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Written by Sugar Doyle
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Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:54 |
We roll on into the beginning of Capital Ex this week at Northlands. Fun is everywhere from July 23 to August 1, with the Capital Ex parade kicking things off today. Don't forget to wear red on Friday of this week to show your non-partisan support for Canadian troops and their families - it's Red Friday...
Are you hungry?
Sugar's been known to put away more than a few hot dogs in one sitting... The hot dog eating contest coming up July 31st, at Northlands, should provide for lots of laughs. The first person to eat 20 dogs, including the buns, will be declared the winner and handed $1,000 for their effort. Check out our homepage for more info on the contest.
If it's not a full plate of hot dogs, that you’re in to, then how about the Monster Burger Challenge making it's official debut at this year's Capital Ex. The Monster is available for $39.50 and if one person can finish it in one sitting then it's free - plus you'll get a souvenir t-shirt to prove to everyone that you have conquered the beast. The Monster will be available on the 'East Patio' every day during Capital Ex.
July 31st could be an interesting day on my end. The hot dog eating contest... Am I calling it or participating in it?
Around the tracks
I was able to watch the 'big race' from my home town of Summerside, PEI, this past Saturday evening as it was their first ever online broadcast. The 'Governor's Plate' carries a purse of $16,000 - that's huge from where I come from, as most races are run for $1000 or less – and featured the best horses in the Maritimes. When I was racing back home at fair tracks, I was happy enough to get gas money, a summer sheet or even a bag of oats for my efforts, but that's what racing is all about in the Maritimes... It's mainly just a hobby for the most part.
Lacombe suffered yet another cancellation of a race day this past Monday due to weather. Without an all-weather surface there's just no way to predict when the next 'unscheduled' day off will come up again... August 8th is the one day horsemen in Lacombe will need the weatherman on their side. Family Fun Day, plus a live CTV broadcast, for a pair of stakes races, is planned for Alberta Downs. It's just my opinion and my opinion only, but I'm thinking the Battle of Alberta Super Finals, to be raced here at Northlands in December, would make for a better show. Even though we raced a few of them in blizzard conditions, here in 2009, the Finals were hands-downs the highlight for standardbred racing, in Alberta, for 2009.
Race of the Week
This was an easy one. The 32nd Running of the Edmonton Juvenile for two-year-old colts and geldings that went to the BC invader, Mr. Instigator. Owned by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, the Alan May trainee was an absolute monster last Saturday at the Park. After trailing the field, early, the big colt began to make his move down the backside and quickly found himself battling the leader inside the quarter pole. That leader, Salty Time, drifted out entering the stretch forcing Mr. Instigator eight-wide and it wasn't looking good for the BC connections at that point. Mid-way through the stretch it was four of them across, heads apart, but like a true champion Mr. Instigator regrouped, under the talented coaxing of jockey Fernando Perez, to reach up in the final strides for the victory.
Shout outs
We'll start with a get well soon wish for jockey Quincy Welsh - injured in a spill last Friday night (He has now returned home to recover)... To Riversedge Racing Stables' Bond James Bond for his solid winning debut last Wednesday... Jim McFayden's Inuit Fisher was most impressive in the Friday night Feature for trainer Dale Saunders... To owners Amber Buniak and Ryan MacLean, trainer Rick Hedge and rider 'Fast Eddy' Martinez in capturing the Princess Margaret, for two-year-old fillies, with Embellished on Saturday - she was simply amazing... Jockey Shannon Beauregard appears to be fine, other than some bruising, following her mishap last Saturday. While riding Red MacKenzie's She's Away, Beauregard became unseated on the upper turn and sent flying through the air. The last time I saw anyone catch that much 'hang time', at a racetrack, was back in the days of Hugo Zucchini - the human cannon ball. Shot out of a cannon at least he had a net to fall into.
See you at the races!
-copyright thehorses.com
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Written by Jonathan Huntington
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Sunday, 18 July 2010 21:44 |
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Update on jockeys involved in Northlands Park accidents... Exciting new addition to Canadian Derby trail... Could there be a Derby import coming from Del Mar???... Intriguing new ownership syndicate... and more.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 18 July 2010 22:54 |
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Read more...
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Written by Jonathan Huntington
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Saturday, 17 July 2010 11:28 |
Jockey Quincy Welch is waiting for surgery at the Royal Alex hospital this morning.
The leading rider at Northlands Park in Edmonton was injured Friday night when he fell in the fourth race.
"He has five broken ribs on the front and two on the back," said Welch's agent Bob Fowlis. "He also has a broken collarbone, a fractured right elbow and a little bit of a punctured lung."
Fowlis described Welch's spirits as "pretty good". While doctors have confirmed Welch is headed for surgery, a specific date or time hasn't been given.
According to Fowlis, the medical team has given a recovery timeline of two to four months.
That means Welch is scheduled to miss the $300,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 21 in Edmonton. The $350,000 Alberta Fall Classic card on Sept. 18 is very questionable.
-copyright thehorses.com
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Last Updated on Saturday, 17 July 2010 11:40 |
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Written by Jonathan Huntington
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Friday, 16 July 2010 21:34 |
Leading jockey Quincy Welch has been injured in an accident at Northlands Park tonight.
"(Welch) is in a lot of pain and he is pretty sure something is broken," said Welch's agent Bob Fowlis. Initial reports indicated Welch had suffered a broken collarbone.
However, the veteran rider has been taken to the Royal Alex hospital for confirmation of any broken bones. Of most concern is the collarbone and a possible fractured arm.
Welch fell in the fourth race aboard Judicial Committee. Unfortunately, Judicial Committee had to be euthanized after suffering a broken leg, according to race secretary Jason Teague.
Two other riders and horses were involved - though all were left without serious injuries.
Welch entered Friday night with 42 wins during the Edmonton thoroughbred meet - giving him the lead in the rider standings. He was second in earnings with $418,192.
-copyright thehorses.com
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Written by Jonathan Huntington
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Friday, 16 July 2010 00:46 |
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Sugar Doyle takes a solid lead into Week 10 of the challenge after cashing a Win 3.
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Last Updated on Friday, 16 July 2010 01:04 |
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Read more...
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Written by Sugar Doyle
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 21:20 |
This week is the biggest week of horse racing in my hometown of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, for 2010. It's called Lobster Carnival Week kicking off with a huge parade down main street, with horse racing every day and of course lobster suppers every evening on the week as well. Homesick? Not really, but maybe for lobster...
I was checking out Sunday's Chris Loseth Handicap, via simulcast, from Hastings. Mario Guttierez guided Dyan Stroll to an impressive victory, but fourth place finisher, Silly Fella (Chad Hoverson), was also catching my eye in the same race. After being checked up at the half-mile pole, Silly Fella still closed well and galloped out very strong after the finish. Could Silly Fella be thinking Derby too?
The truth is
Has the harness caller turned thoroughbred? I laughed when I wrote this and I've been asked this on more than one occasion since taking over my new role in May. The truth is the majority of my knowledge, in horse racing, was with the standardbreds until the summer of 2007. *Standardbreds race a 'standard' mile every time, which is how they got their name. Now after two full summers in Grande Prairie and just under two months of thoroughbred calling in Edmonton, the easy answer to the question would be... I'm a horse racing caller. I learn something new everyday, it seems, and I guess with knowledge comes understanding. Learning that some thoroughbreds just want to go longer, while others will gladly take the shorter distance.
Take this past weekend for instance. All eyes were going to be on Barb Side's No Hesitation in the Ky Alta. How was he going to handle the one mile test? Well, he couldn't have made it look any easier. He was much the best. The surprise for some, but not for me, was the race prior to the Ky Alta where the Jim Meyaard trained Professor Pollard proved that he too deserves some fan fare following his come from behind win against allowance types going a mile.
Shakenwithanoilve was probably the most underrated horse of the meet when bettors let her go away at 9-1 come post time in Sunday's John Patrick Handicap. That left me and, I assume, many others scratching their heads as to why she could have been overlooked in that one. A lot of 'late' win money was plunked down on the eventual race favorite, Little Miss Allison (3-5), but for Shakenwithanolive to go away as the fourth choice, in bettor's minds... Well that was just mind boggling.
Race of the Week
It could go to No Hesitation or Shakenwithanolive quite easily, but why not give it to Professor Pollard (Rico Walcott) for his 'coming out party' on the weekend. Owned by Hal Veale's Sycamore Stable, the three-year-old Alberta-bred son of Pollard's Vision, from the Summer Squall mare Cantare, was a solid 'value play' winner over Prince Intent and Reggie Dunlop in the Race 6 Allowance/Opt $32,000 Claimer on Saturday. Plucked from a $20,000 claimer here in October, of 2009, it would be his second career win from just seven lifetime starts. I like him and as Jonathan Huntington mentioned, he'll no longer be 'flying under the radar' here. Click here to watch his race.
Shout Outs
Shouts outs this week to the connections of Holy Nova (Mario Gutierrez). She was ultra tough in her 2010 debut, here on Friday, now making her 3-for-3 at Northlands over her career. The six-year-old mare, owned by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella and trained by Alan May, now sports a record of 16 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 29 career starts - good for over a half-million dollars in earnings.
See you at the races!
-copyright thehorses.com
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 23:13 |
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