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CALIFORNIA CHROME worked 4 furlongs in 50 on the Meydan dirt in Dubai and is set for the DUBAI WORLD CUP on Saturday – MATHEA KELLY PHOTO FROM DUBAI RACING CLUB

DUBAI WORLD CUP SATURDAY

EST

8:40 A.,M…4pm – Dubai Kahayla Classic, US$1m (Dh3.67m)

9.40 a.m – Godolphin Mile, $1m

1015am – Dubai Gold Cup, $1m

1055 a,m – UAE Derby, $2m

11:30pm- Al Quoz Sprint, $1m

1205pm – Dubai Golden Shaheen, $2m

12.40pm – Dubai Turf, $6m

1.15pm – Dubai Sheema Classic, $6m

2pm – Dubai World Cup, $10m

2015 Dubai World Cup Runners

African Story – S Bin Suroor – J Doyle
California Chrome – A Sherman – V Espinoza
Candy Boy – D Watson – P Dobbs
Epiphaneia – K Sumii – C Soumillon
Hokko Tarumae – K Nishiura – H Miyuki
Lea – J Rosario – W Mott
Long River – S Bin Ghadayer – M Barzalona
Prince Bishop – S Bin Suroor – W Buick
Side Glance – A Balding – A Atzeni

With exercise rider Dana Barnes in tow, Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates contender California Chrome breezed a half-mile (800m) early Tuesday morning in :50 over a fast Meydan main track.

“He got the last eighth (200m) in 11 seconds,” said Alan Sherman, assistant and son of trainer Art Sherman. “We just wanted to stretch his legs. If he’s not fit by now, it’s too late.”

With all six of his wins as a three-year-old coming against restricted company, California Chrome took full advantage of his sophomore season, but Sherman believes he can be as successful now that he is facing older horses.

“He’s not a real heavy horse but I do think he’s grown into his four-year-old season and that he’s a lot stronger,” Sherman said. “I’m just glad the owners (Steve Coburn and Perry Martin) decided to run him another year.”

Jockey Victor Espinoza, who has partnered with Chrome for his last 11 runs, will be back aboard for Saturday’s Dubai World Cup

WOODBINE fans will not only know the players in the WORLD CUP but BROWN PANTHER is in the Dubai Gold Cup – Michael Owens’ star runner ran off before the Canadian International last year. TRADE STORM is in the DUBAI TURF at 1800 meters, CASPAR NETSCHER, the Nearctic winner, is in the Sprint while SHEIKHZAYEDROAD meets JUST THE JUDGE, the E P Taylor Stakes winner in the Sheema Classic which also lured champion MAIN SEQUENCE.

WOODBINE fans know TRADE STORM and SHEIKHZAYEDROAD, both graded stakes winners at Woodbine last year, both trained by David Simcock

CATCHING UP WITH…MARK CASSE – Lexie Lou pointing to Woodbine this summer

CONQUEST BOOGALOO is gearing up for 2015. He is a Canadian-bred, Queen’s Plate contender by SCAT DADDY

It is early morning in Ocala and Woodbine’s leading trainer (and one of the leading trainers in North America) MARK CASSE is already answering rapid fire questions from eager horse racing scribes. While his phone does not stop ringing, Casse gives plenty of time to talk horses.

Casse, who has had a good 2015 season so far while racing at Santa Anita, Oaklawn and Florida, said his first shipment of trainees to Woodbine will come in a week, among them Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate contender SHEZ A MASTERPIECE.

“She’s been breezing and hopefully she will be at Woodbine next week,” said Casse about Gary Garber’s Mast Track filly. The chestnut 3-year-old finished third in the CORONATION FUTURITY to DECISION DAY last fall.

One of the stable stars of course is LEXIE LOU, the probable Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly who was 2nd to California Chrome in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and then 2nd in the La Canada in January.

“She is here in Ocala,” said Casse. “She has had some trouble with a quarter crack so we have given her some time off. She’s doing very well though and we plan have her ready for Woodbine by July.”

Another Sovereign nominee, HILLABY, was in California for a stint but Casse was not happy with the way she was training there and she should return in June.

CONQUEST HARLANATE, up for champion 2-year-old filly, is working at Ocala this morning and is headed to Keeneland to race and eventually Woodbine. She is a Canadian-bred Oaks contender.

CONQUEST CURLINATE is on his way to Keeneland for an allowance race on the dirt and Casse believes he is a Plate contender. CONQUEST BOOGALOO had a sizzling workout at Ocala recently (5 furlong in 59 4/5) and is another Canadian-bred stakes winner headed for the 3-year-old events.

DANZIG MOON will race in the BLUE GRASS STAKES at Keeneland. The Canadian-bred by Malibu Moon was flat when 4th in the Tampa Bay Derby after a big maiden win. “I was disappointed in his race at Tampa Bay. I don’t think he handled the track that well and 2 days later, he ended up being sick. He lost about 4-5 days of training after that.”

CONQUEST TYPHOON, 2nd in the Grade 3 Spiral last weekend, is headed to the American Turf Stakes on Kentucky derby day. The Canadian-bred 3-year-old is a serious Plate hopeful and a graded stakes winner.

Another 3-year-old colt, CONQUEST TSUNAMI, is still on the shelf after being hurt late last year.

Older horses KAIGUN and DYNAMIC SKY are on different schedules. KAIGUN is on a little break and he is in California while DYNAMIC SKY will race at Keeneland on the grass. He leaves for Kentucky tomorrow.

Casse plans to attend the Sovereign awards on Friday April 10, zipping in from Keeneland where he is saddling Za Approval for the Maker’s Mark.

CANADIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME BALLOT READY TO GO

On Monday, March 23, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame unveiled the names of horses and horsepeople which are on the Hall’s 2015 ballot.

A total of 30 horses and people comprised of 15 Standardbred racing candidates and 15 Thoroughbred racing candidates have been selected to appear on this year’s ballot. A 20-person Election Committee for each breed will determine the winners in their respective categories. Results will be announced Tuesday, April 7

A Thoroughbred Male Horse ballot comprised of Joshua Tree, Mine That Bird and Quiet Resolve is offered for election committee consideration.

Irish-bred Joshua Tree’s career statistics feature earnings of $3,851,594 in 37 starts (7-7-4). The son of Montjeu achieved wins in multiple graded stakes around the globe including the Qatar International Invitation Cup (G1) in 2011 and three victories in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1) in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Mine That Bird, the 2008 Sovereign Award Champion two-year-old bankrolled $2,228,637 in 18 starts (15-2-2). His Juvenile year began at Woodbine with an impressive four wins in five starts. He gained international attention with his performance came in the 2009 Triple Crown winning the Kentucky Derby, a second-place finish in the Preakness and third in the Belmont.

Quiet Resolve, winner of the 2000 Sovereign as Champion Turf Horse and also named Canada’s Horse of the Year the same year, was a winner of $2.3 million and a homebred for Sam Son Farm. His race 10-6-4 career over 31 starts included multiple graded stakes wins highlighted by victories in the Atto Mile (G1), and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Stakes (G2)

Stewart Elliott, Richard Grubb and Mickey Walls have been selected to appear on the Jockey ballot.

Toronto-born, second generation jockey Stewart Elliott made headlines around the world when he became the first jockey in 25 years to win the Kentucky Derby in their first appearance when he partnered with 2005 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones. During a career consisting of over 29,000 starts, horses ridden by Elliott horses amassed earnings in excess of $93 million with wins in 4,650 races. In 2010 he was named the winner of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.

Born in Kitchener, Ont., Richard Grubb began his riding career in 1966 at the age of 16 and won the first race he ever rode in as a professional, the first of 1,607 career trips to the winners circle. The following year he was Canada’s leading Jockey with 230 victories. That same year (1967) he won seven straight races on an eight-race card, a feat never duplicated. Richard rode some of the country’s most time-honoured stars including 1968 Sovereign Award – Horse of the Year, Viceregal, Mary of Scotland, and Rouletabille. During his career, Grubb won over 100 major races and was presented the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1997. Following his retirement from racing in 1989, he became a senior steward with the Ontario Racing Commission.

Mickey Walls of British Columbia was born to a horse racing family. His parents Joe and Carol Walls are well-known owner and trainer on the backstretch at Woodbine. In 1990, when Walls was just 16 he won his first Sovereign Award as Canada’s Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. His 1991 efforts saw him become the first apprentice jockey to be voted the Sovereign Award and the United States’ Eclipse Award in the same year. In addition, he was voted the overall Canadian Champion Jockey. An early season injury forced him to sit out most of 1992, but he bounced back in 1993 to become leading riding for the second time at Woodbine. In the mid 1990’s he competed in the USA at various tracks before returning to Canada in 1996, winning the final two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Among his accomplishments in 1999 he rode Queen’s Plate winner Woodcarver. Career stats include earnings of over $37 million between 1990 and 2002

Election Committee members will select between Thoroughbred Builders Robert Anderson, Michael Byrne and Michael Colterjohn.

Robert M. (Bob) Anderson was a longtime horseman based in St. Thomas, Ont. As president of Anderson Farm, he was involved with breeding, racing and selling both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses for 41 years in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. A former director of the Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly the Ontario Jockey Club) and past national president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society from 1981-82, he was also a board member of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in the U.S.A, a steward of the Jockey Club of Canada as well as a member of the Ontario Racing Commission Advisory Board, the first chairman of the Guelph Research Centre for Equine Research and member of the E.P. Taylor Equine Research Fund. He bred and matured over 1,400 Thoroughbreds including champions Pinafore Park, Larkwhistle, and Prince Avatar. He was the breeder of successful sires Ascot Knight, National Assembly and Alydeed.

The late BOB ANDERSON (centre) with Brice Murray (left) and David Willmot

Michael C. Byrne emigrated from Ireland in 1970, and quickly found a job with Thoroughbred owner George Gardiner. Twelve years later, Byrne opened his own operation in Orangeville, Ontario, Park Stud, that became home to Ontario stallions such as Brave Shot, Geiger Counter, and Bold Ruckus. In time Byrne took on a larger role in the industry, serving six years on the Ontario Racing Commission, and was a director of the Ontario Jockey Club for a decade. Other industry positions included steward of the Jockey Club of Canada in 1993, chief steward from 1996-2005. He helped form the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee in 2000 and is also a member of the International Cataloguing Standards. He founded his own sales company, Canadian Breeders’ Sales in 1990, and subsequently took over the CTHS sale at Woodbine for 11 years.

Dr. Michael Colterjohn, one of Canada’s top equine reproductive experts joined Gardiner Farms in 1987 and soon became farm president. Under his management, the Caledon East farm became one of the country’s most well-respected and accomplished breeding operations. He built a quality broodmare band to elevate the farm into a significant player in the Canadian-yearling market. Following the sale of Gardiner Farms 2008, Colterjohn along with his wife Dr. Moira Gunn and farm manager Sherry McLean, purchased the Gardiner livestock he had spent so much time and effort amassing and the three partners launched Paradox Farm Inc. The long list of Paradox-bred horses include 2014 Queen’s Plate winner Lexie Lou along with venerable Ontario-sire performer, Pender Harbour.

The three Communicators appearing on the Election ballot are Jim Bannon, Curtis Stock and Tom Wolski.

Toronto’s Jim Bannon, was part of the first Simulcast Racing TV Show in North America in 1981. His natural comfort in front of the camera and extensive Thoroughbred racing knowledge propelled Bannon into a career that includes television analyst, commentator and handicapping expert with followers at racetracks and living rooms across North America. He has been the face of the CBC’s Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Cup shows and in 2010 he was rewarded with a Gemini Award as Canada’s Best Sports Analyst. For the past 40 years he has published the Woodbine Journal, a staple for bettors. In addition to his journalistic endeavours he gives generously of his time as an educator in handicapping seminars, as well as an instructor at Humber College’s Canadian Racing Official’s Course. He is head of the Chaplaincy Program at Woodbine and is also a director of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Image result for Jim Bannon

Curtis Stock, originally from Calgary, got his start as a horse racing reporter while still in university, before working at Woodbine with CHRHF member Bruce Walker. He returned to Alberta to take over the publicity, marketing and advertising at Northlands Park and is now with the Edmonton Journal. Stock’s affection for the horses, jockeys, trainers and horsepeople in general, is reflected in his writing. His reporting has resonated with Sovereign Awards judges. Stock was the recipient of back-to-back Sovereign Awards for Outstanding Feature Story in 1993-94 and beginning in 1985 took home an unprecedented eight Sovereign Awards for Outstanding Newspaper Story in Canada.

BC based Tom Wolski has been involved in Thoroughbred horse racing for 40 years, during which he has worn many hats including jockey, radio-television sportscaster, racing columnist, racetrack media and publicity director, film actor and public speaker. Wolski is the recipient of multiple Sovereign Awards in the category of Outstanding Film &Video Broadcast as writer/ producer in 1998, 2001 and 2011. He was also honoured with the USTA’s John Hervey Award in 2004, which recognizes the best in harness racing television and radio journalism.

The Veteran Person category will be contested by Roger Laurin, J.G. (Jerry) Lavigne and Robert A. (Red) McKenzie.

Roger Laurin, the Montreal-born trainer, came into prominence in 1964 when he took charge of the race conditioning of a filly named Miss Cavandish for Harry S. Nichols. Miss Cavandish became one of the top two fillies racing in the United States that year. From there the list of graded stakes horses he conditioned reads like a who’s who of 1960s and ‘70s racing. He trained Drumtop who won numerous top stakes and who broke three track records in 1971 for John Moseley while at the same time achieving conditioning the 1971 two-year-old Eclipse champion filly Numbered Account for Ogden Phipps.

J.G. (Jerry) Lavigne’s career as a trainer began in 1958. His achievements included 68 stakes race wins with 22 stakes winners, as well as two Queen’s Plate races with Almoner in 1970 and Son of Briartic in 1982. He was the conditioner of Canadian Champion colt Nice Dancer, a multiple stakes winner on the turf; Lost Majorette and sprinter Park Romeo. His trainee Fabe Count had a stellar record over four years as a multiple stakes winner at nine different distances over both turf and dirt.

Alberta-based trainer Robert A. (Red) McKenzie has literally spent a lifetime on the racetrack, joining the backstretch community at the age of 11 before becoming a jockey at age 16 and going on to be a leading rider in western Canada in the mid-40s. When McKenzie grew too big to be a jockey, he took out his trainers’ licence. He had early success at Bay Meadows, Golden Gate, Hollywood Park, Meadowlands, Assiniboia Downs, Hastings Park, as well as the Ontario tracks in the fall. In later years, he concentrated on racing in Alberta; at Calgary, Edmonton, or Whoop Up Downs and Grand Prairie.

McKenzie won both divisions of the Alberta Derby in 1965 with the filly Chariot Chaser while Chopstick won the other division. Chariot Chaser would go on to win the Prairie Triple Crown that year, a record that stood for 34 years. McKenzie also won 29 races with the venerable campaigner Grandin Park.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame 2015 Induction Ceremony will be hosted at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.

CENTURY DOWNS ready to open for Standard bred Racing

CALGARY SUN FEATURE BY SCOTT MITCHELL

Jackson Wittup wasn’t sure he’d ever see this day.

For 25 years, writing races at Stampede Park was his passion, right up until the day in 2006 harness racing died in southern Alberta.

Two years later, the thoroughbreds followed.

It’s been close to seven years since a horse race was run in the area, and it’s left a void in many lives — as well as bank accounts.

But now, with Century Downs set to open north of Calgary next month — the track and casino located just east of CrossIron Mills has April 25 slated for its first day of racing — that void, the one that forced so many within the horse-racing industry to either relocate or get out of the business altogether, is about to be filled.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/22/first-post-time-for-century-downs-calgarys-first-horse-racing-venue-in-nearly-seven-years-set-for-next-month

HEY THERE, DELILAH

Stronach Stables’ four-year-old filly CHARMING DELILAH was a very impressive maiden winner at Gulfstream last week for trainer Sid Attard. The filly posted an 83 Beyer Figure for 1 mile on the dirt in 1:37.13.

Recent Ontario-bred winners:

CALIFORNIA CHROME worked 4 furlongs in 50 on the Meydan dirt in Dubai and is set for the DUBAI WORLD CUP on Saturday – MATHEA K

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CALIFORNIA CHROME worked 4 furlongs in 50 on the Meydan dirt in Dubai and is set for the DUBAI WORLD CUP on Saturday – MATHEA K

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