Gio Ponti, who´s half brother Fisher Pond stands at Paddockhurst Stables, Nisku Alberta, overcame a pace so pedestrian even a harness caller wouldn´t have had trouble and a not so stellar ride to jump back into the win column in Saturday´s Man o´ War at Belmont.
Bloodhorse - Gio Ponti Up Late
Jim Meyaard´s barn has a couple of early Canadian Derby prospects, with Hal Veale´s Sycamore Stable´s Professor Pollard capturing a conditioned allowance optional claimer in 1:38 4/5 for the mile, less than half an hour before Al´s better Side Barb´s No Hesitation dominated the Ky Alta getting the mile 3/5 quicker.
Edmonton Journal - Curtis Stock - No Hesitiation
http://www1.drf.com/news/article/114690.html
Edmonton Sun - John Short - No Hesitation
Congratulations to Robert Waschuk the unofficial winner of Saturday´s Handicapping Contest at Northlands. Curtis was a close 4th.
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Will Greg Louganis come out of retirement for World Cup 2014?
LA Times - World Cup Announcer
NY Times - Man U - Chicago Style
All quiet on the southern front, until Monday.
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Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain
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Celebrating Singspiel
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Congratulations to the winners of the Backstretch Awards for June at Northlands Park:
Groom of the week:
June 5th – Jordan Oleksyn
June 12th – Raul Sanchez
June 19th – Roger Weingartner
June 26th – Donovan Buchanon
Monthly Awards:
Pony Person – Ali Schymizek
Exercise Rider – Mat Williams
Backstretch Person – Dr. Jodi Kendrew
Shedrow of the Month – Tim Rycroft Stable
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Contraction
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Baseball people, and that includes myself, are slow to change and accept new ideas. I remember that it took years to persuade them to put numbers on uniforms.
Branch Rickey
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HullabaLOU auction to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation
Hullabalou must be a Green festival. They´re recyling so many acts who´re just there to top up their pension packets.
At least Lollapalooza has a couple of headliners that had a hit in the 21st century.
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BC Cup Day
Monday, August 2, 2010
7 stake races
50,000 BC Debutante for BC Bred 2 yr fillies going 6 ˝ furlongs,
$50,000 BC Nursery for BC Bred 2 yr olds going 6 ˝
$50,000 Dogwood for 3 yr old BC bred fillies going 1 1/16th miles.
The Stellar Jay for BC bred 3 yr old for a $50,000 purse going 1 1/16th miles,
The $50,000 BC Cup Distaff for BC bred fillies and mares going 1 1/8th miles,
BC Cup Sprint for 3 yr old & up going 6 ˝ furlongs for BC breds with a purse of $50,000 a
BC Cup Classic with a purse of $50,000 going 1 1/8th miles.
Also offered that day is a 1 3/8-endurance race for BC breds that have started for a claming price of $8000.00 dollars or less in the 2009 or 2010 for the current owner(s).
The BC Cup kicks off with a Golf Tournament on Monday, July 25th. Anyone interest in playing in the tournament should contact Dan Jukich at djukich@hastingsracecourse.com
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Alberta isn´t the only jurisdiction where the reigning party hides its patronage in so called quasi independent entities.
Horse Race Insider - Same Old Process
NY Times - Divorce - Dodger Style
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Mankind is like dogs, not gods - as long as you don´t get mad they´ll bite you - but stay mad and you´ll never be bitten. Dogs don´t respect humility and sorrow.
Jack Kerouac
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Mark Twain´s Biography
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Where It´s At Wednesdays
The Playbook Lounge
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
The Playbook Lounge
Northlands Park
Edmonton, AB
HALF PRICE APPETIZERS!
HALF PRICE on selected Appetizers:
Nachos
$5.50 small, $7.99 large
Spring Rolls
$3.50
Dry Ribs
$3.99 small, $7.50 large
Chicken Wings
$5.50 small order, $8.99 large
Tex-Mex, BBQ, Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper, Honey Garlic, Louisiana or Raging Hot
Other available Meal Favourites:
Caesar Salad
$6.95 regular, $8.95 large, $10.95 with grilled chicken
Steak Sandwich
$13.95
Served with garlic toast, fries and coleslaw
Clubhouse Sandwich
$9.95
Deluxe Chicken Sandwich
$10.95
July 14th, 2010
Doors 5:30 PM
First Post Time 6:00 PM
Last race goes to post at 9:09 PM
Guest List:
where.its.at.wednesdays@gmail.com
No dress code but try business casual or dress to impress.
For more information & to get on the guest list:
where.its.at.wednesdays@gmail.com
If you bring a July edition of Alberta Venture to Where It´s At on July 14, 2010 Kathy Butkovic will autograph it for you
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Females doing well at Louisiana Downs
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HBPA Saskatchewan
Annual Steak / Chicken Supper
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
6:00 PM
Marquis Downs Cook Shack.
Tickets $10.00
available at Gail´s Coffee Bar
or ask an HBPA Director.
Tickets must be purchased by Noon Saturday July 25, 2010
- Cash Bar – Door Prizes -
Bring your instruments!!
Whiskey will regale you with his renditions.
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Whya does it always take a study to figure out what common sense tells most mothers.
Liquid Salad
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HBPA Saskatchewan
Annual General Meeting
Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010
All Thoroughbred Owners & Trainers
Marquis Downs Grandstand
Lower Level, East End
Lunch at Noon: 12:00—12:30
(Courtesy H.B.P.A.)
Meeting 12:30
(Director´s Meeting 11:00)
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The Name Game
http://www.drf.com/news/article/114613.html
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Canadian Derby Golf Tournament Auction
August 16, 2010
Coloniale Golf Course
Beaumont, AB
The Backstretch Chaplaincy Benevolence Auction will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Derby Golf Tournament at the Coloniale Golf course in Beaumont on Monday, August 16th.
Donated items to be auctioned to raise funds for the Backstretch Chaplaincy Fund are required. The fund provides benevolence to backstretch workers and events to improve the quality of life all of the horsemen working at the track.
Your contribution to the auction would be greatly appreciated and funds raised used for a very worthy cause.
For more information please contact Theresa Sealy at 403-540-8707 or Jim Haggan at 780-405-4559.
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Plight of The Drug Trade Horses
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HBPA Alberta
Backstretch BBQ and Horseshoe Tournament
Tuesday July 20th at 6:00 PM
Northlands track infield.
Dinner will be served from 6:00-7:00
The tournament will begin at 7:00.
Tickets will be $10 each and with every ticket sold you will get a kickback $5 FREE play coupon for that night at the NP casino!
The horseshoe tournament will consist of 2 people to a team at a cost of $10 per team or $5 per single entry.
Please sign up with Theresa Sealy at the HBPA office. Prizes of medals and a Coliseum gift certificate with a trophy with your names on it displayed in the Learning Centre to the winners.
Deadline for entries is Saturday July 17th. Get your competitive juices flowing and come on out and throw a few horseshoes for a good cause!
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Bloodhorse - Haskin - Awesome Gem Still Shining Bright
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HBPA Alberta
Spanish/English language lessons
Starting July 6th there will be free language classes available for any person with a HRA license. Learning English classes will be every Tuesday and Spanish every Thursday at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM for 8 weeks in the backstretch kitchen.
There will be a light lunch served. If you are interested please contact Theresa Sealy or Jeanette Haggan to sign up.
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MID Shareholders Sue Over Track Acquisitions
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Doesn´t bode well for thoroughbred racing.
If you never learn to study, you´ll never enjoy a sport that requires laborious poring over the Form? Easy solution, pull the handle or press the button.
Boston Globe - What Happened To Studying
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Get your questions in.
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The Pepsi Generation
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Blane Schvaneveldt dies at 76; legendary quarter horse trainer
LA Times - Blane - Schvaneveldt
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Now that Chris Bosh has jumped to the Miami Heat, both Florida NBA teams have ex-Raptors who played for the Coasters their entire Raptor careers.
Horse Race Insider - The Uninspiration Of July
The NHL nor the NBA have been hogging the sports media the last few weeks during the middle of their off season.
Maybe the thoroughbred industry needs to train their stars to act like a bunch of spoiled brat assholes. That type of behaviour seems to be keeping the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB on the front pages of the sports section.
Phil made a comment about appreciating Kobe Bryant a couple of weeks ago. I don´t think that Lebron James quit on the Cavaliers the last 2 playoffs. He just doesn´t have the innate ability that an MJ, Bill Russell or Kobe does when they lift their game a couple of notches and drag their team mates up with them.
The Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dewayne Wade free agent asshole antics make a cold hearted calculating mercenary philanderer like Kobe Bryant seem warm and cuddly.
Heat Stars Sign Six Year Deals
With a lot of Outs and Bonuses
Did They Take The Test?
Boston Globe - The King Is A Clown
ESPN - James Takes Heat From Cavs
NY Times - The LeBron James Surreality Show
NY Times - For Cleveland Fans, Heartbreak Is a Familiar Feeling
LA Times - Plaschke - Lebron James
ESPN - Lebron Quit On Cavs During Playoffs
Time to pull up the big boy pants and move on.
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The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
Buddha
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The NHL isn´t far removed
Globe And Mail - Free Agent Madness
What fans need to remember is that the owners love the free agent dance. Sign one big name, shuffle the plumbers and the suckers will line up to renew their season tickets.
Globe And Mail - You Must Be Jokinen
Dedicated to the Flames Fans out there.
Feaster fanning Flames
Globe And Mail - Feaster Joins Flames
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All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.
Jack Kerouac
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The Woodbine Whippets?
Globe And Mail - NHL Looking North?
When the NHL finally gets around to allowing a team to return to Canada how about Mercenaries for the name. It´s appropriate for the Age.
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Fisher Underwood Wedding
Did They Take The Test?
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Sharks being sharks.
Globe And Mail - Sharks - Hawks Tug of War
San Jose Mercury News - Payback?
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I´ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that´s the only way of insuring one´s immortality.
James Joyce
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Phil M Stockmen