Hastings Handicapper

Brian McGregor-Foxcroft

 

06/ 05/ 00 – Vancouver: It was not a favorite’s day at Churchill Downs, until the running of the 126^th Kentucky Derby, which went off as the eighth race on the card. Long-shot after long-shot came across the line in the five big stakes events leading up to the Derby. Many of the under-laid favorites weren’t even coming in the money. And then there was the big event, in which 19 horses left the gate and made their way along the 1 ¼ Mile charge to the wire. In the end it was the favorite, Fusaichi Pegasus, who motored   past the pack to capture the roses. It was the first time in twenty one years that a favorite has won the Derby. As they  came to the wire, it was Fusaichi Pegasus, Aptitude (a horse I believed might get a piece), Impeachment, and More Than Ready (the third and fourth horses made trainer Todd Pletcher, a former D. Wayne Lukas apprentice, a bit of change). The Hastings’ pool exacta paid over $90.00. I got some consolation from my bet on the second horse, and from the powerful run that Hal’s Hope made early on in the race. For a few breathless moments I thought that Hal’s Hope might grab the whole package. I hate races that are too predictable, but handicapping The Kentucky Derby is a bit like trying to handicap the arrival time and ferocity of the next weather pattern to hit the west coast of Canada.

 

Needless to say, I, and many others at Hastings Park, had a disastrous time trying to handicap Churchill Downs’ feature races. Live racing at Hastings, on the other hand, restored my fortunes nicely as the day rolled on. In the third race, R. L. Kat dashed home to pay $6.80 on the win, with a horse I felt would improve, Geri’s Image, picking up third money. Another race which gave me great satisfaction was the fifth, in which Center Of My Eyes, ridden by Sam Krasner, dashed home at 4-1. In the sixth feature race of the day, The North Vancouver Purse, it was Angies Kin, who swept home to pay $20.20 on the win, with Deputy Sue and Point Guard picking up second and third money respectively. And finally, in the eighth race, Freedom Dove, ridden by Fernando Serna, made an impressive middle rally run to win handily, paying $8.00 on the win.

 

I am impressed by the number of new class horses making their first starts at Hastings Park this year. Keep an eagle eye on Lance Giesbrecht’s barn this year. It looks as though he was on a massive buying spree this last winter, but he clearly picked up some real gems, including Deputy Spirit, by Silver Deputy, a very classy sire. Also, keep a careful eye on the number of Diamond Sword and On Target youngsters running this year. They are working and running very well at the moment. And here are some encouraging words of opinion which came late last week from a man living and working in Montreal, who owned and raced horses at Woodbine in the past, and currently watches and wagers on Hastings’ races at his local OTB: “In my opinion, the horses you have racing at Hastings Park are every bit as good as the horses currently racing at Woodbine.”  Yes, folks, and this is a man who knows and appreciates good horse flesh. As I’ve said before, we have a Thoroughbred breeding industry in BC to be proud of, and which deserves our best effort to protect and promote.

 

In closing I wish to pass on that the attendance numbers are way up at Hastings right now. The general quality of the fields and of the races is much improved over last year. There is a universal feeling of optimism in the air which is close to infectious. The service is better, and the fans are enjoying themselves and leaving the park feeling that they’ve received their money’s worth. I don’t know what management’s doing right this year, but whatever it is, I hope they keep doing it.

 

Until next time, happy handicapping!