race will be during the summer at
Grande Prairie.
"It was everyones choice that Nate should ride her today and as well, Nate picked her (Nate had
qualified three horses for the Maiden in the trials, but chose to ride Legacy's A Streakin). Nate is
always your choice for a rider. He rides hard to win, not only here but in the U.S. at the big
Quarter horse tracks."
Bred in Colorado, Legacy's A Streakin is by Streakin La Jolla out of Legacy Tells All by Corona
Cartel.
The Borgstron's will also have a Paint on the RMTC grounds this Fall when some big Paint
races take place. Their Paint is Dawn Gone It.
"I was nervous before this race today, just shaking," Peggy added with a laugh. Just ask any
athlete though, its good to be nervous!
You Take It Easy was Nate's second win of the day, in a five and a half furlong Allowance.
However, after the race in the un-sadding area, Jim Depew's horse Alpakapaluza fell dead of a
heart attack. But three races later, the racing gods brought some of the Sunday sunshine right
over the Depew Stables, Jim's Mr. Excessive won its third race of the year, with Antonio
Ramirez in the irons.
Jim just shook his head and smiled after the win, with a slight tear in the eye, as he tended to Mr.
Excessive. As they say, that's racing luck.
Friday racing returned to the Rocky Mountain Turf Club and likely few were as pleased as
Laurina Bugeaud who rode a pair of winners on the six-race card. Throughout May the Friday
race card had been cancelled due to a lack of horses, but this past weekend featured three days of
racing, six races each day.
Laurina's first win was aboard a Pete Dubois-trained horse, Explosive Temper, paying 7.70,
3.20, and 2.10. In the following race she brought home Masons Bluebird, trained by Leanne
Miyashiro, to pay 8.90, 3.30 and a nice 8.60 to show.
While Friday was a drizzly, wet day the sun was out in earnest for the Saturday card, where
Dwight Anthony Lewis picked up a pair of wins.
He rode Last Technology, a Lauire Ferguson trained horse - perhaps an omen for Sunday's big
race - and Les Webb's Proud Martha in a 300-yard sprint. They paid an nice 10.50, 3.30 and
2.50.
BEHIND THE STARING GATE . . . Nice to see Shirley McClellan at the races Friday. The
newly appointed Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge, is also the Chair of Horse Racing
Alberta. Her visit to the RMTC was kind of a busman's holiday, taking in an evening of
relaxation and getting a look at the racing picture in Lethbridge at the same time . . . This
coming Saturday two all-time great horsemen in Alberta will be honoured. Ken and Anne
Buxton will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary at the top fo the RMTC grandstand . . .
By the way, its also Ken's birthday . . . Have you seen the small jockey with a lantern in his hand
at Claris' information booth on the main level of the RMTC? There's a long tradition behind
little lantern-holders like him, dating back the American Civil War. Slaves seeking sanctuary in
the north followed an "underground railway" from the south. In areas prevalent with horse
racing, these little lantern holders held a great deal of meaning. If those heading north, escaping
the peril of slavery in the south, knew they could seek sanctuary in home or on a farm where
these horse racing hallmarks held their lighted lanterns. If runaways saw a light, they knew they
were in a haven of safety . . . Blandford Stewart's win aboard Needlestick, a Greg Blair horse,
paid $25.40 to win . . . Live racing returns to Whoop-Up Downs this coming Friday, Saturday
and Sunday.

Backstretch Newsletter

May/June 2011

The racing season is finally in full swing and we’re all looking forward to a successful season.    Jim and the board have been busy planning events for the summer to build morale and a sense of community. 

Backstretch Awards for May

Groom of the week:

May 7^th – Brenda Tardiff

May 14^th – Raul Sanchez

May 21^st – Sarah Johnson

May 28^th – Domingo Corral

Monthly Awards:

Backstretch Person – Timoteo Ramirez

Pony Person – Erica Price

Exercise Rider – Jasmine Cameron

Shedrow of the month – Craig Smith Stable.

Congratulations to all of the winners!  Good luck to everyone in July!

Coming Events:

• Rick Hansen Memorial at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 16102 Fort Road on Monday June 6^th at 2:00 pm.  Condolences go out to Betty and the family
• CTHS Annual General Meeting will be held on June 17^th at 3:00 pm in the Sky Paddock Northlands Park.  All members are encouraged to attend.
• Spanish/English language lessons will begin June 21^st at 6:00 pm in the backstretch kitchen.  There will be 8 weeks of lessons with English on Tuesdays and Spanish Thursdays.  If you are interested please sign up with Theresa Sealy at the HBPA office or Jeanette Haggan in the Learning Center.
• Remembrance of Life of Barry Brown is being held in the Paddock Theatre on July 9^th at 11:00 am.  Lunch will be served.  A blanket will be awarded to a race winner in his honor that afternoon.  Please come by in support of Lianne and the family.
• Canadian Derby Golf Tournament will be Monday August 15^th at the Coloniale Golf Course in Beaumont.  Entries will be taken with Theresa Sealy at the HBPA office (403-540-8707) or with Jeanette Haggan at the Learning Center (780-474-1742).  Entries are $150.00 each.

Updates

• Congratulations to all winners of the Backstretch Race Night!  Our overall winner was Jose Will of Panama and Greg Tracy’s barn!  Everyone better start training now for next year!  A big THANK YOU to those who helped out with our successful Backstretch Race Day!  Special thanks goes to Nancy for tacking the pony and leading the post parade, Sugar for the colorful announcing, Paulette for her wagering expertise, Kate and Mary as our “medics”, and the Gate Crew for their time and use of the gate!  It was really a fun evening!
• Dental, eye, and hearing subsidies from HBPA are available.  You must have held a HRA license for a minimum of 90 days to be eligible.  Pick up forms from Theresa Sealy. 
• The Learning Center is open Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 5:00.  There are many available options now for the horsemen: 5 internet capable computer stations, printer, fax, television, games, and Skype.   Jeanette Haggan is available to help you with what you need.  All FREE for HRA licensed personnel!
• FYI – There are groups coming into the backstretch during the summer to educate them and peak their interest in horse racing, so please make them feel welcome and be mindful of your language. 
• Get Well Wishes go out to Brian Walper.  Brian was involved in a track accident on May 29^th and will be out of action for most of the summer.  We miss you Wally!