HorseRacing Central August 29, 2008

FOUR STAKES ON THE HOLIDAY GRILL

One of the biggest weekends of the thoroughbred racing season at Hastings gets launched Saturday with the return of Dancing Allstar, the top 2-year-old filly in Canada last year. She’ll be the morning line favourite in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club for 3-year-old fillies but it won’t be a ‘slam dunk’ with Remarkable Miss also entered.

Remarkable Miss is on a roll with victories in the BC Cup Dogwood on Aug. 4 and the Supernaturel on July 5. A victory Saturday would be the perfect prep for the $125,000 British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Oaks on Sept. 20. A couple of other strong candidates in the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be Lecturing Lynn and Blue Sky Holiday.

The $50,000 PNE President’s Speed also goes Saturday with the ‘fastest of the fast’ going six furlongs with all runners carrying 124 pounds. The likely favourite will be Fuhrever Dancing, recent winner of the $50,000 Westerner in Edmonton. It was his first race for the Bob Cheema – Terry Jordan connection after being claimed at Woodbine for $60,000 in July.

The field has drawn six entries with Jim and Vivian Morgan’s And All That Jazz trying to pull off another upset as he did in the BC Cup Sprint as an 18-1 longshot. Also in the lineup is the elite Alberta sprinter Inuit Fisher, having won four of his six starts with regular jockey Quincy Welch, who makes another Hastings visit.

FINAL PREP FOR BC DERBY

The $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial on Sunday is the final prep for 3-year-olds trying to secure a spot in the $250,000 BC Derby on Sunday, Sept. 21. Krazy Koffee figures to be favoured after having won the last two stakes for 3-year-olds at Hastings. There is plenty of competition, though, beginning with Forest Prince and his two consecutive wins that included beating Ookashada in his latest start.

‘THE MOUSE’ IS BACK IN THE HOUSE

THE $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate goes Monday as the traditional Hastings Labour Day feature and one of the most popular horses ever to run locally will be on hand to thrill an anticipated huge holiday crowd.

Spaghetti Mouse will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory and with a small field his main competition is expected to come from Winter Warning, who finished a couple of lengths in arrears in the Classic on BC Cup Day. ‘The Mouse’ will carry the high weight at 126 pounds for the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds and up.

Starting times for all three exciting Labour Day Weekend cards: 1:25 p.m.

ASIAN FESTIVAL

Get ready for the Hastings Asian Festival this Saturday (Aug. 30) with Lion dancers, martial arts and Chinese dance performances throughout the afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Fans can sign up for the HorseRacing Central newsletter and spin the Lucky Wheel for prizes plus the chance to win a traditional lucky jade ornament valued at over $300 courtesy of our friends at Stezo Jewellers.

Remember, too, that all BC Gold members are rewarded with free admission to the final weekend of The Fair at the PNE. Simply show your BC Gold card at Gate 6. See our Hastings Gaming Floor Guest Services to acquire a BC Gold card.

Guest Services can also provide all the exciting details of the 2nd Annual University College Scholarship Day at Hastings Racecourse on Sunday, Sept. 7. Three scholarships totaling $5,000 will be drawn for ($2500, $1500 and $1000) as well as a video iPod and five MP4 players. Winners have to be in attendance so mark down the date: Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7.

Friday Nights Under the Lights begin Sept. 12 with 6:30 p.m. racing starts and continuing on Friday, Sept. 19 and Friday, Sept. 26. With the new Hastings entertainment floor featuring 600 slots, live music and great food and beverage options, it’s a great way to start your weekend.

C’S WELCOME HASTINGS JOCKS TO THE NAT

Seven Hastings Racecourse jockeys were guests of the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium Monday night between a doubleheader with the C’s and Everett AquaSox. They were introduced at home plate by ‘The Voice of the Races’ Dan Jukich and received enthusiastic ovations as they each stepped forward on cue wearing their colourful silks. The popular group of riders included Dave Wilson, Fernando Perez, Mario Gutierrez, Frank Fuentes, Stephanie Fedora, Ruzaan Choksey and his little boy Kyros.

CLOSING NOTES

Free Movie Nights have moved to Saturday with the family lineup being Pirates of the Carribbean on Sept. 13; Spiderman on Sept. 20 and Napolean Dynamite on Sept. 27 … A big night of standardbred racing at Mohawk is on the slate tomorrow with the running of the Metro Pace for 2-year-olds. It carries a purse of $1 million and the entire card has purses of more than $3.5 million including many Breeders Crown races … Money Machine Mondays continue at Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino. At the hours of 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. a hot seat draw takes place in the casino and slot areas. The winners go inside the Money Machine for the opportunity to win cash and valuable Fraser Downs merchandise … Opening of the new 2008-2009 season at Fraser is Friday, Sept. 19.