September is such a great month in our industry!
The yearling sales commence in September; it’s the time of year when new dreams begin with buying the best-looking yearling you have ever bought, or, as a breeder, maybe you are getting paid for selling the best-looking yearling you have ever bred. The majority of Standardbred Canada members join together at sales venues at this time of year. (Reminder: the SC Canadian Open yearling sale is September 12 & 13 at Flamboro Downs and by all reports the numbers and quality offered this year are exceptional!)
On the subject of purchasing a yearling, as a first time owner, why would you not get involved with a group that has bought eight yearlings -- all of whom have made it to the races and all of whom have competed in the Ontario Sires Stakes program? That is exactly the track record of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) New Owner Mentoring Program. The two groups that signed up in 2008 are going to have a great year of racing in 2009. One group owns Grin For Money (who at the time of this writing had made three starts and earned over $90,000, winning an OSS Gold final in 1:53.1). The other group owns M G Home Run, who won his first start in an OSS Grassroots division and was featured in the August issue of Trot. For more information, you can take a look at the SBOA website: www.sboa.info.
NOW THE CHALLENGE! I encourage all horsemen’s groups and racetracks across the country to take a look at this successful entry-level program. The SBOA reports that at least 75% of the original people in the groups continue to buy yearlings or race horses, on their own, after having a taste for the industry. Why wouldn’t a similar program work for buying an already made race horse?
As we all know, North America is going through some very challenging financial times in the business world and Standardbred Canada is not immune. Our revenue sources are down but the SC management team has been able to streamline expenses and it is hoped that a balanced financial statement will be achieved at the fiscal year-end on October 31. Now, of course, the game starts all over in trying to prepare an operating budget for fiscal 2010. I would like to THANK ALL SC STAFF for their hard work and cost saving ideas!
I have mentioned before that our President & CEO, Ted Smith, will be retiring on June 1, 2010 after 34 years of employment with the Canadian Trotting Association, Canadian Standardbred Horse Society and Standardbred Canada. I truly believe that finding a replacement for Ted is the most important task the SC Board has been asked to do since the amalgamation of CSHS and CTA. The Board has ratified the Executive Committee’s recommendation to hire an Executive Search firm to find the best possible candidate to lead us through very difficult times in our industry. I will provide updates as I receive them.
I would like to thank those who responded to me with regards to my question as to whether or not Somebeach-somewhere should have been inducted into Canada’s racing Hall of Fame so quickly (some people do actually read my columns!). I was right that this topic would bring about debate amongst ourselves and I’ve received responses from both sides. Thanks for your interaction -- I’d like to receive more on all topics!
I have four achievements to acknowledge this month. Congratulations to 19-year-old Dylan Andrew on snagging his first driving win at Summerside Raceway in July, Danny Johnson on career driving win number 5,000 at Dresden Raceway, Andrew Moore for his first driving win at Charlottetown Driving Park and also Hunter Sellers on his first training win at Grand River Raceway. Well done!
Until next month!