Thanksgiving weekend spells big horses and big stakes racing at RMTC
When the leaves begin to fall and the turkey begins to roast, the big boys traditionally come out to race at Rocky Mountain Turf Club, and this weekend is no exception.
This weekend will feature three days of live racing, today, Sunday and Thanksgiving Monday, with post time at 1:15 p.m.
The stakes action gets underway today with the Bullys Futurity Stakes Race. This race features the best twoyear-olds at the track and will feature the nearly unbeatable Stripling Warrior, who is coming off of back-toback stakes victories, and is for just cause, the morning line favourite in this race. Lyle Magnuson sends a duo to compete with Stripling Warrior with Klondike Ike and Catfish Tuesday, while Cory Rumsey will send in the filly, Artistic Flare, hoping for a longshot victory.
Immediately following the Futurity Stake, the Fillies Oaks takes place, featuring the best three-year-old fillies at the track. Brad Mead sends a pair of top fillies in to run, showcasing Ma’s Miracle Run, along with morning-line favourite, Go She’s Italian. Les Web’s Nelly Bean will also be tough in this race, along with Saskatoon invader, Bravo Wilko.
Thanksgiving Day steps things up with the Dating Game Stakes Race for Fillies, travelling a distance of seven furlongs. The horse to watch in this race will be Lillie Abbie, trained by Garry Marks. Legitimate challengers include Sweet Annie, trained by Susan Hoyle, and Miss Nikki J, trained by Magnuson.
Immediately following the Dating Game Stakes will be the AMTOTE Open Derby, with a classic distance of a mile and a sixteenth. Edmonton invader Special Kiss, trained by Norm Cuthbertson, is the morning-line favourite, while Tom Rycroft’s Big Kaz and Randy Cunningham’s Totally Suave will be up for the challenge.
One of the fun horses to cheer for at the track the last few years has been Brudda Clyde, trained by Cory Rumsey. He was horse of the year in 2015 and is still a tough competitor. Monday could be his last race in Lethbridge, and he’s worth coming out to watch.
As always, there will be all kinds of activities for the entire family, with the now famous Candy Scramble every day, and playground area for the kids.
See you at the races.