August was a star studded month packed with both Stakes races and Special Events!
We started the month with Racing Festival week. Aug. 2nd was the Century Downs Golf Tournament won by a group representing Northlands Park. Woodside Golf Course in Airdrie did an incredible job hosting with the weather gods a bit mixed on the day! The tournament was followed on the 4th by Century Down’s Libations Fest and then a bunch of groups helped put together an interesting and informative Industry Day on the 5th.
August 6th was our big racing day! It was an 11 race card highlighting the Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial, Ralph Klein Memorial, Emerald Filly and the Century Bets Pace. We started off with two divisions of the Century Bets Pace and were treated to wonderful performances by I Ama Rocket (Trained & Driven by JF Gagne for Owners Albert Branham, Archie Melnyk, & JF Gagne) cruising to a time of 1:56.4. The second division was owned by Outlawgrabbingears in a track record time of 1:55.2. The speedy colt won by over five lengths for Owners Paul Davies, Nicole Cecchin & Deborah Pinel. Next up were the two year olds in the Emerald Filly Pace. Lady Neigh Neigh looked ultra impressive with a sharp win in 1:56.1 for Trainer Chris Lancaster and pilot Brandon Campbell. The daughter of Bettors Delight captured the victory for Owners Chris Lambie & Chris Lancaster. Mrs Suhwiggins was victorious in the second division of the Emerald Filly Pace. Trained by Jim Marino, driven by Paul Davies and owned by BC invader JJJ stables, the filly paced her mile in 1:59.3.
The Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial final for three year old Fillies was highlighted by the Rumpel family being on hand to present the trophy to Owners Kelly Hoerdt and Hall of Famer William Andrew. Hot Kiss stopped the clock in 1:54.1 for driver Dave Hudon and trainer Kelly Hoerdt and took home the winner’s share of the $125,000.00 purse!
The race card ended with the Feature of the Day, the Ralph Klein Memorial pace for three year old Colts and Geldings. This was raced with two eliminations and a final all on this day for $125,000. Custards Laststand took the first elimination in 1:54 for Kelly Hoerdt & Blair Corbeil. Elimination two was taken by Ready N Steady in 1:55.3 for Trainer/Driver Jamie Gray for Owner Wild Dunes Stable. The final of this race was made up of the top four finishers in elimination one and two with one other fifth place finisher from both races drawn by lot. The final race was marred by a disqualification of Better Watch Out who was the first horse that crossed the finish line. The HRA Judges placed Better Watch Out ninth for interference to Freedoms Rescue in the stretch drive. This decision is under appeal. This outcome moved up Cheddar Jack, who was in front for most of the mile, from second place to first. Cheddar Jack is trained by Rod Hennessy and driven by Paul Davies for Owners Lorne Duffield and Diane Hennessy. The trophy presentation was made by Shirley McClellan who was a close personal friend and Deputy Premier for Ralph Klein.
Congratulations to all the winning connections for a Great day of racing at Century Downs.
August 11th we were treated to the Pace Under Saddle with the same winning connections as 2017. When you watched Kaylea Hepburn and Meadowlark Apache zoom to the front and never look back you realized how great they really were. Congrats to the winning connections as well all the other competitors for a wonderful show.
August 12th was the Century Downs Staff and Management Feature Race. We had a tremendous turnout with representative servers, security and management. The winners Circle was packed and the group has a Win Picture for the memories.
Aug 18th we showcased the two year old Alberta Sired Colts and Fillies. the Alberta Rising Star and the Alberta Starlet both going with three Divisions. Outlaw Grabbingears driven by Paul Davies hung on by a head over JF Gagne and I Ama Rocket in the fastest time of 1:56.2. In the other two divisions for the boys home-bred Crackle N Burn looked ultra impressive for Rod and Jackie Starkewski stopping the teletimer in 1:57.1. In the third Division the Harold Haining trained and Don Richardson owned Bad Moon Rising cruised to a three and a half length victory in 1:58.3.
Maxsamian was clocked in 1:59.4 to win the first Division of the fillies for first time Owner and Breeder Morinne Kennedy. Gin Twist was a handy winner in 2:01 in Division two giving a Training and Owning double for Harold Haining and Don Richardson. Mrs Suhwiggins ran away from her competitors to take Division three in 2:00.1. Congrats to Owner JJJ Stables and Driver Paul Davies.
August 25th, we were treated to eight divisions of the ASHA Stakes. Congratulations to all the winning Connections, Job well done on the last race day of the summer meet at Century Downs.
We also ended the meet with a Fan Appreciation Day, lots of free money was won on every race. ASHA sent home some very happy people! Many more cheered on the horses they chose from random envelopes. Several times we heard, “could you have one of these events every month”???
ASHA would again like to thank Century Down for stepping up very quickly to resurface the track with Limestone. The Horsemen are very happy with the consistency the oval displayed once the new material was laid down and had a chance to tighten up.
Fred Gillis
Executive Director
Alberta Standardbred Horse Association
We started the month with Racing Festival week. Aug. 2nd was the Century Downs Golf Tournament won by a group representing Northlands Park. Woodside Golf Course in Airdrie did an incredible job hosting with the weather gods a bit mixed on the day! The tournament was followed on the 4th by Century Down’s Libations Fest and then a bunch of groups helped put together an interesting and informative Industry Day on the 5th.
August 6th was our big racing day! It was an 11 race card highlighting the Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial, Ralph Klein Memorial, Emerald Filly and the Century Bets Pace. We started off with two divisions of the Century Bets Pace and were treated to wonderful performances by I Ama Rocket (Trained & Driven by JF Gagne for Owners Albert Branham, Archie Melnyk, & JF Gagne) cruising to a time of 1:56.4. The second division was owned by Outlawgrabbingears in a track record time of 1:55.2. The speedy colt won by over five lengths for Owners Paul Davies, Nicole Cecchin & Deborah Pinel. Next up were the two year olds in the Emerald Filly Pace. Lady Neigh Neigh looked ultra impressive with a sharp win in 1:56.1 for Trainer Chris Lancaster and pilot Brandon Campbell. The daughter of Bettors Delight captured the victory for Owners Chris Lambie & Chris Lancaster. Mrs Suhwiggins was victorious in the second division of the Emerald Filly Pace. Trained by Jim Marino, driven by Paul Davies and owned by BC invader JJJ stables, the filly paced her mile in 1:59.3.
The Gord and Illa Rumpel Memorial final for three year old Fillies was highlighted by the Rumpel family being on hand to present the trophy to Owners Kelly Hoerdt and Hall of Famer William Andrew. Hot Kiss stopped the clock in 1:54.1 for driver Dave Hudon and trainer Kelly Hoerdt and took home the winner’s share of the $125,000.00 purse!
The race card ended with the Feature of the Day, the Ralph Klein Memorial pace for three year old Colts and Geldings. This was raced with two eliminations and a final all on this day for $125,000. Custards Laststand took the first elimination in 1:54 for Kelly Hoerdt & Blair Corbeil. Elimination two was taken by Ready N Steady in 1:55.3 for Trainer/Driver Jamie Gray for Owner Wild Dunes Stable. The final of this race was made up of the top four finishers in elimination one and two with one other fifth place finisher from both races drawn by lot. The final race was marred by a disqualification of Better Watch Out who was the first horse that crossed the finish line. The HRA Judges placed Better Watch Out ninth for interference to Freedoms Rescue in the stretch drive. This decision is under appeal. This outcome moved up Cheddar Jack, who was in front for most of the mile, from second place to first. Cheddar Jack is trained by Rod Hennessy and driven by Paul Davies for Owners Lorne Duffield and Diane Hennessy. The trophy presentation was made by Shirley McClellan who was a close personal friend and Deputy Premier for Ralph Klein.
Congratulations to all the winning connections for a Great day of racing at Century Downs.
August 11th we were treated to the Pace Under Saddle with the same winning connections as 2017. When you watched Kaylea Hepburn and Meadowlark Apache zoom to the front and never look back you realized how great they really were. Congrats to the winning connections as well all the other competitors for a wonderful show.
August 12th was the Century Downs Staff and Management Feature Race. We had a tremendous turnout with representative servers, security and management. The winners Circle was packed and the group has a Win Picture for the memories.
Aug 18th we showcased the two year old Alberta Sired Colts and Fillies. the Alberta Rising Star and the Alberta Starlet both going with three Divisions. Outlaw Grabbingears driven by Paul Davies hung on by a head over JF Gagne and I Ama Rocket in the fastest time of 1:56.2. In the other two divisions for the boys home-bred Crackle N Burn looked ultra impressive for Rod and Jackie Starkewski stopping the teletimer in 1:57.1. In the third Division the Harold Haining trained and Don Richardson owned Bad Moon Rising cruised to a three and a half length victory in 1:58.3.
Maxsamian was clocked in 1:59.4 to win the first Division of the fillies for first time Owner and Breeder Morinne Kennedy. Gin Twist was a handy winner in 2:01 in Division two giving a Training and Owning double for Harold Haining and Don Richardson. Mrs Suhwiggins ran away from her competitors to take Division three in 2:00.1. Congrats to Owner JJJ Stables and Driver Paul Davies.
August 25th, we were treated to eight divisions of the ASHA Stakes. Congratulations to all the winning Connections, Job well done on the last race day of the summer meet at Century Downs.
We also ended the meet with a Fan Appreciation Day, lots of free money was won on every race. ASHA sent home some very happy people! Many more cheered on the horses they chose from random envelopes. Several times we heard, “could you have one of these events every month”???
ASHA would again like to thank Century Down for stepping up very quickly to resurface the track with Limestone. The Horsemen are very happy with the consistency the oval displayed once the new material was laid down and had a chance to tighten up.
Fred Gillis
Executive Director
Alberta Standardbred Horse Association
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