Wolski's weekly column in the Vancouver Province newspaper http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk/ en-us Copyright 2005 Sport of Kings Communications Big Brown's connections had better be careful what they wish for Oct. 25 when the $5-million Breeders Cup Classic runs at the Oak Tree, Calif. For months, some of those associated with outstanding three-year-old Big Brown have belittled the efforts of Jess Jackson's superstar Curlin, last year' http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=41 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 3 Oct 2008 00:00:00 UTC Since the real stars of horse racing are talented horses who cannot meet fans up close, it was nice to see management at Hastings Racecourse and Fraser Downs come up with the next best scenario. Last weekend, racing fans finally got a chance to put a face to some jockeys and drivers they have p http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=40 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 UTC Here are a few reasons why Sunday's $250,000 BC Derby at Hastings is important to win. First, the money. This year's winning owner takes home $150,000 (60 per cent) of the purse. Next, all Derbys are restricted races limited to three-year-old horses and run only once a year, so there is no http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=39 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 UTC Even horses get the flu. In Mike Anderson case, a horse owner and breeder, this flu bug could not have come at a worse time. Anderson has been involved with horses all his life and in 2005 purchased broodmare Ayne Z, from the Barrett's all-age sale in California. Already in foal, Ayne Z wa http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=38 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 UTC If you were to look at the list of top 100 trainers in North America, you could not help noticing only eight females among that group. Almost makes one think horse racing in the United States is male dominated. Next, look at those same statistics at Hastings, and you see the complete opposite. http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=37 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 UTC Even horse racing has karma. Here's why. Any hopes of seeing Curlin race Big Brown have been dashed. Jess Jackson's Curlin, ranked No. 1 in the world, competes in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack in New York (2:15 p.m). IEAH Stable's Big Brown races in the $500,000 http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=36 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 UTC Last year, horseracing began a clever marketing promotion with "Win and You're In" races, allowing horses who win any one of 57 designated races a pass to the Breeders' Cup. The hitch is that the trip to the Breeders' Cup does not come free. Victory could cost an owner anywhere from $90,000 to http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=35 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 UTC s it not ironic that on the same day horse racing in British Columbia receives a new lease on life, the Supreme Court puts an ends to four years of appeals filed by a small group of protesters opposing slot machines at Hastings? That Courts decision now makes it possible for thousands upon thou http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=34 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 UTC Horse owner Jim Morgan has plenty of reasons to call himself the luckiest man in the world. Now, if you think Morgan feels that way, because his horse And All That Jazz, won Monday's $50,000 B.C. Cup Sprint, defeating the best speedsters in B.C., think again. Maybe it was the $15,000 he pa http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=33 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Fri, 8 Aug 2008 00:00:00 UTC Knowing that Hastings racecourse is in the final stages of a $40-million major renovation didn't deter an estimated crowd of 10,000 from watching the best equine athletes in B.C. compete for over $450,000 in purse money in the 14th running of the B.C. Cup on Monday. Fans had a chance to watch a http://www.sportofkingstv.com/hosstalk.php?column=32 twolski@sportofkingstv.com Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 UTC