Welcome back!
The 2023 Hastings campaign begins in earnest as the track dusts itself down from a winter recess and the backstretch begins slowly to come alive
The laborious job of “setting up” is underway again, as the hard-working horsepeople at Hastings prepare for the 2023 season. We’re still several months away from any racing action, but the horses began moving into their quarters on Sunday and the track opens for exercise on Tuesday at 7:30am.
Back Stretch Bullet Points
The Cook Shack is looking to open from early February.
The racetrack is undergoing soil depth analysis with a view to ensuring that the sand/silt/clay surface continues to be as safe as possible. Additional materials are currently being sourced.
Funds have been approved and allocated for a new water truck and the sourcing and supply is under way.
It has been agreed that the front-side “Paddock Grill” will reopen this season, which will come as huge relief to all those who have struggled to adapt to life without garlic fries.
Hastings’ Stalwart Nick Felicella Passes
We’re sad to report the passing of one of Hastings’ favourite supporters, Nick Felicella. Our heavy hearts go out to all of Nick’s family and friends. We’ll pay a more detailed tribute to Nick in the coming days.
Jennifer Stein talks to Horse Racing Radio Network
Formerly of these parts and now very much ensconced at Woodbine, where she had her first runner and winner as a trainer last season, Jennifer Stein had a long interview with HRRN’s Mike Penna recently; discussing her life as a horsewoman and the people she has worked with down the years. A really interesting podcast and well worth a listen.
New Racing Surface at Turf Paradise
Racing at Turf Paradise resumes Monday with a new racing surface, following several days of hard work to improve track conditions. Monday’s nine-race card gets underway at 11:25 PST and features two $60,000 Stakes contests - The City of Phoenix Stakes for fillies and mares and the Luke Kruytbosch Stakes for 4yos and up. Both contests are over a mile on the dirt.
Former Canadian Horse of the Year Thornfield Dies
Former Canadian International (G1) winner and 1999 Canadian Horse of the Year THORNFIELD (Sky Classic) has died following a paddock accident, according Old Friends in Kentucky, where the veteran retired in 2011. The gelding was 29.
OBS Winter Mixed Sale begins Tuesday
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2023 Winter Mixed Sale begins Tuesday, January 24th at 12 noon.
Hip No.’s 1 – 143 are catalogued in the Consignor Preferred Session, followed immediately by 148 horses catalogued in the Racing Age section as Hip No.’s 201- 348. The Open Session, with Hip No.’s 401 – 653 catalogued, is set for Wednesday, January 25th and also starts at 12 noon. The Under Tack Show for the Racing Age section is set for Monday, January 23rd starting at 9:00 a.m.
The Sale and Under Tack Show will be streamed live via the OBS website at obssales.com and via the Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, TDN and Past The Wire websites.
There are 270 yearlings catalogued by a diverse group of proven and promising sires. Audible, Bolt d’Oro, Bucchero, Caravaggio, Catalina Cruiser, City of Light, Classic Empire, Enticed, Flameaway, Frosted, Girvin, Kantharos, Khozan, Kitten’s Joy. Maclean’s Music, Malibu Moon, Maximus Mischief, Midshipman, Mitole, More Than Ready, Omaha Beach, Practical Joke, Sharp Azteca, Solomini, Tapit, Union Rags, Upstart, Vino Rosso, Violence and World of Trouble are represented.
First crop sires with yearlings include Complexity, Gift Box, Global Campaign, Gunnevera, Improbable, Instagrand, Instilled Regard, McKinzie, Shancelot, Spun to Run, Thousand Words and Vekoma.
The sale also features mares in foal to an outstanding roster of sires including: Awesome Slew, Bolt d’Oro, Connect, Dialed In, Girvin, Gunnevera, Improbable, Independence Hall, Midshipman, Mitole, Tacitus, Uncle Chuck, Vekoma and Violence.
The Winter Mixed Sale’s catalogue can be viewed via the OBS website at
California Storms
