May is an exciting month, no doubt! Qualifying races are beginning to fill, more babies are being born around the country, semen is being shipped all over, and yearling nominations are due for stakes as future two-year-old and three-year-old stars begin to emerge. Hopefully you’re using our new Online Staking Service to make your life a little easier!
To add some additional value to this column, I’ve asked SC Directors from around the country to give us an occasional update on racing in their province, as I think it’s important for all SC members to be aware of the racing situation in other Canadian jurisdictions. This month, our regional report comes courtesy of Quebec Active Director Rick Karper.
Hippodrome de Quebec is virtually the only racetrack remaining in the province. In 2011, it will host 10 days of racing highlighted by a modest sire stake program and, thanks to Standardbred Canada’s participation and encouragement, the Lucien Bombardier (two-year-old filly pace) and Roger White (two-year-old filly trot) stakes. As well, there will be 10 stops on the Circuit Regional (the province’s fair circuit).
Quebec’s effort to rise from the ashes is being orchestrated by a highly capable and dedicated group of individuals known as the Quebec Jockey Club. They realize that in order to revive harness racing in the province, a racetrack will have to be constructed in the Montreal area and the necessary steps are being taken.
Although we have suffered greatly from the Attractions Hippiques/SONACC fiasco which effectively shut down the industry in 2008, we Quebecers are extremely proud of our horses and horsemen. In 2010, we won a Breeders Crown (Martinontherocks), a Quebec bred trotter won an O’Brien (Crys Dream), our trainers won several titles (Richard Moreau, Rene Allard, Ben Baillargeon) at various Ontario tracks and our drivers are reaching new heights (Sylvain Filion, Simon Allard, and others).
Finally, on the show Undercover Boss, a person holding a senior management position in a corporation goes undercover and works alongside his lower level staff to gain a new perspective. Last month, we saw the Chief Operating Officer of Churchill Downs work on the backstretch as a groom and as a valet for the jockeys. He was totally out of his element, as he never had even touched a horse! One of the obstacles that he came across was the sheer tradition that horse people use to get the racing product to the fans. It’s not so very different than standardbred racing. He realized it’s very difficult to bring the corporate decision making of modern day racetrack facilities to the people who put on the product.
Another thing he came to realize, though, was that the backstretch people are hard working, long term, dedicated people who love what they do. Will it be possible for these two different worlds -- the new school corporate and the old school traditional -- to come together?
Tammy McNiven
SC Chair/President