Instead of worrying about how to handle a 20 horse field in the Kentucky Derby the thoroughbred industry should be concentrating on having an answer for the neophyte fan who watches the Kentucky Derby then heads out to their local track, sees 6 horses in the gate and 10 people in the stands and asks what happened.
What it means for North Texas horse racing fans is Lone Star Park, which turns 16 this year and has been on a downward financial spiral since hosting the 2004 Breeders’ Cup, finally is in the hands of a company with deep pockets and a willingness to free up funds for improvements.
“As far as the new ownership, our hopes are high,” said jockey Cliff Berry, who won his fourth Lone Star riding title last year and will return this spring to defend. “It’s the same group that has done so much at Remington Park, where I ride in Oklahoma in the fall. They’ve made a big difference there and hopefully it will be the same at Lone Star.”
ESPN – Jennings – Lone Star Park gets fresh start
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Peter Redekop BC Ltd.s Comedero steps up to graded company in Saturday’s Commonwealth at Keeneland.
DRF – Keeneland: Comedero looks like lone speed in Commonwealth
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The first 1000 customers who buy a program at Hastings on Opening Day will receive a beautiful fleece blanket.
The Derby Bar and Grill will be presenting a certificate for a dinner for two at the Derby Bar and Grill to the winning owner in the winners circle after every race for the entire 2012 season.
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Bloodhorse – Patrick Valenzuela Announces Latest Comeback
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Vancouver Sun – Douglas – Hastings jockey Gutierrez rides into Kentucky Derby
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NY Times – Novak – Long Losing Streak Hasn’t Discouraged Lukas From Racing
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ESPN – Cronley – 22,000 pounds of trouble
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NY Times – Goldberg – Derby Dreams Ride In on a White Horse
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Hi-Ho Silver. Away!
The Lone Ranger
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Horse Race Insider – Illinois Derby Winner Done Talking: Bumper or Bumpee?
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Bloodhorse – Derby Rematch Looms for Gemologist, Alpha
DRF – Grening – 2012 Kentucky Derby: Gemologist, Alpha headed for rematch in Louisville
Bloodhorse – Derby Plans Undecided for I’ll Have Another
DRF – Hersh – Hawthorne: Done Talking may find himself on bubble for Kentucky Derby
DRF – Kentucky Derby Graded Earnings
Bloodhorse – Shandler – Smith to Ride Daddy Nose Best in KY Derby
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The best and most effective way to maintain friendship with our American neighbours is to be absolutely independent of them.
Wilfred Laurier
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One Fast Horse – Triple Crown Insider: This crop is good!
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The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.
Ambrose Bierce
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Grantland – Hill – The Invaders
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Part of the $10 million I spent on gambling, part on booze and part on women. The rest I spent foolishly.
George Raft
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Two scoring races in Road to the Roses this weekend
April 14
Keeneland
Toyota Blue Grass GI $750,000g, 3yo, 9f.
Oaklawn Park
Arkansas Derby GI $1,000,000g, 3yo, 9f.
Phil’s still musing on what prize(s) he may offer to the top entry in the Alberta Road To the Roses league
A $50 Gift Certificate from Edmonton’s Melting Pot has been kindly donated.
Any other donations greatly appreciated.
Who’s GLic?
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Thoroughbred Times – Inside Post Challenge
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To Mario Gutierrez on I’ll Have Another: It takes a lot of chutzpah (you’ll have to ask someone what that means) to leave Hastings Racecourse and come to Santa Anita without an agent and then hiring 85-year-old Ivan Puhich. Despite your apparent talents, be thankful that an owner like Paul Reddam spotted your skills and went way out of the box and put you up on his big Derby horse. That’s the ultimate in having faith in someone. What makes this all the more humorous is the time you worked I’ll Have Another so Doug O’Neill could see how you got along with him, and after the work telling your agent, “That’s a really good horse; there’s no way they’re gonna let us ride him.” Reddam refers to you as “The real Cinderella story.” He admires your confidence, your natural ability, and the fact that the day before the Santa Anita Derby you watched tapes of all nine horses in the race on your own. So, you don’t need me to tell you not to get rattled by the Kentucky Derby experience and to keep your cool through “My Old Kentucky Home,” the loading and frantic start, and the run into the first turn. After that, it’s just another horse race.
Bloodhorse – Haskin’s Derby Trail: Riders on the Storm
“We never had so many people cheering as we did the other day when Mario crossed that finish line,” said Vancouver racing writer and broadcaster Tom Wolski. “The whole grandstand, everyone in the press box. This was a big win for people up here.”
Wolski is a former jockey and long-time host of the weekly “Sport of Kings” television show in British Columbia that just won a 2011 Sovereign Award for broadcasting. Wolski has interviewed Gutierrez on scores of occasions and has appreciated his emerging skills for several years and documented his rise in the ranks of the region’s leading personalities.
“He’s very deserving of this,” Wolski said. “When he arrived here he didn’t have any English at all. He was very shy about talking with people, but after a couple of years he got the confidence he needed to communicate.
“He’s got a great set of hands,” Wolski went on. “He knows how to position his horse, and he’s got a great sense of timing. Patience is a real key to winning up here on this five-eighths racetrack. And he really doesn’t hit a horse. Trainers appreciate that kind of riding style.”
Apparently, Gutierrez also remembers where he’s come from. Last Saturday, in the wake of the Derby, Wolski left a message on the rider’s phone, figuring it was a longshot he’d call back since the Gutierrez bandwagon would be filling up fast.
“About an hour later he calls me and apologized for taking so long,” Wolski said. “I asked him about going on to the Kentucky Derby, and of course he was thrilled at the prospect. But what he was most appreciative of was the fact that he would have been on his way back to Hastings Park if that horse hadn’t won the Robert Lewis earlier this year, that’s how tough it had been. It was the turning point in his life. He loved it here, but you know it’s always hard to go back.”
DRF – Hovdey – Kentucky Derby Rookies Have No Fixed Course
ESPN – Finley – The unlikeliest Ky. Derby jockey
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Horse Race Insider - Leave Luck Out of it
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DRF – Watchmaker – Looking At Derby Prep Beyer Figures
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Bloodhorse – Derby Betting: Plenty of Parity at the Top
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Bloodhorse – Haskin’s Derby Trail: Revisiting Four for the Weekend
Thoroughbred Times – Nevills – Hansen looks to make lasting impression in Blue Grass Stakes
DRF – McGee – Blue Grass: Hansen could face some early pressure
Bloodhorse – Large, Speedy Blue Grass Field Led by Hansen
DRF – McGee – Keeneland: Ever So Lucky wound up for Blue Grass
The Downey Profile – Blue Grass Win to Early Speed or Deep Closer?
Bloodhorse – Shinar – Baffert Has the Favorites for Arkansas Derby
Thoroughbred Times – Angst – Secret Circle looks to complete sweep in Arkansas Derby
DRF – Rampellini – Arkansas Derby: Baffert holds strong pair in Bodemeister, Secret Circle
DRF – Andersen – Santa Anita: Bodemeister tunes up for Arkansas Derby
ESPN – West – High hopes for Optimizer
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The promises of yesterday are the taxes of today.
Mackenzie King
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Yikes! Derby picture is clear as mud
Another weekend, another muddy picture. Clarity would be nice as the Derby approaches, just three weeks from this Saturday.
The Wood Memorial sorted out nothing: The top two horses, Alpha and Gemologist, dueled to the wire with Gemologist getting the edge. Alpha had traffic problems while this was Gemologist’s second start off the layoff. No solution to the Derby puzzle in the Santa Anita Derby, either. The favourites ran one-two, with I’ll Have Another upsetting Creative Cause by a nose. Those two races defined the likely runners in the Kentucky Derby and nothing more.
And the final two major preps this weekend?
The Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland features Hansen who has earned his Derby ticket already, coming off his Gotham Stakes win. He should take to the synthetic and will be the prohibitive favorite. But he’s not my pick. I’m siding with Dullahan. He should run well down the lane after Hansen gets pressed throughout by Louisiana Derby hero, Hero of Order. Looking deeper? Prospective won the Tampa Bay Derby over Reveron who had finished second in the Florida Derby and he should take to the synthetic surface for trainer Mark Casse. Also look out for Graham Motion’s Howe Great, winner of the Palm Beach Stakes. And Holy Candy owned by Jenny Craig of weight-loss fame.
Trainer Bob Baffert should own the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with two logical favourites: Secret Circle, winner of the Rebel in a game performance (though he could have distance limitations) and Bodemeister who ran second in the San Felipe behind Creative Cause. Bodemeister needs the earnings to make the Derby field, while Secret Circle does not. Which is the reason why Bodemeister will show his heels to D. Wayne Lucas’ Optimizer and win this race.
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DRF – Rampellini – Oaklawn: Drill gets another chance at two turns in Northern Spur
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Horse Race Insider – Better Take This Pin-Up Boy Seriously
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Chef de Race – Dosage – 2012_Derby_Contenders
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Bloodhorse – Shandler – Six Entered for Keeneland’s Beaumont Stakes
Bloodhorse – Shinar – Hillside Rematch for Mizdirection, Unzip Me
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DRF – Rampellini – Oaklawn: Plum Pretty tries to follow in footsteps of past Apple Blossom winners
Thoroughbred Times – Law – Upper-tier demand marks Keeneland April juvenile sale
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Thoroughbred Times – Marketing Mix shakes free of Inglorious to win Keeneland feature
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National Post – Gerson - The National Post’s Alberta Election Drinking Game: Home Edition
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DRF- Grening – Charles Town: Tackleberry fresher for second crack at $1 million Classic
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DRF -Rampellini – Oaklawn Park: Apriority must run down Izzy Rules in Count Fleet Sprint Handicap
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DRF -King – Keeneland: Slight edge to Zagora in wide-open Jenny Wiley
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DRF – McGee – Keeneland: Plenty of contenders in Shakertown Stakes
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DRF – Grening – Aqueduct: It’s Tricky can more than pull her weight in Distaff
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April 14
Aqueduct
Distaff Handicap GII, $200,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 7f.
Videogenic Stake $75,000a, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f (turf).
Calder Race Course
Calder Derby, $150,000g, 3yo, 8.5f (turf).
Charles Town
Charles Town Classic GII, $1,000,000g, 4&up, 9f.
Robert Hilton Memorial, $250,000g, 3yo, 7f.
Sugar Maple Stake $200,000g, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 7f.
Confucius Say Stake (R), $50,000a, 3&up, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
Original Gold Stake (R), $50,000a, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
Webb Snyder Stake $50,000g, 3&up, 4.5f.
Fonner Park
Baxter Stake $10,000a, 3yo, 6f.
Keeneland
Toyota Blue Grass Stake GI, $750,000g, 3yo, 9f.
Jenny Wiley Stake GIT, $300,000g, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f (turf).
Commonwealth Stake GII, $175,000g, 3&up, 7f.
Shakertown Stake GIIIT, $100,000g, 3&up, 5.5f (turf).
Lone Star Park
JEH Stallion Station Stake (R), $50,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, Texas-bred, 6.5f.
Oaklawn Park
Arkansas Derby GI, $1,000,000g, 3yo, 9f.
Oaklawn Handicap GII, $400,000g, 4&up, 9f.
Count Fleet Sprint Handicap GIII, $250,000g, 4&up, 6f.
Northern Spur, $100,000g, 3yo, 8f.
Parx Racing
Foxy J.G. Stakes (R), $75,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, Pennsylvania-bred, 7f.
Lyman Handicap (R), $75,000g, 3&up, Pennsylvania-bred, 7f.
Pimlico
Primonetta Stake $50,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 6f.
Santa Anita
Las Cienegas Handicap GIIIT, $100,000g, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 6.5f (turf).
Sunland Park
Copper Top Futurity (R), $75,000a, 2yo, c/g, New Mexico-bred, 4.5f.
Copper Top Futurity (R), $75,000a, 2yo Fillies New Mexico-bred, 4.5f.
Turf Paradise
Princess of Palms Handicap $35,000a, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 6f.
Woodbine
Star Shoot Stake $150,000g, 3yo Fillies 6f.
April 15
Aqueduct
Action Stake $75,000a, 4&up, 9f.
Hastings Racecourse
George Royal Stake $50,000g, 3&up, 6f.
Keeneland
Beaumont Stake GII, $150,000g, 3yo Fillies 7f.
Santa Anita
Santa Lucia Stake $75,000a, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f.
Sunland Park
Sunland Park Handicap $100,000g, 3&up, 9f.
Woodbine
Woodstock Stake $150,000g, 3yo, 6f.
April 17
Parx Racing
Trevose Stake $75,000g, 3yo Fillies 6f.
Sunland Park
KHEY Country Sprint, $50,000g, 3yo, 6f.
Adios Amigos Claiming Handicap $40,000a, 3&up, 10f.
April 18
Evangeline Downs
Inaugural Stake $50,000g, 3yo, 6f.
April 19
Keeneland
Appalachian Stake GIIIT $100,000g, 3yo Fillies 8f (turf)
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Derby Bar and Grill News
The Derby Bar and Grill are ready to go with their first live steaming broadcast of the Handicappers Corner on Saturday morning at 10:00am live from the Derby Bar and Grill.
Your hosts, Mike Heads and Drew Forster will lead you thru all the races for Saturday and Sunday’s live cards at Hastings Racecourse with their selections and why.
You can catch the show live at Derby as we are offering a breakfast special coupon and a voucher for Hastings on Saturday.
Just click here to catch the live streaming at 10:00am on Saturday morning
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DRF – Hersh – Larry Jones: A do-it-all trainer who was born to ride
Bloodhorse – After the Thrill Is Gone – By Evan Hammonds
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CBC – The Current – Gambling With The Future Of Ontario Horse Racing
CBC – The Current – Gambling With The Future Of Ontario Horse Racing – Clip
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Thoroughbred Times – On Fire Baby to train up to the Kentucky Oaks
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Horse Race Insider - Weighting for Havre De No Race
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Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought Half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
Charlotte Whitton
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Vancouver – Sun – Hoekstra – Carousel horses celebrate centenary
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Bloodhorse – A Hot Shoe and European Torch
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Prophetic Phil’s Derby Dozen
1. Union Rags ↔ 2. Hansen ↑ 3.Gemologist ↑ 4. Alpha ↑ 5. I’ll Have Another ↑ 6. Creative Cause ↓ 7. Secret Circle ↓ 8 El Padrino ↓ 9. Howe Great ↔ 10. Daddy Long Legs ↔ 11. Take Charge Indy ↔ 12. Bodemeister ↔ Daddy Nose Best ↔Went The Day Well ↔Dullahan ↔ Just in Case – Exothermic ↔__________
Thoroughbred Times – Trainer Shauna Ferguson dies at age 58
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Thoroughbred Times – Comedian Santorelli to perform at Old Friends fundraiser
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We’ve lost our moral compass in recent years — not by embracing gambling, but eschewing taxes. We have been contaminated by the anti-tax compulsions of American political culture that prevent governments from maintaining a progressive taxation system. This pathological aversion to taxation has driven the explosion of casinos everywhere, as governments rely on gambling to take money from the poor while sparing the rich.
Prohibition is pointless. The gambling genie can’t be put back in the bottle any more than drinking can be bottled up.
Toronto Star – Cohn: Let Ontarians gamble, but not on Lake Ontario
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DRF – Hegarty – Private sales: Where caveat emptor rules
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Guardian – UK – Hayler – Newmarket’s attendances are the first thing Amy Starkey wants to improve
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From The Insider
Who’s coming? Who’s not?
Fearless “horse whisperer” Paul Nolan is in; Lopez is out
With live racing set to open in 3 1/2 weeks, the jockey colony is starting to sort itself out. David Lopez, last year’s leading rider, will not return. He’s accompanying horse owner/trainer Lisa Hebdon to Finger Lakes, New York. Hebdon had been barred from the Downs last November by the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission for “failing to meet her financial obligations” after being fined $3,000 in August for a positive drug test on a horse and having needles and syringes in her possession.
Janine Stianson, who left early last season, won’t be back either. And Juan Crawford has decided to ride in Ontario. He’s currently riding at Woodbine with a view to riding at Fort Erie when the season opens there. Mark Anderson, who rode Hammers Bullet to victory in the Manitoba Lotteries Derby will be riding at Emerald Downs in Washington instead. His wife has a job in the area.
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Paul Nolan |
But three-time leading rider Rohan Singh will be back and watch out for new rider Paul Nolan, leading rider at Canterbury Downs in 2006 and at Sam Houston in 2010, who has a reputation for being fearless. “He rides hard and takes a lot of chances,” highly-regarded veteran trainer Jamie Ness has said about him. You’ll also likely see him talking to his mount before a race, a practice he picked up in England where he was born. “We were trained to care for our horses like they were our kids,” he has been quoted as saying. “I noticed from the beginning how they would respond to my voice and that’s something that stayed with me.”
His aggressive riding has resulted in many injuries including a broken back and punctured lung but the 50-year-old has just kept bouncing back. He’s had 1,366 wins from 12,452 lifetime starts and earned $15.7 million in purse money. His most recent start was at Fair Grounds on March 30. You may recall Nolan came to the Downs last summer to ride Balooga Bull to an eight-length victory in the Osiris Stakes.
Meanwhile, the horse population is growing more quickly than last year. There are 335 horses on the grounds compared to 250 at this point last year. “The next two weeks will be big for arrivals,” says CEO Darren Dunn who will be back calling the races when they go to post on Sunday, May 6 at 1 p.m. See race schedule here.
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Important Dates
Saturday April 14 Arkansas Derby GI 1 1/8 Mile Oaklawn Park $1,000,000 Toyota Bluegrass GI 1 1/8 Mile Keeneland $750,000 Hastings Park Opening Day Sunday April 15 George Royal Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Saturday April 21 Coolmore Lexington Stakes GIII 1 1/16 Mile Keeneland $200,000 Jerome GII 1 Mile Aqueduct $200,000 Saturday April 28 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial GIII 1 Mile Churchill Downs $200,000 added Friday May 4 Churchill Downs Kentucky Oaks G I $1,000,000g, 3yo Fillies 9f. Alysheba Stake G II $300,000a, 4&up, 8.5f. La Troienne Stake G II $300,000a, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f. American Turf G IIT $200,000a, 3yo, 8.5f (turf). Edgewood Stake $150,000a, 3yo Filies 8.5f (turf). Eight Belles Stake G III $100,000a, 3yo Filies 7f. Northlands Park Opening Day Saturday May 5 Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands G I $2,000,000g, 3yo, 10f. Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stake G IT $500,000a, 4&up, 9f (turf). Churchill Downs G II $400,000a, 4&up, 7f. Humana Distaff G I $300,000a, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 7f. Churchill Distaff Turf Mile G IIT $200,000a, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 8f (turf). Twin Spires Turf Sprint G IIIT $125,000a, 4&up, 5f (turf). Hastings Racecourse Jim Coleman Province Stake $50,000g, 3yo, 6.5f Sunday May 6 Fort Erie Race Track Opening Day Assiniboia Downs Opening Day Hastings Racecourse John Longden “6000″ Handicap $50,000g, 3&up, 6.5f. Woodbine Vigil Stake GIIIC $150,000g, 4&up, 7f. Saturday May 12 2011 Night of Champions – Northlands Park Belmont Park Peter Pan Stake G II $200,000g, 3yo, 9f Sunday May 13 Mothers’ Day Woodbine -Selene Stake GIII $250,000g, 3yo Fillies 8.5f Friday May 18 CTHS BC 2012 Sale Entry Fees Due Pimlico Race Track Black-Eyed Susan Stake G II $300,000g, 3yo Fillies 9f. Pimlico Special Stake G III $300,000g, 3&up, 9.5f. Hilltop Stake $100,000g, 3yo Fillies 8.5f (turf) Jim McKay Turf Sprint, $100,000g, 3&up, 5f (turf). Miss Preakness Stake $100,000g, 3yo Fillies 6f. Skipat Stake $100,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 6f. The Very One Stake $100,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 5f (turf). Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap R $25,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, Maryland-bred, which have started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less in 2011-12, 8.5f. Saturday May 19 Pimlico Race Track Preakness Stake G I $1,000,000g, 3yo, 9.5f. Dixie Stake G IIT $300,000g, 3&up, 9f (turf). Gallorette Handicap G IIIT $150,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f (turf). Allaire duPont Distaff Stake G III $100,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 8.5f. Chick Lang Stake $100,000g, 3yo, 6f. James W. Murphy Stake $100,000g, 3yo, 8f (turf). Maryland Sprint Handicap G III $100,000g, 3&up, 6f. Deputed Testamony Starter Handicap R $25,000g, 3&up, Maryland-bred, which have started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less in 2011-12, 8.5f Hastings Racecourse Ross McLeod Stake $50,000g, 3yo Fillies 6.5f. Woodbine Hendrie Stake GII $150,000g, 4&up, Fillies & Mares, 6.5f Sunday May 20 Woodbine Lady Angela Stake R $125,000g, 3yo Fillies Ontario-sired, 7f. Monday May 21 Hastings Racecourse Brighouse Belles Stake $50,000g, 3&up, Fillies & Mares, 6.5f. Woodbine New Providence Stake R $125,000g, 3&up, Ontario-sired, 6f. Friday May 25 Marquis Downs Opens Saturday, June 2 Assiniboia Downs Hazel Wright Sire Stake R $25,000e, 3yo Fillies Manitoba-bred, 6f Hastings Racecourse River Rock Casino, $50,000g, 3yo, 8.5f Sunday, June 3 Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings Racecourse Saturday June 9 Belmont Stakes Belmont Park Sunday, June 10 Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Saturday, June 16 Western Canada for 3 yr. Olds 6f $50,000 at Northlands Park Sunday, June 17 Vancouver Sun at Hastings Racecourse The Chariot Chaser 3yr. Fillies 6f $50,000 at Northlands Park Wednesday June 20 Summer Solstice Saturday, June 23 The Journal 3 + up 6 furlongs $50,000 at Northlands Park Sunday June 24 St Jean Baptiste Day Queen’s Plate Day Woodbine $1 million Queen’s Plate The Wild Rose 3+up F+M 6 50,000 at Northlands Park Friday June 29 CTHS Alberta – Nomination Deadline for 2012 Thoroughbred Sale Sunday July 1 Millarville Canada Day Racing Monday, July 2 Lt Governors Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Saturday, July 7 Supernatural Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Sunday, July 8 Boulevard Casino Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Thursday July 12 TeePee Creek Stampede Opening Day Saturday, July 14 New Westminster Handicap at Hastings Racecourse Red Smith Stake 3yr. Fillies 1 Mile $50,000 at Northlands Park Ky Alta 3 yr. Olds 1 Mile $50,000 at Northlands Park Sunday July 15 Strawberry Morn Handicap at Hastings Racecourse The 77 th Edition of the Prince of Wales Stakes 1 3/16 miles $500,000 Fort Erie Race Track The 2nd Jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown Saturday July 21 “Super Saturday” will kick off Capital EX at Northlands Park. Princess Margaret, Edmonton Juvenile, John Patrick and Spangled Jimmy Stakes Saturday July 28 Saratoga: Diana S GIT $600,000g, 3&up, f/m, 9f (turf) Jim Dandy S GII $600,000g, 3yo, 9f Woodbine: Duchess S, $150,000g, 3yo f, 7f Sunday July 29 Monmouth Park: Haskell Invitational GI $1,000,000g, 3yo, 9f Molly Pitcher S GII $200,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f Oceanport S GIIIT $150,000g, 3&up, 8.5f (turf) Taylor Made Matchmaker S GIIIT $150,000g, 3&up, f/m, 9f (turf). Friday August 3 Northlands Oaks 3yr. Fillies 1 Mile 50,000 at Northlands Park Saturday August 4 Count Lathum 3 yr. Olds 1 M 1/16 50,000 at Northlands Park Monday August 6
BC Cup Day Hastings Park Manitoba Derby Assiniboia Downs Madamoiselle 3+up F+M 1 M 1/16 $50,000 at Northlands Park Saturday August 11 3 + 4 YO Sales Stakes F 3+4 YO Fillies 6.5 furlongs $50,000 3 + 4 YO Sales Stakes 3+4 YO C+G 6.5 furlongs $50,000 Friday, August 17 Richmond Derby Trial Stake Hong Kong Jockey Club Stake Saturday August 18 Arlington Million XXX GIT 10f (turf) Arlington Park $1,000,000 Beverly D. GIT 9.5f (turf) Arlington Park $750,000g Secretariat Stake GIT 10f (turf) Arlington Park $500,000g Sales Stakes Fillies 2 yr. Fillies 6.5 furlongs 50,000 at Northlands Park Sales Stakes 2 yr. C+G 6.5 furlongs 50,000 at Northlands Park Sunday, August 19 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Friday August 24 Esquirol Farms Sales Stake 2 year Olds 6 furlongs $40,000 Est at Northlands Park Saturday August 25 Northlands Park: Canadian Derby 3 yr. Olds 1 M 3/8 $200,000 Sonoma 3 yr. Fillies 1 M 1/16 $50,000 Edmonton Distaff 3+up F+M 1 M 1/16 $75,000 Westerner 3 + up 1 M 1/16 $50,000 Saratoga: Travers S GI $1,000,000g, 3yo, 10f. Foxwoods King’s Bishop S GI $500,000g, 3yo, 7f Test S GI $500,000g, 3yo f, 7f Ballston Spa H GIIT $250,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf). South Cariboo Garlic Festival Friday August 31 Bird of Pay 2 yr. Fillies 6.5 furlongs $50,000 Saturday September 1 The Birdcatcher 2 yr. C+G 6.5 furlongs $50,000 at Northlands Park Saturday September 8 Sun Sprint 3 + up 6.5 furlongs $50,000 at Northlands Park Sunday September 9th BC Derby Day at Hastings Park – 6 Stakes Monday September 10 CTHS BC Yearling Parade Tuesday September 11 CTHS BC Yearling & Mixed Sale Saturday September 15 Fall Classic Day – Northlands Park Sturgeon River (AB) 2 yr. Fillies 6.5 furlongs $50,000 Premier’s Futurity (AB) 2 yr. Olds 6.5 furlongs $50,000 Alberta Oaks (AB) 3 yr. Fillies 1 Mile $50,000 Beaufort Stakes (AB) 3 yr. Olds 1 M 1/16 $50,000 Red Diamond Stakes (AB) 3 + up 6.5 $50,000 Fall Classic Distaff (AB) 3+up F+M 1 M 1/16 $50,000 Breeders’ Handicap (AB) 3 + up 1 M 1/16 $50,000 Sunday September 16 CTHS Alberta Yearling & Mixed Sale Woodbine Mile Woodbine – Ontario Derby Saturday September 29 Speed To Spare Northlands Park $100,000 Saturday, October 6 The Duchess of York 3+up F+M 1 M 1/16 $50,000 – Northlands Park Monday October 8 Ballerina Stake GIIIC 9f Hastings Racecourse $100,000g British Columbia Premier’s Handicap GIIIC 11f Hastings Racecourse $100,000g, The Freedom of the City 2 yr. Fillies 1 Mile $50,000 – Northlands Park Canadian Juvenile 2 yr Olds 1 Mile $50,000 – Northlands Park Saturday October 13 The Harvest Gold Plate 3 + up 1 M 1/16 $50,000 – Northlands Park Sunday October 14 Canadian International Day – Woodbine Hastings Park Closing Day Friday November 2 Breeders Cup Santa Anita Saturday November 3 Breeders Cup Santa Anita Sunday December 16 Woodbine Valedictory Stake GIII $150,000g, 3&up, 14f. Tuesday December 25 Christmas Day
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Phrugal Phil’$ Weekend Special$
Clareview
$8.48 each – 8kg
Golden Temple atta flour, durum or wheat
Stadium
1kg
Card Price 4.49 ea
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Toronto Star- Fong – Vancouver Canucks could be NHL’s most despised team
So what’ll it be? The Canucks are a methodically run team who can score goals from the top of the lineup to the bottom. And after last season, they’ll be eager to avoid a long early round, and they’re good enough to dictate that it won’t be. Unless the Kings can take Game 1 on the road, Canucks in five.
Grantland – Baker – Coldhearted: NHL Playoff Predictions Time!
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The Globe And Mail – Mirtle – Leafs ownership apologizes to fans for ‘unacceptable’ end to season
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I think women can save civilization.
Emily Murphy
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National Post – Ban on female members one of Augusta National Golf Club’s anachronisms
NY Times – Borden and Crouse – I.B.M. Executive Just Another Face in the Crowd
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NY Times – Qatari Olympic Team Adds Woman
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Mail & Guardian – Saner – Afghan woman fights out of the box
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Phil’s Drink and a Flick
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LA Times – Erskine – Predicting a good time at Dodger Stadium is the easy part
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NY Times – Sorkin – A Costly Toy Subsidized by Others
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LA Times – Dwyre – Fifty years ago, Maury Wills made crime pay off for the Dodgers
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NY Times – Nocera – Football and Swahili
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National Post – Johnston – Chicago is where the cocktails are
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Phil M Stockmen