Oct 222016
 

When Sal was leafing through Phil’s dog-eared archives Sal was wandering how Phil got through the months of October and November with all the haunting, warping, harrowing, roasting, skewing, carving and superlative thoroughbred racing.

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.
Aldous Huxley

Ghost Towns – Alberta


Ghost In This House


Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

William Shakespeare


NY Times – Fox – On the Water, and Into the Wild


Questo è per Phil:

Hard Sun


Breeders Cup

Breeders Cup – Races – Post Times

Pre-entered fields for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be announced via a live stream on www.breederscup.com on Wednesday, October 26 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entry Announcement to be Streamed Live on Breederscup.com on Wednesday, October 26

Breeders’ Cup – Ultimate Fan Guide to Breeders’ Cup Week


I have never believed much in luck, and my sense of humor has tended to walk on the dark side.

Hunter S. Thompson


Do You Love Me Now


NY Times – Kepner – Cubs Banish Decades of Anguish From Wrigley

NY Times – Kepner – Cubs Are Hitting, Winning and Defying the Ghosts


Questo è per Eddie:

Black


Bloodhorse – Report: Dips in Stallion, Mares-Bred Numbers

2016 Mares Bred Alberta

2016 Mares Bred British Columbia

2016 Mares Bred Manitoba

2016 Mares Bred Ontario

2016 Mares Bred Saskatchewan


CBC Edmonton – Northlands horse racing season ends in uncertainty

Sal says that Scott Sinclair and Edmonton Northlands words ring hollow.

If there was any genuine concern for the horsemen Northlands Park would have ensured that a succession plan was in place before they dropped the bulldozers day after Derby bomb right in the middle of breeding season.

If If there was any genuine concern for the horsemen Northlands Park would have ensured that a succession plan was in place before the finale of the 2016 thoroughbred racing season.

Sal says that it sounds like Northlands Park is tugging on the heart strings so HRA may loosen the purse strings.


Bloodhorse – Arqana October Yearling Sale Sets Records


A group of politicians deciding to dump a President because his morals are bad is like the Mafia getting together to bump off the Godfather for not going to church on Sunday.
Russell Baker

Bloodhorse – First and Foremost – by Evan Hammonds


The Golden Age


Stallions Newly Arrived in Alberta for 2017 
It’s always exciting to see new Thoroughbred stallions arrive in the province especially as this is the time of year that many of our breeders start to consider which stallion they will be breeding their mares to. The last couple of months have seen familiar stallions arriving in Alberta with Gottcha Gold arriving at Peaceful Valley Farms in Didsbury in September. October saw Exhi  moving from Ontario to stand at Highfield in Okotoks.
A full listing of Alberta Stallions, where they are standing and contact information can be found at the C.T.H.S. website. The Canadian Thoroughbred 2017 Sire Book will be released later in the year. Stallion owners can update their information with the C.T.H.S. National Office.

TDN – Train Them Like Pletcher


The Globe and Mail – AP – Withers – Already fierce Cleveland pitching may soon get back up

With the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series Sal was wandering how many times we’re gonna witness  that entrance.


HASTINGS SEASON WRAP-UP BY GREG DOUGLAS

sorry-about-nothing

FINAL WEEKEND OF RACING AT HASTINGS CREATES

HIGH SPIRITS AMONG HORSEMEN & MANAGEMENT

All-sources Wagering Up for Second Straight Year

Vancouver, B.C. (Oct. 17/16) – High winds and steady rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thoroughbred racing fans during the final weekend of the 2016 season at Hastings Racecourse.

With all-sources wagering surpassing $733,000 on Sunday’s 10-race card, the overall handle resulted in over $1.2 million during the closing two-days, leaving management and horsemen in good spirits at the conclusion of the 53-day meet.

“All-sources wagering was up for a second consecutive season and our horse population stabilized considerably,” said a beaming Darren MacDonald, General Manager of Hastings Racecourse and Director of B.C. Racing.  “Our working relationship with the horsemen is stronger than ever and has most assuredly helped the wagering public with good value for their entertainment dollar.”

Jockeys Amadeo Perez and Denis Araujo capped outstanding seasons Sunday with wins in the last two stake races of the year but when the lights dimmed for a final time it was veteran Richard Hamel standing his ground as proud defending champion.

With one victory Sunday, Hamel completed his mission with 70 trips to the winner’s circle, marking the fourth time the 48-year-old native of Terrace, B.C., has dominated the Leading Jockey standings at Hastings.

Also for a second consecutive year Mike Anderson finished as Leading Training with 37 wins while the Leading Owners title went to Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. celebrating 16 photo ops in the winner’s circle. They will all be acknowledged when the clan next gathers for the annual Thoroughbred Awards Dinner at Newlands Golf and Country Club on December 1.

Araujo, a newcomer to the Hastings jockey colony this year, scored a riding hat-trick Sunday to finish third in the overall standings with 46 wins on the year behind runner-up Antonio Reyes with 62.

Araujo’s ride on Crazy Prophet resulted in an imposing three-and-a-half length victory in the $50,000 BC Cup Classic for trainer John Snow and the Shamrock Racing Stable. Final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.14  with Crazy Prophet paying $4.30, $3.00, $2.30.

The favourite was also dominate in the $50,000 BC Cup Distaff with Touching Promise outlasting Sailingforthesun in the stretch, paying $2.80, $2.30, $2.10.  Owned by Russell and Lois Bennett and trained by Barb Heads, Touching Promise finished in a final time of 1:50.49 under Amadeo Perez over the 1 1/8 mile trip for fillies and mares.

The 2017 live racing schedule has been released and is available at www.hastingsracecourse.com.  Opening day will be on Sunday, April 16 with the 53-day meet concluding on Sunday, October 22.


America’s Best Racing – The Biggest Game in Horse Racing


With the weather finally cooperating the final four Stakes of the season highlighted Northlands Park 2016 finale Saturday October 22.

Don Danard’s Red Diamond Stables and Curtis Landry’s Ruffenuff started the stakes day off with a wire to wire victory in the Freedom of the City for conditioner Greg Tracy with Quincy Welch in the irons. Ruffenuff played possum with the field until she opened up and won by over 10 lengths. Bar None Ranches Ltd. Quivira closed for second for trainer Ron Grieves with Shannon Beauregard up but never threatened the winner. Gary and Kathy Moholitny’s Misty Do It held on for third for trainer Tim Rycroft with Dane Nelson aboard.

Jim and Susan Hill’s Can’t Use Nellie repeated her 2015 victory in the Duchess of York Handicap stalking the pace and then closing to catch the pace setting Onestaratatime. Can’t Use Nellie is trained by Shelley Brown who along with Renaldo Cumberbatch the winning rider is savouring a few wins at Northlands Park.  Onestaratatime conditioned by Greg Tracy for Don Danard’s Red Diamond Stables, Curtis Landry, Darrell Landry and Highfield Stock Farms held on for second with Rico Walcott in the saddle. Dale “Colonel” Saunders, M and P Equipment Inc. and Met Set Consulting Ltd.’s Blameitontheknight held on for third with Shannon Shannon Beauregard in the irons for the Colonel.

Scant minutes after Can’t Use Nellie left the winner’s circle at Northlands Park Jim and Susan Hill’s Malibu Stacy stumbled at the start but recovered and just fell short, finishing a game second,  in the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run GII at Keeneland.

Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.’s Trooper John vied for the lead, took over at the 3/4 pole and won the Canadian Juvenile Stakes easily for conditioner Tim Rycroft with Keishan Balgobin in the irons.  Sycamore Stable’s recently claimed Double Bear vied for the lead, but was no match for the winner holding on for second for trainer Rod Cone with Shamaree Muir up. Ted Graling’s Xtreme Lyra and Curtis Landry and Red Diamond Stable’s Hyannisport deadheated for show money.

Frank Bodell ‘s Royal Warrior trailed the field and rallied down the lane to catch the pacesetting Blue Dancer in the Harvest Gold Plate Handicap for conditioner Dave Nicholson who took quite the tumble on an icy patch on the way to the winner’s circle. Rico Walcott was aboard for the winning ride. C & H Duggan Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp.’s Blue Dancer held on for place money with Quincy Welch aboard for trainer Greg Tracy. Deltin Stable and Ed Welsh’s Killin Me Smalls got up for show money with Keishan Balgobin in the irons for conditioner Ernie Keller.

DRF – Goulding – Royal Warrior goes from last to first in Harvest Gold Plate


I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
Henry David Thoreau


Northlands Park

Final Jockey Standings 2016 – Top 10

Rank Jockey Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Total $ Win%
1 Rico W. Walcott 362 99 79 68 $1,100,718 27%
2 Keishan Balgobin 294 58 48 45 $677,529 20%
3 Dane Nelson 312 59 64 61 $650,328 19%
4 Quincy Welch 154 49 26 18 $591,362 32%
5 Shamaree Muir 295 38 48 39 $525,387 13%
6 Shannon Beauregard 227 40 33 36 $460,152 18%
7 Ismael Eluid Mosqueira 210 27 29 34 $362,616 13%
8 Damario Bynoe 209 27 27 25 $261,988 13%
9 Larry Munoz 204 28 21 27 $228,950 14%
10 Rafael Zenteno Jr. 150 17 17 31 $217,977 11%

Northlands Park

Final Trainer Standings 2016 – Top 10

Rank Trainer Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Total $ Win%
1 Greg Tracy 266 83 53 40 $1,064,462 31%
2 Tim Rycroft 196 50 40 27 $620,911 26%
3 Dale L. Saunders 167 36 28 22 $413,211 22%
4 Ron Grieves 157 32 28 21 $309,723 20%
5 Joan Petrowski 279 25 27 39 $287,844 9%
6 Craig Robert Smith 197 45 29 26 $285,381 23%
7 Rodney J. Cone 193 27 27 39 $265,363 14%
8 Jerri R. Robertson 138 18 30 15 $222,886 13%
9 Tom Rycroft 133 20 20 18 $195,792 15%
10 Twylla Bensmiller 93 15 21 13 $190,125 16%

Northlands Park

Final Owner Standings 2016 – Top 10

Rank Owner Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Total $ Win%
1 Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd. 118 22 30 13 $377,752 19%
2 C and H Duggan Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp. 75 26 15 10 $321,332 35%
3 Bar None Ranches Ltd. 125 29 23 15 $270,511 23%
4 Saunders, Dale L., M and P Equipment, Inc. and Met Set Consulting, Ltd. 76 21 12 13 $236,457 28%
5 Landry, C., Landry, D., Red Diamond Stable and Highfield Stock Farm 21 7 9 1 $207,494 33%
6 Ted Graling 42 10 9 6 $144,356 24%
7 Landry, Curtis and Red Diamond Stable 15 7 3 3 $133,825 47%
8 Deltin Stable and Welsh, Ed 44 8 7 12 $119,708 18%
9 Robbin Martens 10 3 2 2 $119,152 30%
10 Frank Bodell 19 6 4 3 $106,746 32%

With rumours about the future of thoroughbred racing in 2017 and 2018 filling the air at Northlands Park Sal was lucky to catch his breath.
Sal heard that there’s a new stallion from the Storm Cat line heading to the Grande Prairie area.

Sal says that the best rumours are those you keep to yourself.
Stay Tuned.


Heard it through the Grapevine


I’ve discovered that the less I say, the more rumors I start.
Bobby Clarke

Racing Future – Ontario Horse Racing: Another Record-Setting Year for Fort Erie


Herald Sun – Schlink – Cox Plate 2016: Winx defends her crown with incredible victory


 Un altro per Phil:

Stay With Me


Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

Albert Einstein


Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow


Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic


DRF – Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Magazine


Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Remarkable story of a 10-year-old gelding the fans just can’t get enough of


ESPN – Brennan – Cannot separate Rick Pitino from great basketball — or scandal


Comfortably Numb


DRF – Hegarty – Court: Borells have no claim to horses found on leased farm


Sal has a suggestion for the Mattress King, Jim McIngvale, and Laura Wohlers. So far in the dispute between them and Maria Borrell there’s about as much class to choose from as between Donald and Hilary and we haven’t even began to talk about stench. McIngvale should donate the amount of money that Borrell claims she is owed to the TAA or the Kentucky and local agencies that cared for the horses after they were declared abandoned by the state. Make the donation on behalf of Maria Borrell as full payment of her claims.


Should I Stay Or Should I Go


Horse Racing Nation – Zipse – Breeders’ Cup 2016 will decide which Eclipse Awards?


Bloodhorse – Wincze-Hughes – Lightstream Rallies to Win Raven Run


Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Duckworth – Zenyatta and Songbird: Mike Smith makes a comparison

Bloodhorse – Balan – Songbird Works Fast and Easy at Santa Anita

Lady and the Track – Golden – Beholder, Songbird Work at Santa Anita for Distaff


DRF – Watchmaker: Breeders’ Cup choice for three cross-entered horses should be obvious


Bloodhorse – Breeders’ Cup Classic


Bloodhorse – Wincze-Hughes –  Frosted Confirmed for Breeders’ Cup Classic

Lady and the Track – Pugh – Frosted Confirmed For Classic One Day after Wrong-Way Work

Bloodhorse – Haskin – Can Frosted Cool Down Chrome-Arrogate Fever?


TDN – China Horse Club Buys Into ‘Chrome’

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Haigh – The ongoing rise of China Horse Club, new part-owners of California Chrome


The first duty of a state is to see that every child born therein shall be well housed, clothed, fed and educated till it attains years of discretion.
John Ruskin

Bloodhorse – Breeders’ Cup


DRF – Breeders’ Cup


Horse Racing Nation – Breeders’ Cup Classic


Bloodhorse – Hoppertunity, Melatonin Breeze for Classic

Bloodhorse – Balan – California Chrome Powerful Late in BC Drill

Bloodhorse – Balan – Arc Winner Found Could Run in BC Classic


Bloodhorse – Johnson – An Early Look at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Lady and the Track – Pugh – Mind Your Biscuits A Go for Breeders’ Cup Sprint Following Friday Work


Lady and the Track – Ransom – Stellar Wind, Masochistic Lead Parade of California Breeders’ Cup Works


Streets of Philadelphia


Louisville Courier-Journal – Churchill Downs announces $16M in upgrades


Inside Horse Racing – Jicha – A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile ‘freak’ to root for and bet


Streets of Philadelphia


Garden and Gun – Portman – Pick a Side: Biscuits or Cornbread?


When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.
John Ruskin

Sal says he watched the third American Presidential Candidates debate the only sane way – with the TV off.


OF RACES AND JACKASSES

The history of racing has provided great deeds.
Contested by thousands of well meaning steeds.
But the strangest race that's ever been seen.
Is the race for the White House in 2016.
It lasted too long with too many choices.
All shrieking and shouting in a jumble of voices.
Too many pretenders who could not stay the course.
Too many back enders one would never endorse.
A roughly run race with lots of division.
Thousands of pundits all spouting derision.
Then down the stretch came the final dark twosome.
Both equally suspect and equally gruesome.
The old gray mare so desperate to win.
The wanna be stud who led with his chin.
Don't mention e-mails is what she was hoping.
While he lost his action midst kissing and groping.
Head and head down the lane with the mud and dirt flying.
What was the truth and just who was lying?
On they would battle riding by riding.
What had he done and what was she hiding?
In this battle of losers that no one would claim.
Two new inductees for the flops hall of shame.
In the end it would seem these two were well matched.
Too bad that they both could not have been scratched.
Then come November the voters will speak.
No matter who wins the choice will be weak.
A sad competition with a couple of phonies.
I think all in all I prefer watching ponies.

Not Bob Dylan, but I never miss a rhyme

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down


I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

Phantom of the Opera


Ours is a government of checks and balances. The Mafia and crooked businessmen make out checks, and the politicians and other compromised officials improve their bank balances.

DRF – Grening – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Theory not proven going long


In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
Yogi Berra

TDN – Oppenheim – Yearling Market: 80% Snapshot


Bloodhorse – Ron Mitchell – Yearling Sale Season Ends With F-T October


TDN – Duckworth – Michel a Sure Topper at Fasig


TDN – Finley – Gallardo Off to Fast Start in New York


NY Times – Nocera – N.F.L. Stadium in Las Vegas May Be an Ego Boost, but Not an Economic One


Hawthorne Sal

  2 Responses to “Sal’s Suddenly Surfacing Breeders Cup Pop-Up Preview Post”

  1. HORSE RACING LOSES A LONG TIME SUPPORTER

    SQUIRE BUSBY’S passing ends a long time relationship with ALBERTA horse racing. As the unofficial shedrow manager for EXCEL and DONVER STABLES his knowledge of conditioning, condition books,race strategy will be missed, along with his passion for horse racing.
    RIP

  2. 2016 RACING SEASON ENDS WITH NEXT SPRING BECOMING INTERESTING?

    TENILE posts the updated board expenses with a little help from the ministerial assistant to the minister treasury board and finance, sometimes going outside HRA produces answers?

    CAPTAIN for 2015 compensation made 25k for CHAIRMAN TOURISM ALBERTA and 75k for CHAIRMAN HRA for 100k, but submits receipts for $2/$3 parking on Aug 30/Sept 14, i guess STARBUCKS coffee doesn’t fall under expense guidelines.

    BATTLE OF CONCERTS LAST SATURDAY, rogers with KANYE WEST 16,000+, and COLISEUM with KENNY RODGERS 2500, I wonder who create more positive cash flow for operations?

    ONTARIO quarter horse, standardbred, thoroughbred industries join together to form HORSE PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE ONTARIO, it can’t happen in ALBERTA since the name ALLIANCE, ALBERTA has been taken or the major rift between associations can never be mended under present HRA governance?

    NORTHLANDS backdooring the CFR for 2017/2018 results in VISION 2020, becoming HINDSIGHT 2022. That could keep the barns standing for the next 2 race seasons. CITY COUNCIL backing a $20 million bank line of credit will provide positive cash flow with the major losses to be incur in the next 2 years.

    ALBERTA RACING INDUSTRY should be concerned about HRA $8 million grant to NORTHLANDS casino and racing operator, as major fallout is sure to occur after the last horse trailer leaves grounds!

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