HorseRacing Central May 29, 2008

ACTION MOVIE STAR TO VISIT HASTINGS

Steven Seagal belongs to a special generation of movie action heroes that includes Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Tough guys? You bet! But in Seagal’s case, he is also known as a caring environmentalist and animal rights activist.

“He loves animals and he loves horse racing,” says Howard Blank, vice-president of media and entertainment for Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. “Steven was thrilled when I asked him if we could name a race after him and have him in the winner’s circle at Hastings Racecourse.”

Blank, who describes his relationship with Seagal as being “good ol’ friends”, has arranged for the popular action star to be at Hastings this coming Saturday afternoon. “He’s agreed to meet and mingle with the fans and have his picture taken with them,” Blank says. “So we’re encouraging everyone to bring their cameras. The meet and greet session will be held on the racecourse tarmac starting at approximately 3 p.m.”

Seagal, who is also a producer, writer, director and singer/songwriter, is in Vancouver shooting a new movie called Ruslan about a former Russian mobster who must protect his family. Seagal’s action films have earned in excess of $600 million worldwide since the late 1980’s. He is also a master of several Japanese martial arts and began his adult life as an aikido instructor in Japan and became the first foreigner to own and operate an aikido dojo in Osaka, Japan.

Hastings Racecourse is thrilled to have Steven Seagal as a special guest on Saturday, May 31. And we thank our ‘teammate’ Howard Blank for making it possible.

HOLY NOVA FAVOURED IN SENATE APPOINTEE

This week’s feature at Hastings Racecourse is the running of the $50,000 Senate Appointee Stakes named after the great filly who earned more than $500,000 in the colours of the late Jack Diamond.

Like last season with Monashee winning the Senate Appointee, this year’s renewal brings us another potential superstar in the making as Holy Nova appears to be the odds-on favourite. Holy Nova easily defeated her competition in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles three weeks ago and looks like she has what it takes to be a dominant filly this season at Hastings.

A quick Belmont Stakes update: Big Brown is training right on schedule for his major prep workout early next week leading up to the 140th running of the third jewel in racing’s Triple Crown. Our simulcast coverage of the Saturday, June 7 Belmont Stakes goes at 3:25 p.m. and can be seen on all of our regular simulcast telecasts and TBC outlets.

It appears Big Brown’s main challenger to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 (Affirmed) will be from Casino Drive, ridden by veteran jockey Edgar Prado. He was the Triple Crown stopper in 2004 when he guided Birdstone to a Belmont victory over Smarty Jones. Prado also won the Belmont Stakes in 2002 on 70-1 longshot Sarava.

BASEBALL CANADIANS ‘HIT’ HASTINGS, TOO

Vancouver Canadians’ co-owner and team president Andy Dunn will be guest decorator of the $50,000 Senate Appointee Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Joining Dunn will be C’s general manager Andrew Seymour, director of media & broadcasting Rob Fai and director of ticketing Jason Takefman.

With local owners Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney having rescued professional baseball in Vancouver, the Canadians have become an integral part of our local sports scene as a Northwest League affiliate with major league baseball’s Oakland A’s. The C’s open their season at Nat Bailey Stadium on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tri City Dust Devils.

Watch for several co-promotions involving the C’s and Hastings Racecourse in the upcoming months. Hastings has its “stretch run” and the Canadians have their “seventh inning stretch”. There has to be a tie-in somewhere, right?

We look forward to the C’s presence on our turf this coming Saturday.

CONSTRUCTION CONTEST KICKS OFF

To create excitement, we must create dust! And Sunday, June 1 marks the launch of our month-long Construction Contest at Hastings. It’s sort of a “thank-you-for-your-patience” promotion.

Simply sign up for a BC Gold Card or a Horseplayer Interactive Card at Guest Services and you will be automatically entered to win a $5,000 Home Renovation Gift Card. In addition, Hot Seat Draws on the gaming floor (Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sundays: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.) will give you a chance to win a $25 Gift Card for your favourite home renovation store.

The final draw will be Sunday, June 29 at Hastings and you must be on site to win.

FRASER DOWNS HELPING TO FIGHT PROSTATE CANCER

It’s the biggest motorcyle ride for prostate cancer in Canada and Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino is proud to be the final stop on Saturday, May 31 for the MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR DAD supported by The Vancouver Police Department.

Approximately 2,000 riders will finish their day’s mission at Fraser Downs where Bro Jake Edwards and Corrie Miller from CLASSIC ROCK 101 emcee the festivities beginning at approximately 3 p.m.

Six-time Canadian Super Bike champion Steve Crevier will be joined by actor Jackson Davies with bands “Mad Shadow” and “Lymozeen” providing the entertainment at a specially-designated barbecue pit and beer garden. Live racing at Fraser Downs Saturday will begin at 7:30 p.m. as opposed to the normal 7 p.m. start.

HASTINGS SLOTS ARE HOT

On the heels of a Hastings slots player hitting a $100,000 BC Gold jackpot, another regular walked away this week with a handsome win that is not to be taken lightly.

It is against our policy to identify big winners at Hastings but we can report it was a lady patron whose mid-week visit resulted in a $15,876 victory.

And we say: Congratulations!