HorseRacing Central November 7, 2008

LOCAL HOPEFULS AT WOODBINE

It will be another busy simulcast weekend at Woodbine for our local thoroughbred enthusiasts who contributed to another successful season of ‘live’ racing at Hastings Racecourse that drew to a close last weekend (Nov. 2).

“It was a year of progress,” general manager Raj Mutti said at the conclusion of the 71-day meet. “We had two purse increases during the season and the horsemen responded in a very enthusiastic way by providing a substantially improved product. We’re all looking forward to 2009.”

Meantime, local horses will be in the spotlight this weekend at Woodbine with the biggest race on the agenda being Sunday’s $150,000 Autumn Stakes (2:00 p.m.). Rosberg, owned by Swift Thoroughbreds and trained by Dino Condilenios, makes his Toronto debut from the inside post with Emile Ramsammy in the irons.

Bob Cheema’s True Metropolitan, trained by Terry Jordan, will be seeking his third straight Autumn Stakes victory with Woodbine’s leading rider Jim McAleney getting the assignment. True Metropolitan finished 8 ½ lengths behind Rosberg in the $100,000 Premiers at Hastings on Oct. 12.

Another Hastings’ champ – Sir Winston Churchill winner Fuhrever Dancing – will be running against $32,000 claimers (10:37 a.m.) Sunday at Woodbine and fifth-place finisher in the 2008 BC Derby – Papa Time – goes against allowance runners at 12:31 p.m.

SATURDAY’S STOPS AROUND THE CIRCUIT

Woodbine’s Saturday feature is the $125,000 Frost King (12:35 p.m.) for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs and of local interest is Shut It Down owned by K.K. Sangara and trained by former Hastings conditioner Lorne Richards.

Churchill Downs brings us the $175,000 Ms. Revere Stakes (1:37 p.m.) while Aqueduct showcases the $150,000 Red Smith Handicap (12:44 p.m.) for older horses at the demanding distance of a mile and three-eighths. Calder is offering over $1 million in purse money to the best Florida breds at part of a 12-race program that starts at 9:25 a.m.

RYNEVELD RETURNS TO HASTINGS

He was an intern in the racing office at Hastings in the summer of 1994 and returns next month as Director of Racing. Paul Ryneveld, 36, was the simulcast and stakes coordinator at New Mexico’s Sunland Park from 1998 to 2000, then left to become assistant GM at Great Lakes Downs in Michigan. He returned to Sunland as Director of Operations in 2001, remained there until he accepted the position of Director of Racing at Emerald Downs in January, 2004, and three years later went ot Fairplex in southern California.

A native of Renton, Washington, Ryneveld will oversee all aspects of the Hastings track operations and will be a liaison between the horsemen and HBPA.

”I’LL TAKE THE CAR, PLEASE”

Linda Dale had a choice between winning a 2008 Infiniti Ex valued at $45,000 or her very own thoroughbred racehorse that would be provided with food and lodging for a full year at Hastings. Ten finalists out of 4,000 entries were chosen randomly on the final day of racing and Linda, as the seventh contestant, had been handed the winning key to the sparkling new vehicle.

CLASSY MOVE FOR BREEDERS CLASSIC

Two big name drivers from Ontario – Mark MacDonald and Rick Zeron – will not only be participating in next Tuesday’s (Nov. 11) BC Breeders Classic at Fraser Downs, they’ll also be making it a special day for a local harness racing family in need of financial assistance.

MacDonald and Zeron will be donating any winnings from their appearances during the Classic matinee card (1:15 p.m. start) to help raise funds for 12-year-old Cole Rutter, son of Fraser Downs trainer Carol St. Amand. Young Cole was seriously injured following a Sept. 7 ATV accident and is in the Intensive Care Unit of Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. The full extent of his injury may not be known for several months.

“He has some movement in his right side, feelings in his right toes and fingers but his left side is paralyzed,” said a family spokesperson.

Fraser Downs drivers will be donating their winnings to Cole’s family from Sunday’s card (Nov. 9) and Fraser Downs GM Scott Sinclair says management will match the total donations from Sunday and Tuesday.