Century Mile racetrack in Nisku, Alberta, opened its 2022 season April 30 with nine races and there were a lot of smiling faces from fans to horsepeople.
Two notable winners on the evening card were JOY IN GRACE, who bucked a speed bias to win the final dash for the Century Horse Racing Club, and eighth race winner THERUFFSIDEOFEXHI, who was the first winner for trainer Madison Zielke.
Launched in 2016, the Century Horse Racing Club offers shares for a small sum in two Thoroughbreds and two Standardbreds (read more here.) One of those, Joy in Grace, was obtained at Turf Paradise this winter. A 4-year-old by Kitten’s Joy, Joy in Grace came from far back to win the five-furlong allowance/optional claiming race by 1 1/ 4 lengths with Enrique Gonzalez riding. Tim Rycroft trains for the Horse Club, who packed the winner’s circle following the race.
In race 8, a front-running score by Theruffsideofexhi brought Zielke into the winner’s circle as a trainer for the first time. A former groom and assistant trainer, Zielke had this 4-year-old Alberta-bred by Exhi well prepared for owners Cheryl and Colin Ganter.
Century Mile has a 54-day meeting.
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