Bet on awesome entertainment and explosive action at Northlands every single race day and you won’t be disappointed. We are never at a loss for thrills on the track, but, up until now, the jockey’s race has been fairly uneventful.

Ten year veteran rider Rickey Walcott has comfortably remained atop the leader board since the beginning of the 2009 Northlands race meet. Shannon Beauregard continues to be a threatening presence keeping him on his toes, but so far he has managed to keep her at bay. Now, they both have reason for concern.

With dirt flying around them, Quincy Welch and Harmonious Union sprint to the clubhouse turn in the Chariot Chaser Handicap last weekend. 

In the past 14 race days, Quincy Welch has been nothing short of electrifying! Brace yourself! We’ve all seen it before, when he starts rolling, nothing, and no one can catch him. There is a reason the 30-year-old sensation is one of the most dominant jockeys in the history of Alberta thoroughbred racing, as well as an all-time fan favorite. In addition to every accomplishment and accolade he has achieved in his 12 seasons in Alberta, six wins since Wednesday night’s card makes Welch the hottest rider at Northlands Park in week eight. He made twice as many trips to the winner’s circle as leading rider Walcott and two more than the next most successful rider last week, Nela Mohammed.

In his first season in Alberta, 21-year-old Trinidad native Mohammed has been an exciting addition to Edmonton’s jockey colony. He currently holds seventh spot in the rider’s standings with 15 wins. Last week he cashed your win ticket 40% of the time with four wins in just 10 mounts.

The trainer’s contingent has seen the same familiar face on the WHO’S HOT? list consistently since his arrival. Conditioner Jim Meyaard has been a force to reckon with - establishing an impossible percentage and a very real threat to Robertino Diodoro’s position as top trainer. Meyaard's horses draw the majority of the support on the tote board and deliver an astounding amount of the time. This past week he was 4(3-1-0). Nearly perfect! Note worthy is the fact that he is one of the most active claiming trainers of late, and two of his three winners were debut performers off the claim that he moved up in class.

PERFECT!: Trainer Lance Giesbrecht went undefeated on the weekend. Teaming up with week eight’s hottest jock, Welch, to win with Roque River and a gate to wire romp with Kokopelli Wind and Hugh Huston gave him a perfect two for two!

ONE TO WATCH: Another win Sunday and two on the week move Cody Anderson up the ladder to a top 10 trainer over the course. A notable victory in the three-year-old allowance will establish Cool Diablo as one of the first Alberta-bred hopefuls bound for the Ky Alta in two weeks time. One of three stake winners for the trainer last year on Fall Classic Day renews hopes for the Canadian Derby Trail. 

(Photo credit: J. Huntington)

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