HorseRacing Central July 9, 2010

CHRIS LOSETH HANDICAP HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND AGENDA

The man whose name is synonymous with fame and good fortune returns to the Hastings Racecourse winner’s circle Sunday as guest decorator of the feature race named in his honour.

Jockey Chris Loseth, a member of both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, retired in June, 2005 with a career record of 3,668 victories that earned more than $32 million.

His name lives on at Hastings with the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap Sunday that goes as the sixth race on an eight-race card with the regular 1:40 p.m. start. Dyna Stroll, following his upset win in the Jim Coleman Province on June 5, is the morning line favourite but will face some tough competition from Sense of Humour and Silly Fella over 1 1/16 miles. It’s the first time this year Dyna Stroll has gone this distance since winning the Ascot Graduation last year.

The racing weekend kicks off with Friday Night Live at 7:00 p.m. with the feature being a first level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up running 1/16 miles. Miss Kay Dee Raine and Finally Kruisin have wins at the distance. Watch for a new name in the Hastings jockey colony to appear Friday. He’s apprentice Ryan Pacheco, an arrival this week from Woodbine. His first mount at Hastings will be aboard Guns N Gold in Friday’s third race.

Trick of the North, upset winner over Teide in the Premiers on Oct. 19, will be favoured in Saturday’s first-level optional $35,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Meaux Power has won four of his five starts at this distance and could save a lot of ground breaking from the inside post. The feature is the sixth race on an eight-race card.

WIENER WEEKEND JULY 17-18

Entries are closed for the 2nd annual Wiener Dog races at Hastings Racecourse that will run over two days this year with qualifying on Saturday, July 17 for the championship showdown on Sunday, July 18. ‘Joey’, last year’s winner, owned by local resident and non-skier Nancy Green, is primed and ready to defend his championship. The darling Dachshunds run for the top prize of $1,000.

A reminder that racing at Hastings Racecourse on Friday, July 16 will start at 1:40 p.m. because of the Lions-Montreal CFL game at Empire Field at 7:00 p.m

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

Saturday

Clearly the highlight on the out of town scoreboard is Saturday’s $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup that goes at 4:35 p.m. Awesome Gem, at seven years of age, is the senior member in the field of seven traveling 1¼ miles on the dirt. Awesome Gem has made more starts (35) and earned for prize money ($1.9 million) than the other six projected starters. Also on Saturday’s card from Hollywood Park is the $250,000 Triple Bend (3:35 p.m.) for older runners at 7 furlongs.

The feature race at Belmont Saturday is the $600,000 Man o’ War at l 3/8th miles on the turf. It goes at 2:17 p.m. PST with the heavy favourite Gio Ponti at 1-2 on the morning line.

Sunday

Emerald Downs has two major stake races with the first at 4:38 p.m. being the Governors Handicap for older runners that is a major prep for the Longacres Mile. The Washington’s Lottery (5:39 p.m.) is for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles.

Northlands Park on Sunday has a local flavour as Heaven On Hold (Quincy Welch) and Notis Her (Shannon Beauregard) compete in the $50,000 John Patrick Handicap. It goes as the seventh race on the card at 2:42 p.m.

GOLD RUSH – STANDARDBED STYLE

More than $1 million will be on the line Saturday when the cream of the Ontario harness racing crop converges on Georgian Downs for the 3rd annual Gold Rush at 4:25 p.m. PST. The card has attracted career winners of more than $25 million.