Hoss Talk

With 2004 in the books, it's time for accolades to a few groups of people and equine athletes who made a positive difference to horse racing in the province.

Surrey city council set precedence by allowing slot machines at Fraser Downs.

They gave thousands of workers involved in horse racing a better way of life in the future, along with allowing racetracks to compete on a fairer basis as the gaming industry continued to grow.

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation and local financier Peter Wall, who in April stepped up to the plate and purchased Hastings Racecourse from Eastern based Woodbine Entertainment, get a salute. (Both groups would later sever their ties amicably, leaving Great Canadian with sole ownership of Hastings.)

The purchase gave Hastings Racecourse the necessary prominent local ownership it appeared Vancouver city council was looking for before moving closer to a decision on slot machines.

Vancouver council, on July 23 and after much debate, chose to allow the same opportunities for Hastings that Fraser got.

Great Canadian on Dec. 21 made a giant step of showing its support for live horse racing in the province by purchasing from Orangeville Raceway both Fraser Downs in Cloverdale and Sandown Raceway on Vancouver Island for $40 million, allowing both industries to be run under one ownership.

Next, hats off to owners JJJ Stables and Alan Anderson for accomplishing the nearly impossible by winning four major stakes races, with horses trained in northern California.

Known as "California's swimming horses," Anderson's quartet of runners would start each morning with a swim in his pool, load into a van for a 16-hour drive and win. Then they'd ship home hours later for some more fun in the California sun.

Going big time

For years, local owner John Hera has been in search of his big horse. He appears to have found his dream in Seven Seas Cruiser, who under the guidance of trainer-driver Tim Brown has outclassed all of his rivals at Fraser Downs and has flown to the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

He is scheduled to race Jan. 14.

Seven Seas Cruiser will be attempting to follow in the same hoof steps as Fast Lane Cruizin, who after running out of races to compete in at the Downs, shipped to Woodbine, where she competed successfully.

YOUTH SERVES

Last year at Hastings horsemen and fans witnessed the emergence of jockeys Jorge Espetia and Justin Stein, two young riders who could have an outstanding future in racing.

OLDER AND BETTER

The fact that Gary McNeil's veteran runner JV Bennett is still running at age 11 is a story in itself. But for Ben, as he is known at Hastings, to be competing successfully in the upper classes defies logic.

His grit and heart last year earned him the "campaigner of the year" award at Hastings.

And according to his trainer, Peter Stephens, "The way he is acting now on the farm, his many fans can expect to see him racing again this year."

twolski@shaw.ca

Source: Vancouver Province
E-mail Tommy Wolski at twolski@home.com