Sugar Doyle reports on the track surface

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/thoroughbred/item/120-track-surface-gets-a-‘thumbs-up’-/-night-of-champions

Backstretch Newsletter

ARRY ALLISON PHOTO
The late Bill Woolf proudly standing in front of the bronze sculpture of George "The Iceman"
Woolf aboard Seabiscuit at the Cardston Remington Carriage Museum.

BY GARRY ALLISON
As the years pass, so do the people who helped make horse racing what it is today at the Rocky
Mountain Turf Club.
Bill Schmidt has left the RMTC fold, at age 77. Bill was an old cowboy and an active racing
trainer and owner at the RMTC. My last memory of Bill was his pleasure at dunking Scott Sterr
at the dunk tank and barbecue just a year or so back, right next to the paddock.
I was saddened to read of the passing of 92-year-old Margaret Hind Man, a kindly lady I came to
know many years ago. If not herself, many of Margaret's family had a link to horse racing  at
one time or another, including names like: Wadsworth, Eagle Tailfeathers, Steele, Holy White
Man - Morris once boxed Max Gibb, RMTC CEO many decades ago - and Crow Chief families,
and I'm certain I missed some.
It was also sad to see Bernard (Rattlesnake) Smith go. He was a brother to Floyd, Percy and
Arnold, the latter a good pal of mine, and all strong race-goers. There were others to be sure in the
family, including members of the Provost clan.
Also our condolences go out to the vast Juris family with the passing of Joe Juris at age 88. Son
Jim is one of the leading horse owners here at the RMTC.
Dolores Day Chief left us far too young, at age 51. She came from a very strong and active horse
racing family. Once again it was her family who were into horse racing, but Dolores and
daughter Chantelle were the first mother and daughter in the INFR barrel racing Finals at New Mexico.
Her indirect relatives, Mike and the late Leo Day Chief, are and were good fiends and strong
race horse people - and I'm sure there were many others.
In my own family I lost three, my cousin Roberta who used to chastize me for the money I bet at
the track, but she was still a great gal. I also lost my Aunt Bertha and Uncle Bill Woolf, both at
age 88.
Now Bill's name is very familiar at the track, once I explain. He was a first cousin to the great jockey George
"the Iceman" Woolf. In fact at one time in Bill's youth George stayed out at the family farm near
Woolford for a summer.  The Iceman of course was from Cardston, and Bill was there when they
unveiled the magnificent bronze statute of George on the grounds of the Remington Carriage
Museum.
This weekend the RMTC begins another season, building memories of people and horses we
will cherish until our time comes. Lets hope that's decades away, so in the meantime enjoy the
races for the 2012 season and while we all can't be winners, lets hope, at least, I win one or two
big races this year.
Welcome Back!

This week Sugar Doyle sits down with trainer Amanda Grogory courtesy Northlands Park .

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/thoroughbred/item/119-young-thoroughbred-trainer-is-all-systems-go

Alberta Scored Big at the Sovereign Awards held in Toronto on the weekend.

Congratulations to the connections of Pender Harbour and Donver Stable and Atlantic Hurricane

http://www.jockeyclubcanada.com/2011-sovereign-award-winners/

Harness racing returns to Alberta Downs

Alberta Downs is set to open up the doors on its 2012 live harness racing season this weekend. Located about one hour south of Edmonton, in Lacombe, the Bob Allen-owned track features Canada's only one mile harness track, with a seven-eighth's mile turf track on the inside for thoroughbreds.

 The newest addition to management at Alberta Downs, Live Racing Manager Christina Ming, says excitement is building and horsepeople are ready to get back to racing in Alberta.

 "We're going to feature an 'Open House' this Friday evening," she says. "We'll card some amateur events, both harness and thoroughbred, plus we'll have our double-seated jog cart on hand for race fans to enjoy a ride. There'll be food and refreshments served and we may even throw in a few miniature pony races as well. It should be lots of fun."

 Ming, who's been involved with harness racing for twenty years, mentions that Alberta Downs did, in fact, see an increase in on-track attendance throughout 2011. She'd like to add to those numbers by attracting the younger crowd as well. 

 "We have to change the way we look at promoting racing and who we're promoting it to," she explains. "We'd love to see more of the '20 to 35' age group at the track these days and I believe educating that 'younger' customer - whether it's how to place a bet; how to read a program; basically anything at all to have them feel more comfortable in being at the track - is key."

 "There's a real opportunity here," she continued. "Bob (Allen) has given horsepeople this wonderful venue to use... The community support has been tremendous... I expect we'll see great things happen here again in 2012."

 Now in its fourth year, of operation, Alberta Downs will play host to a 60-day meet with the first programmed card beginning this Saturday at 1:45 pm. 

 *Please note horsemen that the draws for both Saturday and Sunday will take place on Wednesday, April 11th. To enter contact Sugar Doyle from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., at Northlands, by calling 780-471-7275. No entries will be accepted without a negative coggins test.

 Revised Saturday Condition Sheet http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/conditions/data/c0414admn.dat

Revised Sunday Condition Sheet http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/conditions/data/c0415admn.dat

 To view the live harness racing calendar, for the 2012 season in Alberta, click here http://www.asha.ab.ca/news_calendar.html

Sugar Doyle reports on the Exercise Rider and Groom School courtesy Northlands Park

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/thoroughbred/item/118-groom/exercise-rider-programs-in-full-swing-at-northlands

Exciting Stakes Race Added

story courtesy of Northlands Park

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/thoroughbred/item/116-red-smith-to-be-honoured-with-stakes-race 

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/3-11-12/update-gerry-hudon.htmlStandardbred Canada Updates us on the condition of popular driver Gerry Hudon.

we wish him all the best in his recovery.

Sugar Doyle is looking for the real Slim Shady courtesy of Northlands Park

http://www.northlandspark.ca/racing/harness/item/114-will-the-real-hilldrop-shady-please-stand-up?