RMTC hosting B Cup Stakes races this weekend

STAN AND GRACE MARKS FONDLY REMEMBERED IN HORSE RACING COMMUNITY

This weekend is the Super Bowl of horse racing for local trainers as the B Cup Stakes races are running Saturday. Trainers plan the whole year for the B Cup Stakes and judging from the high calibre of horses entered, there will be tremendous action.

There will also be another Monday night of racing, as the last Monday the horses ran, the betting public responded with a record amount wagered. Post time Saturday and Sunday is 1:15 p.m., while post time on Monday is 6 p.m.

A trainer who always participated with great horses in the B Cup Stakes races was the legendary Stan Marks, who along with his wife, Grace, were mainstays at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

Stan and Grace Marks made their journey home in early 2019 — seven weeks apart. For over 60 years, they raced in many places, but without a doubt, their favourite place was the Lethbridge Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

Stan loved horses from the moment he was introduced to them. He could be seen riding across those old prairies atop a horse five times his size in a saddle that swallowed him up and stirrups that swung freely way below his little cowboy boots. He loved horses and horses loved him.

Grace loved Stan, and so she also became part of horse racing. She would support him in many ways. From cleaning stalls to keeping the books, she was always his right-hand woman. They both often talked about the many, many friends that they had met at the racetrack, and how they cherished them all. The racing community was as important to them as their farming community.

All of their kids loved race days. Grace would sew matching shirts for everybody in the family, fry up a ton of chicken, make buckets of potato salad and slice up the watermelon. They’d load up the horses and kids and it was off to the races. Their son, Garry Marks, ownertrainer, and daughter, Delores Honess, owner, carry on Stan and Grace’s legacy at RMTC.

Stan and Grace were part of racing horses right up to their passing. They hated missing a race day. Even at 91years old, when Stan was so ill during their last fall meet, he would call up one of his kids or grandkids and say, “So who’s taking us to the races today?” At 89, he was still in the paddock strategizing with his jockey about how they’d win the race.

Both Stan and Grace loved the thrill of the races, and Stan was a darn good owner/trainer as his hundreds of trophies, awards and win pictures can attest, but as wonderful as that recognition was, what mattered most to Grace and Stan was the horsemen community and the people in it. They were always willing to help anyone if they could, and were more than grateful for the kindness and help they received in return.

Just before passing, Stan received an award, but due to his health couldn’t be there to accept it. These were the words he had planned to say: “I’d like to mention and thank all the fellow trainers, track owners, managers, administration, workers, jockeys, fellow horsemen and track friends. You made me who I am as a horseman. I just don’t want to forget to mention somebody, so I’ll just say you know who you are and the difference you’ve made in my life. Thank you.”

There is no doubt that in spirit, Stan and Grace will always be at their beloved

Lethbridge Rocky Mountain Turf Club on race days.