GUTIERREZ GETS OFF TO A HOT START DURING OPENING WEEKEND AT HASTINGS

Vancouver, B.C. (April 29/08) -- Mario Gutierrez, last year’s top jockey at Hastings Racecourse, gave notice this past weekend that he doesn’t intend to relinquish his title easily in 2008.

The 21-year-old from Vera Cruz, Mexico, rode four winners on Sunday to go along with three Saturday as the thoroughbred racing season was launched before an estimated crowd of up to 7,000 on opening day.

Gutierrez, who won 134 races and $1.7 million in purses last year, finished his afternoon’s work Sunday with his fourth victory on You’rejustlikeme in the eighth and final race on the card.

It was also Mario’s fourth win on the weekend for trainer Terry Jordan. You’rejustlikeme (($5.40), Alarlco ($2.40), Taylor’s Route ($5.60) and Diamond Tree ($3.90) were all Jordan-trained. Troy Taylor was the trainer of record for Trippi Bree ($2.80), Peaceful Turzia ($3.50) and Zippy Zack ($4.80).

Hastings Racecourse general manager Raj Mutti offered an apology and a thank you for racing fans who showed up Saturday and were forced to endure long lineups at the mutuels and concession stands.

“Quite frankly, we were caught off guard by the huge crowd,” Mutti said. “It won’t happen again. We’ll have increased services and options throughout the facility for the rest of the season.”

The first of 41 stakes races goes next Saturday with the running of the $50,000 George Royal and it’s widely speculated that two-time Sovereign Award winner True Metropolitan will be making his 2008 debut. True Metropolitan won seven of 10 starts last year to finish with career earnings of $918,295 so the cherished $1 million mark would appear to be achievable this season.

“He looks better than ever,” says Jordan, the proud trainer for owner Bob Cheema. “It’s possible he could be peaking as a 6-year-old.”
Three racing dates have been added to this year’s schedule to increase the schedule to 71 race days, up from 69 last year. Also, purses are 20 percent higher than last season. A major reason for these increases is attributed to the arrival of a new gaming floor at Hastings with 150 slot machines currently available and plans underway to increase that number to 600, hopefully by mid-summer. The highlights of the racing meet this season will be the $250,000 BC Derby on Sept. 21 and BC Cup Day on the holiday Monday, Aug. 4.

For further racing inquiries: Raj Mutti: 604.251.0445
For media & entertainment inquiries: Howard Blank: 604.303.1000