HorseRacing Central August 1, 2008

14th BC CUP DAY COULD BE THE BEST YET

A top three-year-old from the United States squaring off against local champ Spaghetti Mouse would be enough to attract the usual large turnout for BC Cup Day at Hastings Racecourse on Monday, Aug. 4.

Throw in a horse that has done most of his racing in the United Arab Emirates and you have the ingredients to make it one of the most intriguing events in its 13-year history.

Seven stakes races with more than $450,000 in purses contribute to the biggest single race day of the local thoroughbred season. The 11-race card begins at 1:25 p.m. on the Holiday Monday with the highlight being the $100,000 Redekop BC Cup Classic.

Spaghetti Mouse was favoured to defend his 2006 Classic title last year but failed to withstand the strong late run of Shacane, an $81.30 upset winner, the largest win price in the Classic’s history.

Texas Wildcatter, trained by Troy Taylor, was a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby before a disappointing race in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. Recently purchased by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, Texas Wildcatter will be a threat to Spaghetti Mouse, as will Woodbine invader Zounds, owned by Bob Cheema and trained by Terry Jordan.

The United Arab Emirates product – Rosberg – began his career in the U.S. but spent most of his time running at either Nad Al Sheba or Jebi Ali race courses in Dubai. He is entered in the BC Cup Sprint and goes up against favoured Holy Nova, easily the best older filly or mare in western Canada. Not many fillies are capable of beating colts and geldings but Holy Nova, owned by Todd and Kinsella, appears to be in a league of her own. Also in the Sprint is B R Remark, last year’s winner who was voted the champion sprinter in B.C. under trainer Brian Giesbrecht.

Monday’s BC Cup races for 3-year-olds and up – the Sprint, Distaff and Classic – are open to horses owned or bred in British Columbia. The other four stakes are restricted to B.C.-breds only.

Regular Saturday and Sunday racing at Hastings begins at 1:25 p.m. with the same starting time for Monday’s huge BC Cup presentation.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Live entertainment from some of British Columbia’s newest young names in country music will be performing ‘live’ throughout BC Cup Day at Hastings. Organizers of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival put together the exciting lineup and also the Family Zone is back with face-painting, the bounce castle and free pony rides.

Also, mark down the date Friday, Aug. 15: it’s official – the Hastings Grand Opening of the permanent slot floor featuring 600 slot machines plus a restaurant and lounge. Hastings Racecourse is about to proudly launch into a brand new era.

SPORT OF KINGS SPECIAL ROUNDTABLE

Tommy Wolski’s Sport of Kings television show on Citytv at 11 a.m. Saturday features a panel of expert analysts previewing Monday’s BC Cup Day seven stakes races. If you want to get the ‘inside track’, don’t miss this edition of the Sport of Kings.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

True Metropolitan, 2007 champion older horse of the year in Canada, just missed in the $150,000 Seagram Cup last Sunday at Woobine, finishing a close second to Artie Hot. True Metropolitan’s trip east netted $150,000 with a win and two seconds in three tries. Trainer Terry Jordan says his next assignment will be the $300,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, Aug. 17 at Emerald Downs.

UPCOMING RACES TO WATCH

A noteable absentee from the BC Cup weekend is Dancing Allstar, who’s entered in Saturday’s Duchess Stakes at Woodbine. Also on Saturday at Northlands Park in Edmonton the $75,000 Count Lathum will include Neville Davis’ Arkhill, winner of his last two starts in Alberta. Two other local horses making the trip to challenge Arkhill are recent allowance winner Tigerheat owned by Bud Malette and Valdero, owned by the Todd/Kinsella duo.

Big Brown is back in action Sunday at Monmouth Park in the $1 million Haskell. Both Hastings and Fraser Downs have added Monmouth to Sunday’s simulcast schedule. Post time for the Haskell is 3:14 Pacific.

LUCKY NUMBER 8

Friday, August 8 is the only day in our lifetime when we’ll be able to say we’ve experienced the 8th day of the 8th month of the 2008th year: 8/8/8. There will be special celebrations at both Hastings and Fraser Downs to celebrate this rare occasion. Fans at Hastings on Aug. 8 will have a chance to win $888 if the 8th horse in the 8th race happens to win. Fraser Downs will stage an ongoing contest for 8 hours with patrons having a chance to win $888, $88 or $8 from the role of the lucky giant dice. A similar set of dice will be at Hastings for fans throughout the day to win merchandise and prizes. And Hastings will hold 8 Hot Seat draws on the Gaming Floor at 8:08pm, for guests to win $88 slot play coupons!

CAN HE MAKE IT 15 IN A ROW?

The 2007-08 Meadowlands meet ends Saturday with its signature event: The Hambletonian. It’s a mile trot race with a purse of $1.5 million as nine other trotters face Deweycheatumnhowe who is looking for his 15th consecutive win. . Driver/trainer Ray Schnittker and his ‘win machine’ have been installed as the 2-5 morning line favourite. First race of the l5 races is slated for 8:30 a.m. but Fraser Downs and Hastings will pick up the action in progress at race five. The first four will be available via HPI. Post time for the Hambletonian is 12:43 p.m.

SUCCESS AT SANDOWN

The three-day harness racing summer meet in July at Sandown Park was deemed a resounding success with more than 7,000 fans attending and wagering in excess of $165,000. “We were very pleased with the response,” says Sandown Park director of racing operations Chris Adamson. “Even with the long lineups because of the huge crowds, I didn’t hear one complaint. Through all three days the fans were totally enthusiastic.”

Management at Sandown, Fraser Downs and the B.C. Standardbred Association extend a sincere “thank you” for those who supported the three-day summer meet and look forward to more racing excitement in Sidney in the summer of 2009.