PONIES AT NORTHLANDS?
CEO leaves options open
Hold all tickets until the race is official.
Post positions for Saturday’s Canadian Derby were drawn Tuesday morning for a race that was widely believed to be the final Derby at Northlands. But, then again, maybe not. Northlands president Tim Reid, who had earlier stated that Northlands is getting out of the horseracing business after this year, now said that isn’t definite.
“Anything is possible. It will all be based on our meetings this fall with the city when our report goes to council and we begin our next round of conversations. There’s always a chance,” said Reid.
“We have made it clear that our plans are not to continue racing at this site. But we’ve also got to listen to our stakeholders — the owners, trainers and jockeys — and be considerate of their industry.”
Four parties have put in Requests for Proposals to Horse Racing Alberta to build, own and operate a racetrack in, or near, Edmonton.
While Horse Racing Alberta would not confirm the parties, the four are believed to be Enoch Cree Nation, Century Casinos, the Siksika Nation Resource Development Ltd. and Lacombe’s Alberta Downs.
Asked if Northlands could race while a new racetrack is built, Reid said, ‘That wouldn’t be our preference.” But Reid again said, “Anything is possible.”
Shirley McClellan, chair of Horse Racing Alberta, said “We will be racing all breeds (thoroughbreds, standardbreds and quarter-horses) next year.
“We will utilize whatever racing venues are available: Calgary’s Century Downs, Lethbridge’s Rocky Mountain Turf Club and Grande Prairie’s Evergreen Park.
“What we don’t know about is Northlands; I don’t think anyone knows for sure what Northlands is going to do until they go to the City. It’s all guessing right now. Northlands is the unknown, which is disconcerting to the racing industry because they don’t know how this is all going to come down.”
For the second straight year, a full field of 12 horses is in the $150,000 mile and three-eighths test.
Northlands announcer and oddsmaker Matt Jukich made Ready Intaglio, who got post 8, a tepid 7-2 favourite. Ready Intaglio has won his last two starts — both Derby prep races: the Ky Alta and the Count Lathum.
“It’s a wide-open race,” said Jukich. “There are no superstars. There isn’t a 6-5 favourite.”
Access This, who twice ran third to previously unbeaten Barkley at Washington’s Emerald Downs, is the second favourite at 4-1.
Manitoba Derby winner Inside Straight, who was left with the extreme outside post position, was instilled as the third choice at 9-2.
“I originally had Inside Straight as the second favourite but that changed with his poor post position. It isn’t pretty out there,” said Jukich.
A second horse entered by Robertino Diodoro, Inside Straight’s stablemate Solve, got post 11.
“When I called Robertino he kept saying, ‘No way, no way. You’re joking, aren’t you?’” said Diodoro’s assistant trainer, Rob Atras.
“Hopefully they don’t get hung five or six wide. I’m not too concerned though. They’ve both got good pilots. Solve comes from behind, anyway, and I’m confident that Rico ( jockey Walcott) will find himself a good early position.”
Seven of the 12 entrants have never raced at Northlands.
Access This had been running in Washington before shipping to Grande Prairie, where he just missed in the Alberta Derby. B.C. Charlie and Lord Vancouver come from Vancouver. Inside Straight was running in New York before winning the Manitoba Derby. Ruck is a Toronto-based thoroughbred who ran second in the Manitoba Derby. Solve had been running in Kentucky before finishing fourth in the Manitoba Derby. Sorryaboutnothing hails from California.