It was a generous gesture by Dr. Joanne Fagervik to comply with a request for a radio interview when London, ON sportscaster Pete James called to ask about the health and safety of horses in Winter racing conditions.

In the morning and afternoon drive prime time feature segments on CJBK, Dr. Fagervik addressed questions about the shoeing of horses and the respiratory challenges that plunging temperatures could present.

“The horses can get ice or borium caulks put on,” the large and small animal specialist explained from her practice at Forest, ON, about halfway between London and Sarnia, a home base which allows her to work part-time as an Ontario Racing Commission paddock veterinarian at both Western Fair Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park. “In addition the track crews are well experienced with getting the racing surface in the best condition no matter what season it is. In the Winter they can break up the underlying ice and put a top cushion on for the horses.”

James, the radio station’s Sports Director and host of the ‘Track Talk’ feature, also asked about the breathing capabilities of horses in the cold weather.

“There are certain horses that have a chance of showing signs of EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhaging) and those are well known to their trainers and to us, the track veterinarians,” Dr. Fagervik said. “They are treated before they race. Overall, we don’t allow any horse to race if we conclude there is any danger to them.”

In the London area, Track Talk with Pete James is heard each Tuesday and Friday at 7:20 a.m. and at 5:50 p.m. On the internet, the station can be tuned in at www.cjbk.com for live streaming.

On last Friday’s show, James asked owner/breeder Robert Hamather about the plans for nine-year-old millionaire pacer Tigerama, the beaten favourite in the 2008 Molson Pace that set the track record the week before.

“We’re considering a stallion career for him, that’s out there in the future but just when we’re not sure yet” Hamather commented on the radio show. “The plan for now is to keep racing him.”

Lees 1st Win In Canada Posted For Web Viewing

Within six weeks of his move to Ontario with his family the former driving champion of Wales, Stephen Lees, scored his first win on Canadian soil.

The 50-year-old horseman says he’s won races in almost a dozen countries around the world thanks to representing the United Kingdom on several occasions in the World Driving Championships.

Lees’ first win in Canada was recorded on January 6 at Western Fair Raceway with pacing mare Lyons Ruby and the replay video and Lees’ first live trackside interview in Canada was conducted right after that race.

The London track’s YouTube video collection and the chronicle of track news is available by clicking here. The videos are made possible by 18-year-old Courtney Yake. She is an assistant in Western Fair’s race office, track photography and press box teletimer departments.

February 15 Nomination Deadlines

It’s less than week until the February 15 nomination deadline arrives for a pair of Western Fair Raceway’s marquee events in 2009.

The nomination fee is $1,000 for the Molson Pace. Eliminations will be held on May 22 with the final set for May 29. Last year, the Molson Pace went to the gate for $280,000, the highest purse single race in Western Fair’s 47-year history.

New for 2009 is the Fillies and Mares Open Pace, to be known as the Forest City Pace. The nomination fee is set at $750 for the inaugural edition. Eliminations will be held on October 10 with the $150,000 (added) final set for October 17.

Nomination forms can be downloaded by clicking here.

Through June, post time at Western Fair is 3:35 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday afternoon and at 7:05 p.m. each Friday evening.

(Western Fair Raceway)