Hastings opening weekend · 21.04.09

By all accounts, the opening of Hastings Racecourse’s 2009 season this past weekend was a success. A half-page feature story in Thursday’s Vancouver Sun on leading apprentice Stephanie Fedora, with a sidebar outlining the highlights of the upcoming season, also probably attracted the attention of sports fans and convinced them to give live racing a try.

Various other commitments prevented Yer ‘Umble Correspondent from attending in person, but my sources tell me that Saturday in particular saw a big crowd, with lots of younger people and new faces taking advantage of the good weather that afternoon.

Frank Fuentes had a big day, riding four winners (including the first three races), while Fernando Perez won three. The highlight of the day might have been Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hall, owners of the legendary BC-bred George Royal, spending their wedding anniversary at “Epsom-by-the-Inlet” greeting winning horses and their connections in the winner’s circle.

The iffy weather on Sunday translated into a slightly smaller crowd, who saw 2008 champion racemare Against the Sky finish third in the featured optional claimer. Fans shouldn’t worry that the big girl has lost a step, though — she’s better in routes than at 6 furlongs, and probably just needed that race as a tune-up. Last year’s champion jockey Mario Gutierrez survived a scary fall in the second race, when his filly Eight Black suddenly swerved to the inside along the backstretch and hit the rail. The horse ran off relatively unscathed, but Gutierrez was thrown and suffered a badly-bruised shoulder and had to book off his remaining mounts.

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What do you think?

  1. BIG one next week if all the components of the George Royal come together: the Mouse, True Met, Koffee and last year’s sprint champ.

    If they all go it will be a very very good one

    — Dr. Timothy Yatca,k · Apr 27, 12:32 PM · #

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