Hasting Racecourse opens Saturday, while they run for the roses in Kentucky
Article content
Article content
Hastings, which opened in 1892 and Vancouver's longest continuously used professional sports venue, is celebrating opening day by offering a 'Mystery Wallet' giveaway, with $100 in betting vouchers up for grabs. Arrangements have also been made to pause live racing to allow fans to view the Kentucky Derby live on the track's jumbo screen.
Article content
Article content
More locally, veteran Hastings' trainers Barbara Anderson-Heads and Steve Henson will both be hoping for a repeat of last season when, between them, they sent out more than 80 winners. However, 2025 will be a very different campaign for both barns as they each come to terms with the passing of important owners.
Article content
Henson goes into the 2025 campaign without his leading owner following the tragic passing of Willow Creek Farms' founder and Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society president, Dairen Edwards.
Article content
'Losing Dairen was a huge blow, obviously,' Henson said. 'He was more than an owner and everyone here will feel his loss for some time.'
Article content
Edwards won't be far from Henson's mind this season as the east Vancouver native goes into battle with last year's leading two-year-old, Mount Doom. The son of leading B.C. stallion Bakken was bought by Edwards and Henson as a yearling and is still owned jointly with WillowCreek Farms — now under the guidance of Edwards' widow, Tia and daughter, Makayla.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Also working well this spring are recently-crowned B.C. Horse of the Year Avana and Canadian Derby and B.C. Derby winner, August Rain. The two superstars will again fly the flag for the all-conquering Barbara Anderson-Heads who, last summer, endured the loss of stalwart owner and breeder, Russell 'R.J.' Bennett.
Article content
Anderson-Heads said: 'Losing 'R.J.' was more than losing an owner. He was family. An amazing man who was a mentor and educator to me. It was obviously a tough and emotional time for everyone, but R.J.'s family are still very much involved and remain unwavering in their support for racing and breeding in B.C.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
Sovereignty beats Journalism to win Belmont Stakes at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, the second hosted at Saratoga. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time. The 5-2 second favourite won in 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, beating Preakness Stakes winner Journalism by three lengths. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Journalism ended up in second again and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby. Journalism entered the gate at the Belmont as the 2-1 favourite, with Baeza the third favourite at 7-2. Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race. After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn't been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert's Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel. Journalism was the only horse to run in all three legs, winning the Preakness. ___ AP horse racing:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Belmont Stakes at Saratoga is a Kentucky Derby rematch
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — The Triple Crown concludes Saturday with the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes. The race is a rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and runner-up Journalism, who is the favorite after winning the Preakness. Derby third-place finisher Baeza also is in the field of eight. Sovereignty is racing for the first time since the first Saturday in May. Owners and trainer Bill Mott decided not to enter Sovereignty in the Preakness because of the short, two-week turnaround. Journalism is the only horse running in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez is in the Belmont after being scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise that also kept the colt out of the Preakness. The Belmont is taking place for a second consecutive time at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. The New York Racing Association temporarily relocated it there while Belmont Park on Long Island undergoes nearly half a billion dollars in renovations. ___ AP horse racing:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Just Trust Me off to a storybook start
Former horse trainer John Mulligan said it looked like a scene from the movie 50-1, a film based on the true story of longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and his happy-go-lucky group of crazy cowboy owners who beat the bluebloods at their own game in 2009. This wasn't Kentucky and groom-owner-trainers Dewey Williams and Eugene Burns weren't quite in the Derby. Yet. This was Tuesday night racing at Assiniboia Downs. 'They just looked like a couple of good ole boys, happier than ever, walking into the winner's circle,' said Mulligan. 'It was a scene right out of that movie.' With a smile from ear to ear and a jovial laugh, the big orange-haired Burns led slick three-year-old colt Just Trust Me and jockey Antonio Whitehall into the winner's circle to meet trainer Williams after winning the first stakes race of the local season. Their $3,500 purchase had just won the $24,000 Fancy As Overnight Stakes, but it might as well have been the Kentucky Derby based on the happiness meter. Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Just Trust Me and jockey Antonio Whitehall won the Fancy As Overnight Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday. Not only did the Williams-Burns combo win the first stakes race of the season, they also upped their local record to a perfect three-for-three. Just Trust Me drew off to win by five lengths and it could have been more. It was a mismatch for a horse that might just be the local Manitoba Derby horse to beat. 'We'll see,' said Burns. 'He's going to the Golden Boy next.' Burns and Williams arrived from Turf Paradise with nine horses, four purchased in Northern California for less than US$10,000. All have won. Just Trust Me's victory was another triumph for red-hot jockey Antonio Whitehall. The three-time riding champion scored a hat trick Monday and added two more wins Tuesday, tying him atop the jockey standings with nine victories. 'Whitehall's been coming down and getting on a bunch of these,' said Williams. 'Sheldon Chickeness has been getting on horses for us too. He's a big part of our program. And Will Tourangeau, Monique Goulet, and Jared Brown have all helped us out. People are just nicer here.' Besides Williams and Burns, the barn crew includes Michelle Bennett and blacksmith Chance Dale, who's followed them from Phoenix to Wyoming to Winnipeg. Burns splits time between the track and his Georgia farm, where his wife Lindsay conditions show horses. Williams' better half Connie holds down the fort in Gooding, Idaho. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The 40-year-old Burns and 71-year-old Williams started their partnership in Boise, Idaho, and have worked together since 2012. 'He came looking for me one day,' said Williams. 'And now he can't get rid of me.' After leaving Assiniboia Downs in 2018, Williams and Burns spent two years at Prescott and two in Wyoming. 'We were leading owner in Wyoming, and tied for leading trainer one year,' said Williams. COVID delayed their return to the Downs. Now they're back with serious Derby aspirations. 'One of the big factors for us coming here is we had this horse and we were debating on where to go to run him,' said Burns. 'They have a really good three-year-old program here, starting with the Fancy As Stakes, then the Golden Boy, and another mile prep before the Manitoba Derby. That's why we came.' Just Trust Me had already established solid credentials in California and Arizona before his local triumph. He broke his maiden at Del Mar in California, won an allowance race at Pleasanton, and finished second in the Luke Kruytbosch Overnight Stakes at Turf Paradise. When asked about their best horse ever, Williams was direct: 'Probably this one.' Burns and Williams have both won Idaho Cups and Colorado Derbies. Williams has also won the Sunray Park Futurity, the Sunray Park Derby, and the Albuquerque Derby in the past. Now they have a Manitoba Derby horse, and that's a whole different world. With their perfect start and genuine aspirations, these good ole boys from Idaho are proving sometimes the best stories come from the most unlikely places.
