**MEMORIES made, memories that fade. Horse racing ends at Hollywood Park during the Christmas season. ..THOROUGHBLOG invites all comments and thoughts on racing in 2013 or coming up this winter..have a racing report for me? a result? a photo?
Send it to THOROUGHBLOG.
Also, if you have not seen it yet, the last issue of CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED MAGAZINE, well, the latest issue, the SIRE BOOK is chock – a – block with stories and stats and all the stallion news you need to know. Get a copy today!!
FAST FAST FAST AND, well, not so fast…
Some of the fastest horses from Canada in 2013 were DELEGATION (110 Beyer Figure), RIVER SEVEN, HERBIE D., CLEARLY NOW (but not at Woodbine), UP WITH THE BIRDS and some others.
The last weekend of racing at Woodbine may have been 25 races mostly of lesser quality but it was not only a crowning moment for PALADIN BAY (Ontario Lassie Stakes, 82 Beyer) but a coming out run for the fleet 3yo colt SHARP SENSATION. The latter, owned by Jim and Susan Hill and trained by Reade Baker, won a first level allowance race with a 101 Beyer Figure . The Kentucky-bred will winter in Florida with Baker, should be one of many locals who will be fun to track during the winter.
NOT SO FAST….In case you missed it, Woodbine jockey, exercise rider SUNNY SINGH, who was embroiled in issues with trainer Brian Lynch in 2013 that somehow made a lot bigger than they should of, was recently barred from Ontario racing for 10 years, quite a suspension for any Canadian/Ontario/ Woodbine horseperson.
Singh was set to ride ADREAMANDPRAYER in November at Woodbine but was found to have an electrical device on his person and he was caught. Singh could appeal the ban.
It was a tough ending to the year for jocks room at Woodbine, with focus being on it and former jock room manager Bobby Bertrand in the TORONTO STAR, covering the Bertrand trial. (http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/12/06/woodbine_jockey_tried_to_cheat_breathalyzer.html)
SUNNY SINGH, photo by Norm Files
SOVEREIGN AWARD VOTING TO OPEN IN EARLY JANUARY
The top horses and horsepeople of 2013 (racing in Canada) will be honoured in April but first things first. The votes must be taken and tabulated – who who is it going to be?
THOROUGHBLOG has done one division in this space (3yo colt) with that division looking like UP WITH THE BIRDS’s for the taking.
Here are some other thoughts:
2yo colt – Not a strong group at first blush, or, maybe a good group that just traded wins? ASSERTING BEAR won the Coronation Futurity and was 2nd and 3rd in good events, JOSE SEA VIEW won a stake sprinting in Erie Pa. and at 2 turns at Woodbine. GO GREELEY was a multiple stakes star but only in sprints.
2yo filly – PALADIN BAY – no question.
3yo filly – Tough call, some nice ones in this category including the late NIPISSING, the Oaks winner. However, you can’t vote for Nipissing on the single win, this award goes to American bred LEIGH COURT, 3 stakes wins at 3 different distances, 2 different surfaces at Woodbine and a close 4th in a Grade 1.
Older mare – no deserving winner, perhaps SISTERLY LOVE, graded SW, did okay in US
Older male – HERBIE D, 3 stakes wins, Grade 3 Longacres Mile, big Beyers, or ALPHA BETTOR, 3 stakes wins at Woodbine
FEMALE sprinter – PART THE SEAS
Male Sprinter – PHIL’S DREAM
Turf Female – SOLID APPEAL
TURF MALE – FORTE DEI MARMI
**HORSE OF THE YEAR! – well, I did not vote for Uncaptured last year, who won because he had a great record and dominated his 2yo colt division. Who dominated their division this year?
PHIL’S DREAM won 7 races for heaven’s sake he was a monster, he ran fast. His story is remarkable albeit very hard to believe almost.
He had a HORSE OF THE YEAR campaign, so did FORTE DEI MARMI, but the latter blew his big chance in the International. Other than that, Grade 1 winner UP WITH THE BIRDS deserves a long look.
MANITOBA NEWS
Horse racing commission strikes deal with jockey club
Threats by the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission to yank the licence of Assiniboia Downs for simulcast horse-race betting are on hold.
The commission had threatened Tuesday to suspend the licence Jan. 1 if the Manitoba Jockey Club didn’t come clean on a joint venture with Peguis First Nation.
HOLLYWOOD ENDING
Storied Hollywood Park nearing finish line
By Debbie Arrington
darrington@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Dec. 20, 2013 – 12:00 am
INGLEWOOD — That’s all, folks.
The curtain will come down Sunday on Hollywood Park, one of California horse racing’s most-storied landmarks.
Coming soon to the 238-acre property near Los Angeles International Airport: an upscale shopping mall, hotel and 3,000 homes.
“From an economic point of view, the land now simply has a higher and better use,” track president Jack Liebau said.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/19/6016088/storied-hollywood-park-nearing.html
THIS RACEHORSE HAS WON 18 STRAIGHT….BIG BUCK’S (no whammies!)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/big-bucks-injury-racehorse-course-2944931
