Saturday's Overnights
A first look at Saturday's seven-race card, which features a guaranteed $20k Pick 4. On-track highlights include hat-trick seekers Koala and Makeitorbreakit
Gilker Strikes in Seattle
Many congratulations to Hastings trainer Rob Gilker and his team after another succesful raid on Emerald Downs. Gilker saddled three-year-old filly FANNY BAY ALI (Counterforce) to narrowly land a Maiden Special Weight contest south of the brder on Monday. Out of the former BC Broodmare of the Year CHILLI CHINES (Katowice), and so a half-sister to former Gilker-trained BC Horse of the Year HERBIE D (Orchid’s Devil), Fanny Bay Ali broke much better than last time but again began her challenge from stone last, making significant headway into the final turn and, from mid-stretch, keeping on resolutely for the head win over Stay Sassy. Rider Kevin Radeke again did the steering.
New Stride News
Breeders’ Cup — 40 Top Momements as Voted by You
Beginning with a dramatic three-way photo finish in the 1984 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), heart-pounding and record-breaking moments have marked the World Championships.
You voted on your favorites and this summer the Top 20 Breeders' Cup Moments will get a special spotlight video.
Each week, we'll release a new video culminating at the World Championships on Nov. 3-4.
Starting with Moment #20, when ten years after becoming the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race, Julie Krone added another history-defining moment when she became the first female rider to capture a Breeders’ Cup race on the flat aboard Halfbridled in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Courtesy: Breeders Cup
New Thoroughbred Organization Born
With the approval of BCTOBA, CTHS BC and HBPABC, the Thoroughbred Racing BC Committee (TRBC) has been created to ensure that there is a single voice speaking for thoroughbred racing in British Columbia.
“This new organization was created specifically to ensure that when there are decisions that may affect us all we can speak with a single voice,” Explained Dairen Edwards, President of CTHS BC division representing Thoroughbred breeders in this province. He expressed hope for the future as this will be the first time that on major issues like the thoroughbred budget, racing, breeding, horse population incentives the discussion will involve all three organizations at the same time.
According to David Milburn, President of the HBPABC this will be a unique organization that not only has representatives of the three T-bred organizations sitting at the table together but will allow for consultation with each of the organizations before major decisions are made.
Milburn Said: “With two representatives of each of the three organizations at the table we should see some spirited debate and decisions to help us regain the future we all hope for.”
The first committee members appointed to the TRBC are:
1. BCTOBA
a. Ole Neilsen – President
b. Larry Potozny - Director
2. CTHSBC
a. Dairen Edwards – President
b. Jamie Demetrick – Director
3. HBPABC
a. David Milburn – President
b. Gary Johnson – Vice-President – Owners
The first meeting of the TRBC was held on June 22 and three decisions were made by the new committee members. First was the appointment of Gary Johnson as chair of the TRBC. Second, two sub-committees were formed to start the development of plans for the future. BC Breeding and the Horse Population sub committees were both created.
“For the immediate and long term the horse population needs to grow dramatically and we need to get away from five horse fields and get to 6, 7 or even 8 horse field average,” said BCTOBA President, Ole Neilsen.
The BC Breeding sub-committee (Jamie Demetrick, Larry Potozny and Gary Johnson) have already started work on developing a strategy to talk to current breeders and to survey owners and others who may not be breeding at this moment but may have an interest going forward. Neilsen pointed out that BC Breeding is a critical piece to having a robust horse population.
He said: “Breeding takes time and commitment. That is just one part of solving the horse population problem we are having in 2023.”
The Horse Population sub-committee consists of Ole Neilsen, Dairen Edwards and David Milburn. The HBPA had already started some discussions with owners about how to grow our horse population outside of breeding.
Milburn said: “We, the HBPA, are happy to work within the TRBC and to create a plan to increase horses of racing age each year until we have those full fields we need. We can double our handle if we get away from small, 5 horse fields. Statistics show that an average of 8 horse fields will entice bettors to bet on those races.”
The next meeting of the TRBC committee is planned for early August.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Thursday, July 6
This Just In!
Hastings’ leading apprentice Fraser Aebly picked up a spare ride at Assiniboia Downs on Wednesday evening, finishing second on the 10-1 shot, WHAT UP NOW J T for trainer Wendy Anderson and owners Wind Dancer Stables. The race, a $3,000 claiming contest for fillies and mares over 5 1/2 furlongs, was won by the odds-on favourite, Cyclone Sorority.