Terry Clyde Inches Closer To Hastings Racing History

October 3, 2006

With 17 racing days remaining on the 2006 calendar at Hastings Racecourse, Terry Clyde continues to be on course to make local thoroughbred history as the first-ever female leading trainer. And to make things even more interesting, Clyde’s nearest competitor is Barbara Heads.

With four more victories this past weekend, Clyde leads the trainer standings with 38 while Heads sits second with 34. Veterans Terry Jordan (29) and Gary Demorest (28) chase the ladies as the autumn home stretch beckons.

Only four more feature Stakes races remain on the ‘06 schedule: the $150,000 Ballerina Breeders’ Cup Oct. 14; $125,000 BC Premiers Oct. 15; $75,000 Fantasy Oct. 28 and $100,000 Ascot Graduation Breeders’ Cup Oct. 29.

Ookashada, trained by Toni Jacobson Cloutier and ridden by leading jockey Pedro Alvarado, drew away in the stretch and won Sunday’s $106,277 Jack Diamond Futurity by six lengths. Final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.32.

Chelsey’s Image won Saturday’s $106,870 Sadie Diamond Futurity for owners Nick and Pauline Felicella. Trained by Gary Demorest with Anderson Ward in the irons, Chelsey’s Image finished the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.84.

Hastings Racecourse General Manager Michael Mackey announced that beginning Oct. 7 there will be a 20% purse reduction on all overnight races through the end of the meet on Nov. 26 with the exception of Stakes and Handicaps already scheduled. He cited yet-unrealized slot machine revenues as the reason for the purse reductions. Vancouver City Council approved slots at Hastings in July, 2004 but a local citizens group has filed a second appeal that Hastings legal counsel has advised could take anywhere from six months to a year to resolve.

”All of our projections regarding purses this year were based on having the slots by now,” Mackey said.

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