Standby for Action
Runners aplenty and several valuable Allowance contests up for grabs should make for another pulsating weekend of racing action at Hastings
Overnights, Saturday July 16
Overnights, Sunday July 17
Extra! Extra!
Angela Straight — ‘Go for Your Dreams!’
Latest Standings
A Special Moment for a Special Person…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
It was a bit of a belated birthday gift but not by much. The wait was well worth it.
Leslie Reid – yes, that Leslie Reid of Equestrian-Dressage Canadian Olympic fame – captured her first win Sunday as an owner at Hastings Racecourse with Whiskey Talk in the sixth race.
“The only thing that could have added to the excitement was having Leslie herself in the saddle,” quipped Randy Goulding of the Daily Racing Form.
Fellow owner David Milburn took a much more serious approach with his immediate message on Twitter that read: “Leslie Reid, Olympian, Pan Am gold medal winner twice and Canadian Dressage champion won her first race ever with her 4-year-old gelding Whiskey Talk in the 6th today. Jockey Learie Seecharan in the irons; trainer Kim Kozak. Congratulations, Leslie!”
Born in Vancouver on July 2, 1956, she began riding at the age of two on the family farm in Langley and later attended UBC, majoring in physical education. Leslie has won more than 40 Canadian Equestrian Federation Provincial Zone Awards and was named Coach of the Year by the Canadian Equestrian Federation in 1989. In 2003 at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, she won an individual gold and helped Team Canada capture a silver medal.
Leslie was the first Canadian rider to be named to the 1996 Olympic Dressage Team and competed in the 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing) Summer Olympics, where she achieved 8th position in the team dressage competition.
Next time Hastings Racecourse regulars spot the name Leslie Reid as an owner in the Official Racing Program, it will be cause for a special salute in recognition of a homegrown Canadian Olympic champion.
Bonita B Finds a New Home with New Stride
Lucky BONITA B has gone home with the even luckier Jodie!
Jodie Surerus, from Fort St John, BC, is a long time New Stride supporter and has previously adopted ALONG THE WAY (barn name Christie) and SALES GAL (Sassy).
Bonita B ran 12 times at Hastings, winning once and hitting the board on eight other occasions. Bonita has made great progress under the tutelage of New Stride’s Program Coordinator Carmen Kramer, who experienced mixed emotions when saying farewell to a horse she has no hesitation claiming as a personal favourite.
Carmen said: “Jodie came out to meet Bonita after a few weeks of me keeping her updated by text, pictures and videos. The ride went very well, Jodie is very experienced and a calm horseperson.
“My favourite is on her way with someone who has adopted two from us in the past and I like and trust. I miss her tremendously already, but I know she is in very good hands.
“I Can't wait to hear about their new adventures together!”
New Stride is dedicated to to finding adoptive homes and alternative careers for Thoroughbred racehorses no longer able to compete. The charity was founded at Hastings Racecourse in 2002 and has placed more than 175 Thoroughbreds into adoptive homes.
If you would like to donate, volunteer (we’re ALWAYS looking for volunteers!) or find out more about the work New Stride does, please click on the blue button.