Local eyes on Gutierrez for biggest race
Former Hastings jockey will be riding betting favourite Nyquist
If tomorrow is the first Saturday in May, it must mean it’s Kentucky Derby time. Not only at Hastings Racecourse but throughout North America, fans ready themselves for an exciting and entertaining afternoon of thoroughbred racing, whether a novice to the sport or a regular customer.
Of course, in these parts all eyes will be on Mario Gutierrez, riding Paul Reddam’s Nyquist and favoured in the 20-horse field at 3-1. A couple of other jockeys familiar to Hastings fans who’ll be riding Derby hopefuls are Aaron Gryder on Trojan Nation (50-1) and Hall of Famer Gary Stevens on Mor Spirit (12-1).
The winner of this year’s Run for the Roses receives $1,443,800 or 60 per cent of the purse, with 10 per cent going to the winning jockey and the same for the winning trainer.
While the Derby coverage will be on the jumbo screen at approximately 3:34 p.m. Saturday, there are also seven live races at Hastings beginning at 1:50 p.m.
The feature events will be the $50,000 George Royal and $50,000 Vancouver Sun. In the Sun Handicap, a rarity could unfold if racing’s Anderson family can finish among the three fillies and mares.
Avadiva, trained by R.J. Anderson. is coming off an impressive frontrunning victory. Arabella’s Muse is trained by Mike Anderson, while Touching Promise, B.C.-bred Horse of the Year in 2015, is trained by Barb Heads. She’s a member of the Anderson family, having married expert handicapper Mike Heads.
The George Royal is Saturday’s cofeature
with the probable favourite being Swift Thoroughbreds Modern, a wire-to-wire winner in the Swift Inaugural on opening day.
Square Dancer, owned by 200 racing fans and named Open Horse of the Year in 2015, is making his 2016 debut after a winter’s rest. Another entry worth looking at is Peter Redekop’s Hollywood Angel who finished second to Modern in the Inaugural.
LADY LUCK: The Kentucky Derby has become a ‘happening’ where friends mingle and make it a fun event on their social calendar.
Remember, you don’t have to be a racing expert to win a few dollars. In fact, a recent study of 2,000 women discovered the odds of them winning were boosted by a connection to Lady Luck. Funny names and colours of jockeys silks or horses whose names had a hidden meaning all figured into the process.
I can’t begin to count the times that I’ve seen men study racing forms for hours, only to be seen tossing their mutual tickets into the nearest wastebasket while their female friends are laughing all the way to the cashier wickets.
NEAT GESTURE: Dennis Albaugh, owner of Kentucky Derby hopeful Brody’s Cause (listed at 12-1), has announced he will donate any potential winnings to the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Foundation, where he graduated from in 1972. Take a good look folks; Brody’s Cause, running from the No. 19 post, has a chance to finish in the money.