HorseRacing Central May 23, 2008

BIG BROWN: RED CARPET TREATMENT

They say Big Brown’s arrival at Belmont Park earlier this week had a “red carpet sort of feel”. Dozens of newspaper photographers and television cameramen lined up to wait for the horse that could become the first in three decades to win the Triple Crown.

“He’s a rock star,” said Michael Iavarone, co-president of majority owner IEAH Stables. “You wouldn’t expect anything less.”

The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes is still two weeks away (Saturday, June 7) but the chance to make racing history is getting Big Brown ongoing celebrity treatment as he attempts to complete the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

I’m thinking Big Brown will likely get the toughest test of his young career from Casino Drive, who hails from the family of 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil and last year’s champion filly Rags To Riches. Should Casino Drive dethrone Big Brown, dam Better Than Honour could set an untouchable record by foaling three consecutive Belmont winners.

Big Brown and Casino Drive have amazing similarities despite coming from totally different backgrounds. They are lightly raced and appear to still have their best races ahead of them. And both have been ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Garrett Gomez, who rode Rags To Riches last year, is the leading candidate to pick up the mount on Casino Drive.

Our simulcast coverage of the Belmont Stakes goes at 3:25 p.m. and can be seen on all of our regular simulcast telecasts and TBC outlets. Hastings Racecourse will be the perfect place to be to watch and wager potential history in the making from the oldest of the three Triple Crown events.

LOTS OF LIVE SIMULCAST ACTION

As always, there is plenty of racing available on our various simulcast outlets this weekend. It starts at 10 a.m. Saturday from Belmont with the feature later in the card being the Sheepshead Bay Handicap.

First race from Arlington Park Saturday goes at 11 a.m. and there are two major stakes on the menu with the Arlington Classic and Hanshin Cup.

Hollywood Park hits the screen at 1:20 p.m. and our good neighbours from the south – Emerald Downs – have a 2 p.m. first post. The same start times apply on Sunday.

Don’t forget that Monday (May 26) is Memorial Day in the U.S. That means holiday racing from Belmont (Met Mile), Golden Gate (Berkeley Handicap) and Hollywood Park (Shoemaker Mile). We get ‘em all.

SKILL-TESTING QUESTION

Which horse ran the fastest Belmont in the history of the race? (I’ll provide the answer later).

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

Last weekend was great for B.C. breds as Disfunction (Vying Victor/Summer Prospect) captured the $150,000 Vigil Stakes at Woodbine in a track record time for 7 furlongs at 1:20:51. He was bred by Bob Cheema and now races for JMJs Stable and Weile Yee of Toronto. Trained by Julia Carey, Disfunction was ridden by Jim McAleney. Peter Redekop’s Star Prospector, B.C.’s 2-year-old male champion, will have veteran jockey Quincy Welch trying to lead him to victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Hoofprint On My Heart Handicap at Stampede Park.

There’s also some sad news to report: B.C. Derby winner Celtic Dreamin was injured in a morning workout and will not race again. He finishes his career with six wins and four seconds from 12 starts and earned more than $600,000 for owner K.K. Sangara.

HASTINGS RECAP

It was another flawless performance by Dancing Allstar in last Saturday’s $50,000 Emerald Downs Stakes to capture her second stakes victory in just 13 days. She previously won the Mount Royal Handicap at Stampede Park.

Now comes a much deserved break before her next test which will either be at Hastings in the CTHS Sales Stakes on June 21 or the Penny Ridge Stakes in Calgary on June 14.

Peaceful Turzia ran down a very game Savo Island in the deep stretch to win the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province Stakes last Sunday for the sizzling owner combination of Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella.

The fillies and mares will be in the spotlight on Saturday, May 31 for the $50,000 Senate Appointee Stakes that has drawn 12 nominations headed by Brighouse Belles winner Holy Nova. Guest decorators for the Senate Appointee will be baseball’s Vancouver Canadians president Andy Dunn and GM Andrew Seymour.

SKILL TESTING ANSWER

Secretariat set a world-record that still stands for the 1 ½-mile distance on a dirt track at 2:24 in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, winning by an incredible 31 lengths.

FRASER DOWNS RESUMES RACING MAY 30

Making room for the annual Cloverdale Rodeo, Fraser Downs doesn’t resume racing until Friday, May 30, the beginning of 10 more days to enjoy the standardbreds until September.

Final destination for the ‘Ride for Dad’ fundraiser in support of prostate cancer is expected to draw upwards of 200 bicyclists at Fraser on Saturday, May 31. The celebration will include a live band performing at the west end of the parking lot from 4-6 p.m. prior to the living racing card.

LEARN & PLAY NIGHT AT FRASER

Friday, June 6 has been designated as a ‘Learn & Play’ night at the Downs. The upper clubhouse will be turned into an educational area for patrons to learn how to play the races and a variety of table games. Hey, the price is right: $15 covers appetizers, a complimentary beverage and valuable coupons. And don’t forget to celebrate Father’s Day early at Fraser Downs on Saturday, June 14 when a draw will be held for a fabulous trip to St. John’s Fishing Lodge, where the newly-renovated 236-foot floating lodge provides some of the largest salmon, halibut, lingcod and red snapper on the B.C. Coast.

FAST TRACKING …

Both Hastings and Fraser Downs had winners of more than $100,000 on the BC Gold progressive slot machines … Congratulations to all of the Hastings Racecourse winners at Jim Coleman Vancouver Province Day on Sunday, May 18 … Hastings Racecourse has a new shuttle bus route and all the latest information can be found at www.hastingsracecourse.com