THE WEEK THAT WAS
WAGERING UP A STUNNING 44 PER CENT: Following the conclusion of the 50-day live race meet, CEO Darren Dunn said “you could not draw up the season any better.” And no wonder: Per-race wagering was a stunning 44 per cent higher than last year. See media release here.
|
Witt Six connections Jerry Gourneau (left) and Henry Witt Jr. |
WITT SIX IS TOP HORSE; CAN'T USE NELLIE IS TOP FEMALE: It’s official. Trainer Jerry Gourneau and Texas horse owner Henry Witt Jr. have the best horse on the grounds in Witt Six who captured the Gold Cup in impressive fashion, running down a determined pace-setting Sumerian Bell. Now, said Witt, he’ll be taking Witt Six and other horses to Retama Park in Texas for further racing and/or resting. Of all places he races, though, he said he loves Assiniboia Downs the best.
On the female side, Shelley Brown’s Can’t Use Nellie won the Manitoba Matron in a race that Shelley said she knew the mare had in her and paid $14.10. Of the two baby stakes, Northlands’ Park invader Trooper John won the Winnipeg Futurity ($5.40) by a nose and Paint My Ride ($3.40) romped in the Buffalo for Manitoba breds. Owners Don Schnell and Barry Arnason plan to winter him at Turf Paradise then get an early start to his 3-year-old career with training in February. The pair also won the J.W. Sifton Stakes (best Manitoba-bred 3-year-old) with Langara ($2.30).
|
Siftons with family trophy: Patti, Victor, Ryan (grandson) and Raymond. Inset: sculpture by Raymond's wife, Sue Carlton |
SIFTONS STILL INVOLVED WITH HORSES BUT NOT RACING: Returning to the Downs Saturday to present the J. W. Sifton trophy to the Downs’ top Manitoba-bred 3-year-old (Langara), the sons, daughter and grandson of John and June Sifton, revealed that although they may not be carrying on their late parents’ tradition of racing, Patti Sifton-Munro is an equestrian rider in Ontario who is on the cusp of being an equestrian judge, and Sue Carlton Sifton, the wife of Raymond Sifton in San Diego, is a horse sculptor praised for “capturing the soul and spirit” of horses in her sculptures which have included American Pharoah, Cigar, Smarty Jones and Ruffian.
HUSBANDS ON A MISSION; EASILY CAPTURES TITLE: Christopher Husbands rode like a man possessed on the final three days of live racing, winning 10 of the 21 races. His season total was 83 wins, 15 more than Antonio Whitehall. Husbands also was top percentage rider at 27 per cent compared to Whitehall’s 26 per cent. Probably Husbands’ most impressive win came aboard Dink of the Year whom he held together in a fierce duel to win by a nose. The guy is good, really good. Watch out, Woodbine jockey colony! (That’s where he’s heading.)
|
Tom Gardipy's proud team (see names in story) |
GARDIPY WINS 4th TRAINER TITLE; CREDITS STAFF: Showcasing his staff in the Winner’s Circle Sunday, the ever affable Tom Gardipy, Jr., accepted a trophy for his fourth trainer title. In the picture at right, that’s groom Curtis Gamble, Tom and wife Cheryl, groom Josh Jewell, groom Tyson Mallett and groom, gallop and pony girl Corinne Andrew. Missing is groom Balvin Biggs. The pony horse is Banjo. “I look forward to coming back with an even bigger stable next year,” Tom said. Watch for him in the meantime at Northlands Park.
TOM'S BROTHER WINS TRAINER TITLE AT MARQUIS DOWNS: Tom Gardipy, Jr.’s brother, Ray, captured the trainer title at Marquis Downs this year with 27 wins from 86 starts (31 per cent), nine more than his closest rival, Jamie Hartmann. Ray also raises cattle.
|
Kaitie Mann on Lone Star Harley |
DINK'S OWNER'S DAUGHTER NAMED JUNIOR ATHLETE OF YEAR: Horse owner Lori Mann (Dink of the Year) is a proud mama and can you blame her? Her daughter, Kaitie, 16, skilled at dressage, has been named the Manitoba Horse Council’s Junior Athlete of the Year. Kaitie and her horse, Lone Star Harley, competed at the Western Canadian Breeders Championships in Saskatoon and won two top six placings, one top five placing and a top-three placing. Kaitie’s new goal, says mom, is training one of Let Er Rip Racing Stable’s ex-race horses to be her next dressage horse. |