Hastings' Weekly Winter Round-Up
Winter suddenly became a lot shorter with the news that Hastings will re-open for pre-season training next week. Hang on everyone, not long now!
The Best of 2023!
Nominations are out to acknowledge the very best performers at Hastings last season. The winners will be announced at the Awards Night dinner set for April 10. Ticket details can be found below. Last year’s event was one of the most fun evenings of the year for everyone connected with racing in B.C. so make sure you get your tickets early!
Lower Level Claimer of the Year (under $15,000)
BELLAROO
Owner: Jordan Froelich
Trainer: Dino K. Condilenios
Breeder: John T. L. Jones III
FINDING WAYS
Owner: Mainline Stables
Trainer: Nicole Rycroft
Breeder: Dino Konstantinos Condilenios & Sandra M. Loseth
MAKEITORBREAKIT
Owner: Canmor Farms
Trainer: Mark Cloutier
Breeder: Ole A. Nielsen
MISS THE HYPE
Owner: Rob Maybin and Sheena Maybin
Trainer: Robert Maybin
Breeder: Anthony Russo & Anthony Capin
Upper Level Claimer of the Year (over $15,000)
BOLD ARCH
Owner: John and Kim Morrison and Robin Sadler
Trainer: John D. Morrison
Breeder: J. Barry Doud
INDYETTA
Owner: Brian Albertson and the Estate of Dennis Tucker
Trainer: Cindy Krasner
Breeder: Karen Y. Bidniak
LUCKY FORCE
Owner: Edwin Claggett
Trainer: Craig MacPherson
Breeder: Dustin Bud Downing
STAY FANTASTIC
Owner: Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
Breeder: Tod Mtn. Thoroughbreds
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (B.C. Bred & Open Divisions)
BROOKE MAGIC
Owner: Don B. Danard and Sue Danard
Trainer: Mel Snow
Breeder: Prescott Farm
LIZZIE’S RAYNE
Owner: Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, Breen Racing, Eugene Chan and Dave Milburn
Trainer: Dave Milburn
Breeder: Suzanne I. Anderson
Champion Two-Year-Old Male (B.C. Bred & Open Divisions)
AUGUST RAIN
Owner: Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd.
Trainer: Barbara Anderson-Heads
Breeder: Peter Redekop BC LTD
WEALTHY TEXAN
Owner: Len Houweling and Mel Snow
Trainer: Mel Snow
Breeder: Mel Snow & Fran Snow
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (B.C. Bred & Open Divisions)
ABOVE AVERAGE
Owner: Canmor Farms
Trainer: Mark Cloutier
Breeder: Ole Nielsen
AIR FORCE
Owner: Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh
Trainer: Keith Pedersen
Breeder: Paul Caravetta
ARUNDEL CASTLE
Owner: Lyle Johnson, Mark V. Johnson and Clive Harding
Trainer: Keith Pedersen
Breeder: Peter Redekop BC LTD
Champion Three-Year-Old Male (B.C. Bred Division)
LEGACY SQUARE
Owner: Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
Breeder: Christine Ammann
LUCKY FORCE
Owner: Edwin Claggett
Trainer: Craig MacPherson
Breeder: Dustin Bud Downing
Champion 3-Year-Old Male (Open Division)
ACCIDENTAL HERO
Owner: WYN Racing Stables Corp.
Trainer: Larry Grieve
Breeder: Michael T. Barnett
LEGACY SQUARE
Owner: Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
Breeder: Christine Ammann
LUCKY FORCE
Owner: Edwin Claggett
Trainer: Craig MacPherson
Breeder: Dustin Bud Downing
SUNBIRD
Owner: Pauline Felicella and Estate of Nick Felicella
Trainer: Terry Jordan
Breeder: Glen Todd
Champion Older Filly/Mare (B.C. Bred & Open Divisions)
INFINITE PATIENCE
Owner: William DeCoursey and R. N. H. Stable
Trainer: Barbara Anderson-Heads
Breeder: William DeCoursey
WE B THREE
Owner: Willow Creek Farms
Trainer: Steve Henson
Breeder: Ole A Nielsen
Champion Older Male (B.C. Bred Division)
AT ATTENTION
Owner: Dr. Bryan C. and Carol Anderson
Trainer: Barbara Anderson-Heads
Breeder: Bryan Anderson & Carol Anderson
SOARINGFORTHESUN
Owner: David and Sylvea Gregory
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
Breeder: David Gregory & Sylvea Gregory
Champion Older Male (Open Division)
AT ATTENTION
Owner: Dr. Bryan C. and Carol Anderson
Trainer: Barbara Anderson-Heads
Breeder: Bryan Anderson & Carol Anderson
BIG UNION
Owner: Cathy Rycroft, Kelly Rycroft, Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry and Sheryle Benson
Trainer: Nicole Rycroft
Breeder: McCauley Farm, LLC
JUST JIMMY
Owner: Donald R. Tetarenko
Trainer: Craig MacPherson
Breeder: Cove Springs, LLC
SOARINGFORTHESUN
Owner: David and Sylvea Gregory
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
Breeder: David Gregory & Sylvea Gregory
Champion Sprinter:
AIR FORCE; AUGUST RAIN; BIG UNION; LIZZIE'S RAYNE; LUCKY FORCE; WE B THREE; WEALTHY TEXAN
B.C. Bred Horse of the Year:
ABOVE AVERAGE; AIR FORCE; ARUNDEL CASTLE; AT ATTENTION; AUGUST RAIN; BROOKE MAGIC; INFINITE PATIENCE; LEGACY SQUARE; LIZZIE'S RAYNE; LUCKY FORCE; SOARINGFORTHESUN; WE B THREE; WEALTHY TEXAN
Open Horse of the Year:
ABOVE AVERAGE; ACCIDENTAL HERO; AIR FORCE; ARUNDEL CASTLE; AT ATTENTION; AUGUST RAIN; BIG UNION; BROOKE MAGIC; INFINITE PATIENCE; JUST JIMMY; LEGACY SQUARE; LIZZIE'S RAYNE; LUCKY FORCE; SOARINGFORTHESUN; SUNBIRD; WE B THREE; WEALTHY TEXAN
Riders Returning
Hastings’ trainer Mel Snow has once again done a wonderful job of recruiting a top-class colony of riders for 2024 with, at the time of writing, all your favourite overseas ‘jocks’ scheduled to return to Hastings for the 2024 campaign. There will also be a couple of new names added to the group for the coming season with Jamaican riders Bebeto Harvey and Chad Forbes set to join their fellow Caribbean colleagues at the East Van oval.
Riders expected for the 2024 season:
Fresh Horse Opportunities!
With Hastings’ generous Fresh Horse Program now up and running, it’s the perfect time to try and unearth new talent to bring to B.C. for 2024. There are several sales in the next few weeks offering horses of racing age, providing great opportunities to bring horses to Hastings in time for the new season. We’ve highlighted up-and-coming sales below. Don’t miss out!
Fasig-Tipton Digital’s Online Lothenbach Dispersal
Lothenbach Stables, Inc. will disperse its breeding stock, yearlings, and horses of racing age with Fasig-Tipton over the next three weeks.
Robert Lothenbach, the prominent Minnesota owner and breeder who passed away in November of 2023, operated one of the most successful racing stables in North America for more than 30 years. Since 2000 alone, Lothenbach color bearers have, according to Equibase, won more than 800 races and earned more than $30,000,000 on the racetrack. His stable ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2020 and 2022.
CTBA 2024 Winter Mixed Sale
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale
Local Action
Stalwart Hastings’ owner Peter Redekop has made a promising start to 2024, with three of his four runners hitting the board since the turn of the year. Highlight of the week was undoubtedly his three-year-old filly ARCTIC BREEZE (Arrogate), who broke her maiden in some style at Golden Gate on Sunday. A $375,000 graduate of last year’s OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Arctic Breeze made virtually every yard of the running under passenger Evin Roman, coming right away from her field and justifying her odds-on status with a facile 9 1/4-length stroll. Definitely one for the notebook.
New Stride News
Please Note:
Horsemen and women should note that Hastings will open for training on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:30am. If not done so already, please ensure your stall applications have been completed in full and returned to the race office as soon as possible.