5th Interior Awards
Willie Ritson-Bennett
Interior Awards, Seminar and Stallion
Auction A Great Success
The Annual Interior Turf awards honoured division leaders
and recognized the brilliant career of Ice In Space. Ice In
Space was named Horse of the Decade.
The ten year old gelding reigned over the later part of the
decade, capturing four Similkameen Cups, two Vernon Cups and
Horse of a the Year honours in 1996, 1997 and 1998. A true
athlete, Ice In Space, raced for VernonÕs Bill Smith and was
a fan favourite. A winner of the Longacres Mile as a four
year old, the son of Ice Capades still has the desire to run
and continues to inspire racing fans with his Silky Sullivan
running style.
Jockey Ron Bilodeau rode into history as he dominated the
jockey standings and partnered with Ice In Space for three
Similkameen wins. The forty two year rider won thirty-four
races in Ō99, over 25% of the races held. It was the fifth
riding title of the decade for the Keremeos native.
Nancy Burbank of Milo, Washington earned the leading trainer
award. A regular on the circuit, BurbankÕs record for 1999
17-7-5-1. Burbank and her family enjoy their weekly forays
across the border and all share a love of the sport. Her sprinter
Rock ŌN Boy went three for three at Desert Park defeating
Ice In Space in the American Appreciation Purse. RockÕN Boy
a Washington bred son of Gumboy earned the Horse of the Year
Title for 1999.
Special Warrant won both the Osoyoos HBPA Derby and the Sagebrush
HBPA Derby in Kamloops to earn three year old honours. Jockey
Sam Shirley who was runner-up in the riders standings paced
the front running sophomore in both events. Special Warrant
is trained Jim Brown and races of Prairie Star Stables.
VicÕs Eyes was crowned the best filly or mare, winning the
Maple Leaf Distaff in Kamloops in the spring and took the
crown jewel with her win in the Erin Rae defeating So Cool.
Vic's Eyes is owned and bred by Fred Coooper of Kamloops.
Claimer of the year was Bob
SchmidtÕs Bada to the Bone who won four races in 1999.
The champion Arab was Norm PottleÕs
NL Serbania who was trained by Vicki Anderson and part an
renewed interest in Arabian Racing.
The equine trade fair held prior
to the Awards Dinner show cased some innovative products.
Different breeds, events and artisans were represented. Makers
of carts to tack spoke to interested people.
The future of racing was discussed at the afternoon seminar
which was very well attended. Also attending was local MLA
Dr. April Sanders who listened intently to of leaders in the
horse industry.
PRA Chairman Colin Gableman left a positive impression that
racing in B.C. could return to vitality. Currently the PRA(operators
of Hastings Park Racecourse) is negotiating with Lotto B.C.
to join together in a mutually beneficial partnership and
Gableman was optimistic that it would come to fruition.
H.B.P.A. President David Milburn emphatically expressed the
crisis situation that the industry is facing. Milburn said
the provincial government must rescind the pari mutuel tax
which is crippling horse racing, immediately and urged people
to contact elected officials. British Columbia is the only
province in Canada with the tax and itÕs removal could the
immediate situation.
The panel members were unanimous
about the negative impact of gaming expansion. The need to
implement the kinds of changes in gaming that have revived
the industry in many jurisdictions throughout Canada and North
America is imperative.
The discussions were lively and stimulating, the panel also
included Department of Agriculture Equine Specialist Mark
Robbins, CTHS Director Ralph Jesiak and leading breeders R.J.
Bennett and Wally Leong.
The avid interest of people attending the Vernon Agricultural
Society Annual Award showed there is still passionate to continue
racing. The successful silent auction and stallion auction
raised funds which will the organizers conduct horse racing
in the year 2000 and carry on the tradition of racing at B.C.
oldest racetrack.
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