Kamloops Sagebrush Downs

In five weeks of spring racing at Sagebrush Downs there were just 27 races in total. A shortage of horses affected the attendance and handles. The purses which are supported by an $11,000 per diem grant from the BC Racing Commission were the highest average ever on the interior racing circuit. Bottom purses were $2000 and the horsemen that were ready to run shared in the wealth.

The first day saw familiar faces in the winners circle. Murray and Jane Cunard of Williams Lake, won the first race the season with Space Lane who was ridden Lisa Balson. In the second Clint Willson who has been on the circuit for years teamed with Sam Shirley to win easily with Triedtestedandtrue. A healthy mutuel return of $14.60 surprised punters. Doug Clyde who ships up from Langley saw his A Known Feu with Travis Wilkinson waltz home seven lengths in front of the opposition. Kamloops rancher Roy Jackson won the quarter horse dash with Time The Magic a very talented youngster. Trained by veteran Ron Wilcox Time the Magic was ridden by Brooke Mellish. The featured Twin River Sprint was taken by Bob Drummond’s Dust Rouser who dueled Sky Pro and prevailed at wire. Dust Rouser was Sam Shirley second winner on the day.

Week two saw another five race card but there were some bright spots, particularly Clint Willson’s Kalfarri who cruised to the front and won by ten lengths. Sam Shirley was along for the impressive victory. Dream Of A Doll owned Jim & Joy Hille of OK Falls battled My Easy Polly to win the quarter horse race by a neck. Sam Shirley was in the irons and Shirley also won the second aboard Prairie Star Stables Into The Fire who was trained by Vancouver trainer Jim Brown. Earl Crofoot of Brewster Wa. legged up Eva Pliefke to win the third in hand. The last race went Minichello Stable & Bill Barnes’ Light Charge after a difficult trip which ended with apprentice rider Dave Mike earning his first career winner.


The Ogopogo Derby was a three horse contest and was run as a non betting race at the start of race day three. Last years’ Futurity winner Time The Magic got her second win of the season easily with jockey Brooke Mellish. Time the Magic next engagement will be in Alberta as she tries to qualify for the AQHA Challenge series.

Mark and Mel Rechi known for hockey also have an keen interest in horse racing. Longtime trainer Earl Blain saddled Signorina K for the Rechi’s and led Amy Nelson into the winner circle after dueling early and then scoring by three. Clint Willson’s Triedtestedandtrue become the second horse to win two when jockey Ron Bilodeau drew off by five lengths. Robert Kershaw’s Blowin N Goin with Brook Mellish got up in the late stages to win the third. In the fourth Kurt Kier and George Signoretti’s Street War paid $18.90 and was part of $434.30 triactor. Street War was ridden by Amber Dickinson. In an exciting finish Wade & Vivian Hardie’s So Cool charged late nosing out Dust Rouser to capture the Overlander Stakes. Eva Pliefke was the winning jockey.

Buckey Stockwell one of the winningest trainers in interior history started two horses and won both quarter horse races on the fourth weekend. In the first Stockwell’s Ima Emotional Girl was an easy two and quarter winner and in the NWQHBS Futurity his A Martini High defeated a field of all first time starters. Both Stockwell winners were ridden by Doug MacDonald.

Jockey Laurina Windt returned after riding in Washington & Lethbridge and won with Patricia McCarthy’s Capalou. Ron Bilodeau also rode in Washington this spring and he took Clint Willson Kalfarri around the park for an easy win. Kalfarri was Willson’s second to garner to wins at the meet. So Cool was another to gain two wins when she won the Southern Belle by two lengths with Eva Pliefke again handling the reins. Brooke Mellish riding Frog Hollow’s Lord Harry took the sixth race.

The final weekend was a date scheduled for Osoyoos but was moved to Kamloops after racing at Desert Park was canceled. The five race card saw some upsets which resulted in large payouts. The biggest payout of the meet occurred when Roger Borhaven’s Feu Green with Brooke Mellish beat out maiden fillies. Feu Green paid a stunning $49.70 and was the first part of a $971.10 triactor.

In the first two races it was favourites. Ralph Noddin’s High Finale Cruise made it easy for Ron Bilodeau in the first winning by three lengths. In the second Amber Dickinson got Dennis & Irene Miller’s Plan B in front by a neck, there was a field of five and all the riders were female.(could be a first anywhere). The first Arabian Race of the year was all Special Edition who paid $16.10 for a winning ticket. Owned by Donna Setters Special Edition was trained Jake Burn and was ridden by Sam Shirley. One of the best races of the meet was saved for the last when Butch McDonald’s Sky Pro out duelled Earl Blain’s Police Reserve. Amber Dickinson won her second of the day pulling away from Sam Shirley on Police Reserve in the final strides.


BC Cup Day is returning to Sagebrush. The BC Lottery Corporation is sponsoring a race as part of BC Cup Day when racing returns in August. An estimated $20,000 purse should attract plenty of interest. As well there are many plans afoot for a festival like celebration. The festivities include a Chili Cook-off, non winning ticket draws, a pony race of 220 yards and a jockey foot race at 110 yards. There is a media bunch scheduled, public barn tours, and special events for the kids. The kids will have an opportunity to ride ponies, do face painting and receive free hot dogs and pop. The race will have a mounted drill on the post parade and will televised and shown on the Sport of Kings TV Program.