GARDINER FARMS, COLTERJOHN to be honoured tonight
The annual CTHS awards for excellence in breeding in the thoroughbred industry, will be held tonight at Rattlesnake Golf Course in Milton, Ontario.
Breeders of these fine athletes are certainly on pins and needles these days as the provincial government has put an end to the Slots at Racetracks program, set to begin in early in 2013.
The reasoning behind the provincial government’s drastic and bizarre move are unknown – lots of theories out there – and very little communication from the Liberals has made it difficult to know what really will happen, at least with Woodbine, its slots and in turn, its future.
This weekend begin a week of festival time for Canadian horse racing, The North America Cup is tomorrow night, it is worth $1.5 million and the $1 million Plate is next Sunday.
The racing has been brazen and bold this year – wagering on both breeds is up, the government is raking it in, really, it is.
The horsepeople will band together tonight, celebrate Ontario bred horses and pay tribute to the famed Gardiner Farms and its late manager Dr. Mike Colterjohn.
MIKE COLTERJOHN – MINT JULEP CUP
From Egan Funeral Home…Michael was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1956, and after living with his family in Malaysia, England and Zambia, immigrated to Canada at the age of 11 to Lindsay, Ontario where his father Duncan accepted a position as a family physician. Michael grew up surrounded by horses, fostering a passion for show jumping and fox hunting which inspired a career as one of Canada’s top equine reproductive veterinarians. Michael joined Gardiner Farms in 1987, and his Presidency developed the Gardiner Farm name into one of the most respected and successful thoroughbred breeders in the industry. Following the deaths of George and Helen Gardiner, subsequently Michael and Moira Gunn, and farm manager Sherry McLean built Paradox Farm Inc. into one of Canada’s top thoroughbred breeding stables. Michael was also an extraordinary athlete, holding distance running records at Lakefield College School, finishing numerous marathons and triathlons, including Ironman USA in Lake Placid in 2001. Michael will be fondly remembered by his many friends in the racing and Caledon communities as a man driven by passion, integrity, and friendship.
TORONTO SUN TALKS TO WOODBINE SOURCES
Purses could drop 40%
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/14/cherish-these-coming-big-purses
THURSDAY/WEDNESDAY WRAPS
THURSDAY...
RACE 1- MATTER OF HASTE is a fast runner for trainer Terry Jordan and he was narrowly beaten in his debut and then came out very rank in the $40K claiming opener on Thursday as the 1-1 favourite. He was joined in a pace duel and then ran out of gas as George Bigliardi’s TOM JOY strolled to a big win, exiting a giant KEY RACE, won by a Jordan trainee (Marchoso).
TOM JOY is a homebred by Giacomo and is a half brother to the late Verne’s Baby, a stakes winner and track record setter.
RACE 2 – Stakes placed Altius was dumped in for $16,000 claiming for his season debut and he led all the way to under Eurvio da Silva. The gelding by Old Forester is owned and was bred by trainer Ralph Biamonte.
race 3 – Go figure the racing game. MR. ROD, riding a 3 race winning streak for @6,250 $8,000 and $40,000 (turf) was 1 to 5 in an entry to win a starter allowance (for horses that raced for $10,.000 or less) but he was wide and faded. Good thing that a riot was avoided when entrymate BEAR CHOCOLATED burst through rivals in deep stretch to win for the Ace Racing Stable and Scott Fairlie.
race 4- IS IT COOL crawled through :24. and :48 in a 6 1/2 furlong sprint race but could not hold off TOTAL BLISS, who was up to win by almost a length for owner and breeder Martin Cherry, The Where’s the Ring filly was coming off a maiden win where she was placed 1st in a $25K maiden claimer for Ontario sired gals.
Sid Attard trains and Steve Bahen rode.
race 5 – OSPREY STABLE, Moira Gunn et al, won the turf maiden race with MR ONLINE, a homebred by Silent Name (Jpn). The gelding was coming off a 7 month layoff and was dropped to $50K claiming from maiden allowance. Justin Stein rode and Sandra Dominguez did a great job getting him ready.
race 6 – LADY GEEGEE came from well back to win the $20K claimer for fillies and mares, non-winners of 2 but she made a dramatic swerve into CHARMING THUNDER into the stretch and was disqualified. Placed first was Bob Tuller trainee EXECUTIVE DRIVEN, a Bold Executive homebred for Frank DiGiulo Jr.
race 7 – GET TO IT got to it as he was up to win his maiden for $19,000 claiming around 2 turns. The Put It Back gelding was ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson for Nick Gonzalez.
race 9 ZEE’S CURE led most of the way to win her maiden for $23,500 in her 11th career race. The S & T Stable gal, by Bold Executive, was bred by Paradox Farms. Mike DePaulo trains and Justin Stein rode.
*WEDNESDAY
HEMLOCK CHANNEL (E Dubai) won for Pine Valley Trainer Centre and partner in a $40K claiming event. The Ontario bred, foaled by Paul and Marry Little in Ontario, came from last to win under Gerry Olguin and David Bell trains.
It was a big night for Bell, as PORT STANLEY went 2 for 2 on the season to win the 3rd race for $50K claiming for Russ and Lois Bennett and Charles Fipke et al.
JIM LAWSON’s JOMELO, an Adena Springs fellow, won the 4th race, an allowance, turf sprint, He is by Giacomo and was a $19K yearling purchase. He has now won over $150,000. Sid Attard trains.
Bear Stables continues to have a good season and BEAR’S RUCKUS won an Ontario sired allowance race, race 7. It was his 2nd win in 3 races. His only glitch was a route race last time. He is an Old Forester gelding who was a $40K yearling purchase.
LETTER: JORDAN STILL WINNING, NOTE FROM HOPE STOCK FARM
Hi Jen,
This is for Claudia Rabstein and Henry Whalen who once owned
Smiling Jordan…and we share some good memories of him also,
especially in the Puss ‘n Boots stakes!
Smiling Jordan is now 10 & last week he won his 25th race at Charlestown
An optional Claimer by 12 and a half
He has made 97 starts 25-16-14 and $418,461.
Competitive, honest and so far in 2012 he has had 6 starts 2 -3-1
He ran second to Rapid Redux twice last year.
They don’t make horses or people like this anymore.
Good luck in this final year of racing at Fort Erie, and
Best wishes to you both and to your family
Anne & Punch Kent
Hope Stock Farm
QUEEN’S PLATE STUFF…13 or 14 in field
Classic Bryce seeking jockey
CLASSIC BRYCE is seeking a jockey for the Queen’s Plate as we near the first big Plate event, Monday’s Queen’s Plate barbecue. Some of the Plate starters will be paraded for media on Monday.
CANADIAN NAVY and WILCOX are likely not going to be in the Plate (as of yesterday, but horsepeople change their minds a lot!)
GOLDEN RIDGE had a stunning workout from all reports on Wednesday morning. Eugene Melnyk won the Plate in 1996 with one of his first horses, ARCHERS BAY.
Riders:
John Velazquez to ride Colleen’s Sailor
Ramon Dominguez, Big Creek
Patrick Husbands , Dixie Strike
Luis Contreras, Golden Ridge,
Emma-Jayne Wilson Macho Whiskey,
Justin Stein , Strait of Dover,
Eurico Rosa da Silva Making Amends
Steven Bahen on Ultimate Destiny.
Jim McAleney, River Rush
Alex Solis, Woodbine Oaks winner Irish Mission
Richard Dos Ramos, Prince Raphael.
Julien Leparoux – Peyton
Classic Bryce – ?
GOOD BOY…STRAIT OF DOVER and Justin Stein head to the Queen’s Plate as the favourites for British Columbia!
Norm Files photo
Possible field
BIG CREEK
dk b/.c.3 by Indian Charlie(In Excess (IRE)) – Major Idea(Cherokee Run)
Green Hills Farm Inc. Todd A. Pletcher
*American-owned, owner and jock have not won Plate
CLASSIC BRYCE
dk b/.c.3 by Grand Slam(Gone West) – Classic Stamp(Regal Classic)
William Sorokolit Darwin D. Banach
*Owner and trainer seeking 1st Plate win
COLLEEN’S SAILOR
b.c.3 by Northern Afleet(Afleet) – Colleen’s Scorpion(Scorpion)
Terra Di Sienna Stables Roger L. Attfield
*American owned, owner has not won Plate, Attfield going for no, 9
DIXIE STRIKE,
B.F. Dixie Union – Noble Strike
John Oxley Mark Casse
*Owner and trainer seeking first Plate win
GOLDEN RIDGE
ch.c.3 by Distorted Humor(Forty Niner) – Indian Vale(A.P. Indy)
Melnyk Racing Stable Inc. Mark E. Casse
*Trainer seeks first Plate win
IRISH MISSION
ch.f.3 by Giant’s Causeway(Storm Cat) – Misty Mission(Miswaki)
Robert S. Evans Mark R. Frostad
*American owned, Frostad has won several Plates
MACHO WHISKEY, (would have to be supplemented for $25,000)
g. Macho Uno – Whiskey and Low
Harlequin Ranches Reade Baker
*Owner/trainer seek first Plate win, filly Gold Strike came close
MAKING AMENDS
b.c.3 by Repent(Louis Quatorze) – Primary Motive(Prime Timber)
Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Horse’nAround Racing Stable & R. Lederman Mark E. Casse
*Casse seeks first Plate win as do owners
PEYTON
dk b/.g.3 by Tale of the Cat(Storm Cat) – Emanating(Cox’s Ridge)
Windhaven Michael J. Doyle
*Owner/trainer looking for 1st Plate
RIVER RUSH
b.c.3 by Orientate(Mt. Livermore) – Sweet Tart(Lemon Drop Kid)
Stronach Stables Reade Baker
*Trainer seeks first Plate, as does Jock
STRAIT OF DOVER
dk b/.c.3 by English Channel(Smart Strike) – Bahrain Star(Danzig)
Canyon Farms Daniel J. Vella
*Owner/jock seek first Plate win
ULTIMATE DESTINY
ch.g.3 by Dance to Destiny(Mr. Prospector) – One On Tap(Pleasant Tap)
Brenda K. Selwyn-Waxman Michael Keogh
*Owner seeks first Plate
PRINCE RAPHAEL,
b.c. Shakespeare – Yankee Dandy
Doug Reddington, C Oslen Debbie England
*Owners/trainer/jock seek first Plate
On the Bubble…
PERSPECTIVE, dk.b.g. (would have to be supplemented for $25,000)
Niigon
Colebrook Farms Ashlee Brnjas
*Owner/trainer seek first Plate
NYUK NYUK NYUK, off Craigslist, getting TLC
at Beyond the Roses
Note from Gail Hirt:
This is Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk. He had a lifetime earnings of $813,619, earning most of it at Woodbine Race Track. While running there he was ridden 19 times by Emma-Jayne Wilson and ran against Twisted Wit 7 times, including in the Queenston Stakes Race and winning the Woodstock Stakes Race in 2004. His last race was at Parx Race track on June 7, 2011 and he then disappeared until recently when he showed up on Craigslist for free. A horse advocate that we work with jumped on it and together with Jack Armstrong, who at one time owned both Twisted Wit and Nyuk, negotiated with the parties concerned to retire Nyuk to Beyond The Roses Equine. Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk arrived today. He is sore in the back end, has severe rain rot, needs his teeth done, lots of groceries and lots of TLC. In the past, when we have tried to get horses like Nyuk into retirement, we have had to fundraise just to get them. That was NOT needed in this case. Nyuk will, however need lots care to get him looking and feeling better. If you would like to contribute to bringing him back, please go to the Donate page for our website at www.beyondtherosesequine.org.
