Page 19 - Fraser Downs News Today

Kneedeep N Custard came within two-fifth’s of a second from matching the all-time track record Friday evening at Fraser Downs thanks to his 1:50.4 triumph in the $12,000 Open Handicap for pacers. Trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt got away last with Kneedeep N Custard while race favourite Tiempo Hanover shot to the top and whizzed through wicked fractions of :27, :54 and 1:21. Hoerdt had his charge on the move from last while a little more than a final quarter of the contest remained, and thanks to...

After a facile score last week in her 2021 debut, Jodi Loftus Chase The Ace ($3.40) coasted to a new lifetime mark in Wednesdays (April 14) edition of the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open/optional claiming handicap at Fraser Downs. Trainer-driver Brandon Campbell took his time with Chase The Ace, settling her fourth in the five-mare field while Rockin Mystery (Rod Therres) controlled early splits of :28.4 and :56.3. With three-eighths to go, Chase The Ace moved second-over in an attempt to follow...

On the heels of a near miss and a runner-up performance in last week’s top class at Fraser Downs, Armycaptin Hanover marched right back into battle Friday evening and came away victorious in the $12,000 Open Pace. Armycaptin Hanover was allowed to get away last in the six-horse affair while Just A Start led the field through fractions of :27.3 and :54.4 while being pressed by race favourite Kneedeep N Custard. Dontpokethedragon then applied first-over pressure on Just A Start late in the mil...

Officials with Harness Racing B.C. and the provinces thoroughbred industry recently met with government officials in an attempt to secure added funding. Over a Zoom session, the B.C. government informed the horse racing community that it could not meet its request for funding as the industry has lobbied for nearly the last year to subsidize racing while casinos remain closed in the pandemic. “It’s just been a battle," Nigel Holmes, executive director of Harness Racing British Columbia (H...

Circling to the lead by the quarter, Paperback Thriller remained strong on the point to the finish of the $12,000 featured pace at Fraser Downs on Wednesday (March 31). Driver Brandon Campbell settled Paperback Thriller into second nearing a :29.3 opening quarter, but soon revved the six-year-old Mystery Chase mare from the pocket to the front passing the stands. The Jim Marino trainee took control before a :58.2 half and continued to roll as the field marched to three-quarters in 1:26.4. She g...

"My wife, my son and I are hoping to be out there by mid-March," Abbott told Trot Insider. "We feel like it is in the best interest of our future to be in Ontario. We have been discussing it for a while. We want to be where the racing is. More tracks, horses and work in general." Given the lengthy hiatus and uncertainty faced by the harness racing industry in Western Canada, many stables have been forced to downsize or relocate altogether. That reality, paired with limited willingness to keep ...

The Kelly Hoerdt stable had the gloves off for Boxing Day card at Fraser Downs on Saturday (Dec. 26), winning five races on the 17-race program including a victory in the $10,100 Open Pace with Cusdmagicdragon. Sent the 2-5 favourite, Cusdmagicdragon grabbed the lead early and opened four lengths on pylon-starter Rockin Mystery to a :28.1 opening quarter. Driver Scott Knight rationed the speed of charge through middle fractions of :58.4 and 1:27.2, where Intrigued Again took his shot and rolled...

Jason Malloy Photo CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The 2020 O’Brien Awards finalists have been announced and aged pacing mare finalist So Much More has etched herself into the harness racing history books as the first Island-foaled horse to be nominated for the prestigious national honour. The O’Brien Awards were formed in 1989 to honour the late Joe O’Brien, a native of Alberton, but no horse born in the province has ever made the cut as a final nominee. So Much More’s home turf is New Haven...

Affiliates of Apollo Global Management have agreed upon a significantly higher purchase price for the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation portfolio than originally negotiated last month, as reported on Tuesday (Dec. 22). After a number of major Great Canadian shareholders expressed disapproval in the initial terms of the transaction, the two parties renegotiated the sale price from $39 per share to $45 per share. The roughly 15 per cent increase will render the total purchase price of the portfol...

Mississauga, ON – Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2020 O’Brien Awards, which honor Canada’s best in harness racing over the past season. There are two finalists in each category which includes 12 divisional horse categories and five people awards. Horse of the Year will be one of the divisional champions. Winners will be announced at the Virtual O’Brien Awards Gala on Sunday, Jan. 31 on standardbredcanada.ca. This will mark the 32nd edition of the O�...