Hoss Talk

When is enough enough? It appears the biggest question now facing horse racing officials in Southern California is not about horses or a race, it is whether to reinstate popular jockey Pat Valenzuela.

During his career, Valenzuela has won 3,553 races, including the Kentucky Derby, seven Breeders Cup races, and $126 million in purses -- a riding record good enough to perhaps place him into thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame.

Last year Valenzuela was the top rider at all five major race meetings in Southern California. Yet over his career, Valenzuela, 41, has been suspended or denied a licence to ride for a total of 70 months. His latest suspension came Jan. 22 when he failed to show up at Santa Anita for a mandatory drug test after claiming to have twisted his ankle at home that morning. He is scheduled to meet with Santa Anita officials in the near future.

For all athletes who believe maintaining a positive image is important, enough is enough.

IT IS A GO! All systems are ready to roll at Fraser Downs in Cloverdale for the long-awaited arrival of slot machines at racetracks in B.C.

On April 5, Fraser Downs will be opening its doors to a newly renovated temporary casino housing 200 slot machines.

The new project has been estimated at $25 million and is proceeding right on budget.

"It has been going great, we are right on schedule, everything is working out well and we will be laying down carpet in our new casino area next week," said Paul Godfrey, Fraser Downs maintenance manager. "The new slot-machine area is going to be very impressive."

Within the last two weeks, over 30 horses have been shipped to slot-machine driven racetracks in Alberta. Therefore the news of slot machines arriving at Fraser Downs before the close of their present meeting could not have come at a more opportune time for management.

It clearly sends a message to standardbred horsemen that when the new Fraser Downs season begins in the fall, they will now have a chance to compete on the same level playing field for purse money that other racetracks offer by being fueled by slot-machine revenue.

Next step for Orangeville Raceway, operators of Fraser Downs? Trying to get approval for slot machines at Sandown Park racetrack on Vancouver Island.

ADDED DATES: The addition of slot machines has meant Fraser Downs has added 11 additional racing days, bringing their season to 105 since opening day on Sept. 5. The additional dates begin Saturday, May 1, and include May 7, 8, 14 and 15 and June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19, with all post times at 7 p.m. There will be no racing on the weekends of May 21-22 and May 28-29.

The new schedule for Sandown Park includes a 10 day summer meeting from July 10 until Aug. 8. Post times are 1:15 p.m.

twolski@shaw.ca

Edition: Final
Story Type: Sports; Column
Length: 483 words

twolski@shaw.ca

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