Hosstalk - December 18, 2009
Roaring return to Fraser Downs for JJJ Stables
Date: December 18, 2009
Section : Sports
Page : A55
Byline: Tom Wolski
Column: Hoss Talk
Source: The Province
Les Bazso, The Province Harness racing driver/trainers excerise their horses in the morning fog at Fraser Downs Racetrack.
Roaring return to Fraser Downs for JJJ Stables
Source: The Province
For Langley born Rick Mowles, his journey in becoming one of the top standardbred owners in this province began back when he and his father would watch races at Patterson Park in Ladner, B.C.
Now if his name may be unfamiliar to you, the reasoning is simple. Unlike most horse owners who prefer racing their horses using their own name to identify their stable, Mowles runs under JJJ Stables, the first initials of his wife Joan and two children Jason and Julia.
As he has done over the past 20 years, Mowles and racing partner Alan Anderson have constantly had JJJ Stables ranked among leading owners at Fraser Downs in money won and earned.
"With Alan an American, we stable our horses at his farm outside of Sacramento, Calif. And he would load them up in his van and drive them to Fraser Downs and race. Actually, we really did well using that training style," said Mowles.
In November of 2004, they pulled off one of the greatest racing feats seen at any racetrack.
On Wednesday, Anderson loaded up four horses into a van and drove 16 hours to race at Fraser Downs.
How did that trip go? Last Friday, their top filly Betterfrombehind easily won the $30,000 B.C. Sales Stakes Final.
Two races later, they sent out Wild Rumour to win the other division of the freshman $32,000 Sales Stakes.
On Saturday, their phenomenal win streak continued with Goaheadandlietome and Heavy Rain Warning each winning their divisions of the $33,000 B.C. Sales Stakes for three year-olds.
All four horses that they truck in from California won major races that weekend.
"At that time, some people thought we were crazy. And that was and still OK with me." says Mowles.
And while everything continues to roll along this season for Mowles, there has been one major adjustment with their stable.
"Alan, unfortunately, has cancer, but is well on his way to recovery. While he is over the cancer, his road to recovery will be a while because of debilitating treatments he has been taking." said Mowles.
Yet, despite not being at Fraser Downs, not a day goes without a telephone call from Anderson asking about their horses.
"As always, as he has done before, once the boss, always the boss and Alan still is the man in charge of our horses. And that is absolutely great." says Mowles.
BIG WINNERS
Among several big winners at last
Saturday's Thoroughbred Industry Awards, put together by the B.C. Breeders and HBPA of B.C., were Swift Thoroughbreds Inc.
Teide was named B.C. Horse of the Year. The horse with the name no one can pronounce, Huitzilopochti, owned and trained by Juan Lara, took home Champion Two-Year-Old.
In the Sprinter category, it was Leo & Norma Shaw's speedster Bank Emblem.
Taking honours for best Three-Year-Old was Ted Smith's popular Tommy Danzinger. Holy Nova, owned by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, was named Champion Older Filly&Mare.
Other winners included Aurora Stables, Trick of the North and Wind Storm, owned by George Gilbert, Vying Ty Grr owned by Five G's and Gallagher, LaRocca owned by Peter Redekop, and Tierra Del Feugo owned by R&J Bennett.
NOTES ON A PROGRAM
Hats off to driver Eddie Hensley for winning ten races last weekend at Fraser Downs, including six victories Sunday.
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Tom Wolski can be seen on Citytv's Sport of Kings on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m