When Cloverdale Raceway opened on New Year’s Day in 1976, a horse named Guy Dominion won the first race on the card before a special cheering section

.

Nine players with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks had each invested $300 and were owners of Guy Dominion. When driver Ray Gemmill hit the winner’s circle, he was joined by Canucks Gary 'Suitcase' Smith, Andre Boudrias, Don Lever, John Gould, Ron Sedlbauer, Gerry O’Flaherty, Dennis Ververgaert, Chris Oddleifson and Gregg Boddy.

“That was 34 years ago,” Gemmill said. “I don’t remember a whole lot about the race, but I remember the celebration later. Those boys sure knew how to party.”

Oddleifson and Boddy will be returning to the victory scene on Saturday night at Fraser Downs as Gemmill celebrates his 80th birthday with family, friends and harness racing fans.

Gemmill arrived on Canada's west coast in 1974 to help build Cloverdale Raceway with investors Jim Keeling, Sr., Keith Waples and Doug Gillespie.

“I remember Ray from when I was a kid working summer maintenance jobs around the track and backstretch,” said Fraser Downs General Manager Chuck Keeling, grandson of the late Jim, Sr. “You always knew where to find Ray if you needed an opinion. He was a mainstay on the backstretch. Since I’ve been manager at Fraser, I can recall several instances when I would go to Ray to ask for his insight and advice. Nothing has changed.”

Gemmill, who drove Guy Dominion for trainer Jim Richards, still owns four pacers and arrives at the Fraser Downs barns daily at 6:00 a.m. to work them out with the help of his young groom, Amber Lancaster.

“I can still jog them in the mornings,” Gemmill said, “but Amber’s in charge of everything else. She goes to school in the afternoons but never misses a morning to help me out. I think God sent her to me.”

Fraser Downs Director of Racing Jackson Wittup says the harness racing industry will allow Gemmill to slow down but not retire completely.

“Ray has been an icon for racing in British Columbia,” Wittup said. “Not only has he raced horses, he was instrumental in the building of Cloverdale Raceway and always had the foresight to buy better quality horses from the east and bring them west. He always believed quality was better than quantity. We want to have him with us for many more years.”

Hensley Stays Hot

Leading driver and trainer Ed Hensley swept the top two spots in the $75,000 Princess of the Pacific last Saturday, scooping 75 per cent of the purse money.

Hensley trains Lickcreek Jazzy, the one-length winner that was driven by Michael Hennessy. Stablemate Modern Legacy finished second with Henlsey at the reins.

It was Lickcreek Jazzy’s fourth consecutive win and the $37,599 winner’s share of the purse more than doubled her 2010 earnings. Her total lifetime earnings have surpassed $256,000 for Hensley and JJJ Stables of Aldergrove.

Racing resumes Friday and Saturday nights at Fraser Downs at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday’s card going at the regular 1:15 p.m. start time.

(Fraser Downs)