Hosstalk - November 20, 2009
Looking to the future; New committee to oversee horse racing in B.C.
Date: November 20, 2009
Section : Sports
Page : A56
Byline: Tom Wolski
Column: Hoss Talk
Source: The Province
When the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee was finally formed two days ago, there was really only one question to be asked of the horse racing industry.
What is wrong with change, especially when everything else was failing?
Anyone who follows horse racing closely -- and not only here in B.C. -- knows this is a sport that, because of its competitive nature, will never get all the parties working together.
Rules in every state vary on how one gets their license, the mediation of horses and how jockeys can control their whips. This is insane.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, one of the foremost horse racing organizations, has long lobbied for a national horse racing commission to unify the sport. In our lifetime, whether you are for or against, it will never happen.
What this new committee, formed by B.C. Housing Minster Rich Coleman, does offer horse racing is a greater chance at survival.
And not from memories of what use to be, but from a new perspective of what lies ahead for the future of the sport.
For years, horse racing has been managed by independent groups from across the province.
The new committee that will oversee horse racing in B.C. is made up from six business people, all exceptionally successful in their own line of work.
Joining this committee are two of the very best horse owners and businessmen in Canada.
One is Glen Todd, the largest thoroughbred owner in this province and owner of 18 national and international companies.
The other, Bill Boden, is the largest standardbred owner in B.C. He's a chartered accountant, chairman of First Coal Corporation and founder and president of C W Funds Groups.
Horse racing desperately needs to catch up with the times in this province, better now than later. We already have witnessed what the past has brought.
CREATIVITY
The sport of horse racing is constantly trying to find a way to lure better bred horses to their individual racing jurisdictions.
The B.C. Standardbred Breeders Society for the last four years has successfully come up with a unique approach to try and introduce new owners or breeders to their sport.
After much soul searching, the BCSBS decided the best way to accomplish this goal was to go directly to the source where these good horses are being sold each November: The annual Harrisburg horse sale in Pennsylvania.
To achieve this, two of their top bloodstock (breeding) experts, Bill Pambrun and Brett Currie, were sent there to attend this five day event.
"Our goal is to look at as many broodmares as possible until we find three to five broodmares that will suit our breeding industry in B.C. So far, this has worked extremely well. And the money used for this plan comes from our industry business development plan," said Currie.
"Among top horses we have purchased are Lil Dude Starbuck, who holds the track record holder at Fraser Down. We also purchased The Brewster, who won the Western Canadian Pacing Derby. So far, these broodmares have been getting better each season."
What else makes this plan unique is there is no reserve bid on any of the horses purchased.
"And because the BCSBS does this strictly as a courtesy for the breeders, we are not looking to make a profit on the money we spent on these broodmares, which was $26,000," adds Currie.
On Monday, the BCSBS hold their annual Pacific Yearling Broodmare Sale at the conduct at the Cloverdale Agriplex at 6 p.m. And once again, hopefully, there will be a few more gems in the rough.
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Tom Wolski can be seen on Citytv's Sport of Kings on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m