Little America Beyond Orville-
Americans Take Desert Park

It was a big day for the Americans that crossed the border at Orville to race at Desert Park on June 20. Six of the seven races at the Osoyoos track were won by American owned and trained horses. It was an exceptional day for owner trainer Nancy Burbank of Milo, Washington as her horses won three races in three starts. Two wins last week, makes it five wins in a row and vaults her into the Interior leading trainer position.

Burbank saddled Jim Winfrey’s Air Corn for his second win of the meeting with rider Laurina Windt. In the second Burbank’s fine mare Drone’s Dancer loomed boldly around the turn and won in hand for jockey Ron Bilodeau. It was the first of four winnings for Bilodeau, who now has 13 winners to lead the jockey standings. In the featured Rocking Chair race for seven year olds and upwards Burbank watched a gutsy performance by her own Rock’n Boy as he came on again after relinquishing the lead and set a new track record of 105:0 flat for 5 1/2 furlongs mark. Ron Bilodeau was along for the record setting trip.

Omak resident Frank Lay likes to nip over the border for a bit of his favourite sport. Lay shipped up Clever Timing who bested Stop The Fight and Join The Circus who were dead heated in the third. with Ron Bilodeau up in the third. Bilodeau was in the tack with another American winner taking the day’s only Quarter Horse dash with Amy Nelson’s Imitchintoberich.

The lone Canadian winner was Ken Shaw’s Love The Speed. It was Laurina Windt’s second winner of the day and trainer Ron Wilcox’s third of the season.

Real Kapital, who fell last weekend after another had horse fallen in front him, appeared none the worse for wear. That incident affected the betters however, Real Kapital was an upset winner paying $29.90 to win. Owned and trained by Earl Crofoot of Brewster, Washington Real Kapitol was the first winner in Canada for Ully Pliefke.

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Riders Escape Injuries

A very short race card at Osoyoos didn’t lack action. In the first race rider Amber Dickinson was unharmed when her mount Heza Green slipped on the first turn. In the fifth and final race on the same turn a bit of luck saved two riders from serious injuries. Front running Shadow Wizard with Lisa Balsom went down, Brooke Mellish aboard Nasty Remark was able to jump clear but Real Kapitol with Sylvia Hoffman got tripped up leaving two riders and two horses on the ground. Fortunately the girl jocks were both up standing a short time later and received appreciative applause from the audience.

American trainer Nancy Burbank had a great day taking the first with long shot Air Corn and winning the third with favourite Rock’n Boy. Laurina Windt handled the reins on Jim Winfrey’s Air Corn and Ron Bilodeau scored with Rock’n Boy.

Titan Rocket was the hometown hero in the second. Owned by the Pendergraft’s P-1 Ranches, the 9 year old gelding was much the best and gave Ron Bilodeau his first winner of the day.

Runners trained by Eric Turner of Okanogan, Washington took the other two races. In the fourth a Quarter Horse dash, Rick and Bonnie Rawson’s I Wanna Be Like Mike, nosed out Sweet Gypsy Lady. Amber Dickinson was the winning jock. In fifth new jockey Christy Weibe went to winners’ circle with Harold Burbank’s Miss Native Knight.