15/ 04/ 00 – Vancouver: There’s just one more week until live racing at Hastings Park, and things are looking very good on all sides. Hastings has hired Phil Heard as its new general manager. While he knows nothing about horse racing, he is showing a willingness to learn, and has been seen around the backstretch getting to know the trainers and horses. His priority is going to be on customer service, which is a good place to start. This is a man who knows marketing, so much of his focus will be on promoting the live racing product at Hastings Park. He will be under the gun to produce, because a lot of confidence has been eroded, especially down the backstretch, which is already coming up short on available horses to fill the live race cards. Nevertheless, there is every reason for optimism, and those of us involved in BC racing need to throw our support behind Mr. Heard. We wish him all the very best!

 

I have been asked several times over the past week if I knew who was going to be riding at Hastings this season. I do, and here the line up of jockeys: Dan Brock, Jef Burningham (apprentice), Alan Cuthbertson, Frank Fuentes, Brian Johnson, Sam Krasner, Chris Loseth, Norman Rodriguez, Ben Russell, Fernando Serna, Sam Shirley, Robert Skelley, Filipe Valdez, Dan Vergara, Anrella Villeseche, Mark Walker, Dave Wilson, and Melissa Wilson. There will be no new riders allowed to work at the Park this year (at least this is the rumor I’ve heard in the backstretch).

 

Fans attending the Park, or playing the simulcast, on opening day will be able to wager on The Daffodil. Fifteen horses have been nominated for this $30,000, 61/2 Furlong event; they are as follows: Angies Kin, B B Belle, Bamboo Memory, Becoming, Lasting Chance, Magic Code, Mom’s Valentine, Page Seventy Seven, Point Guard, Purls Ledgend, Sagacity, Sky Borne, Spice Girl, Vickey’s Secret, and Whittle. Expect Magic Code and Bamboo Memory to run big in this event. Point Guard has also been working well lately. Note that The Inaugural was listed as being run on opening day, but will be run on the Sunday instead.

 

One of the reasons Hastings is down in horse numbers this year is due to the fact that a healthy number of them were raced and claimed in the US this past winter. You’ve already read my ramblings about their acceptable performances south of the boarder. Once again this week a former Hastings horse, Riot, got up for third in the $57,000 Optional Claiming 7^th race at Santa Anita. Like many Hastings chargers before him, he has taken to turf racing. Fans will remember the Lance Giesbrecht trained Riot winning stakes races at Hastings Park.

 

Once again I’m publishing the best times for Track Works over the past two weeks.

 

Sunday, April 2 (Track Fast): ¼ Oso Exceptional, Rupert Harbour 0:26.20b. 3/8^th Sensitive Issue 0:37.20h. ½ Sir Andybrant 0:48.60h. 5/8^th Prefered Native 1:01.00h. ¾ B B Belle, Du Kat 1:16.60h.

 

Monday, April 3 (Track fast): ¼ Martha Rose, Wicca 0:24.80h. 3/8^th It’s Meant To Be 0:35.80h. ½ Just Free 0:48.20h. 5/8^th Silver Threads 1:01.00h.

 

Tuesday, April 4 (Track Fast): ¼ Vie Victoria 0:25.00h. 3/8^th Deputy Sue O:35.40h. ½ Sarasarasara, Three For The Show 0:49.00h. 5/8^th Mike K 1:00.80h.

 

Wednesday, April 5 (Track Fast): 3/8^th Kinda Striking, Bright Path 0:37.00h. ½ Aldergroovy 0:49.60h.

 

Thursday, April 6 (Track Fast): ¼ Little Zaya 0:26.40b. 3/8^th Dreams Of Gold 0:36.80h. ½ Lottie Ann 0:49.00h. 5/8^th Trap Me Not 1:00.40h. ¾ Majestic Arms 1:15.80h.

 

Friday, April 7 (Track Fast): ¼ Eighty Proof, Roy L Appointment 0:25.20h. 3/8^th Sky Chief 0:36.60h. ½ Imprimature 0:48.20h. 5/8^th Maudest 1:00.40h. ¾ Brilliant Idea 1:15.20h.

 

Saturday, April 8 (Track Fast): ¼ At The Dock, Huri Up, Jazzy Legs 0:26.00b. 3/8^th Sideline Duchess 0:36.00h. ½ Desert Time 0:48.20h. 5/8^th Travelling Trapper 1:00.80h. ¾ Fleet Alberta, Twice Chilled 1:15.60h.

 

Wednesday, April 12 (Track Fast): ¼ Pacificat 0:24.40h. 3/8^th Wilwyn Free 0:37.60h. ½ First Stringer 0:48.00h. 5/8^th Angies Kin, Briarcrest 1:00.80h.

 

Thursday, April 13 (Track Fast): 3/8^th Darby O’Gill 0:35.60h. ½ Brilliant Idea 0:47.00h. 5/8^th Beltal, Maudest 1:01.40h. ¾ Conversano 1:14.40h.

 

Friday, April 14 (Track Fast): ¼ Two And Twenty 0:24.00h. 3/8^th Mr Superior Knight 0:35.60h. ½ Galavant 0:47.20h. 5/8^th Vernon Invader, Travelling Trapper 1:01.40h. ¾ Mom’s Valentine 1:15.00h.

 

Overall best performances for the past two weeks: Maudest, who gets a bullet each work out, and Travelling Trapper.

 

I’ll wrap it up for now, hoping that my information is of some help and interest to you. If you would like to comment this column, please feel free to locate and use the handy comment icon provided on the page. Until next time, God’s speed to you and to your horses.