Square Dancer likely to go to S. W. Randall Plate next

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Steve Henson said Square Dancer came out of his dramatic win in the $100,000 Redekop Classic last Monday in excellent shape, but he wasn’t sure where the horse would make his next start. With Scott Williams aboard, Square Dancer rallied from well back to nip Modern by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

“He’s a very sound horse and is doing great,” said Henson. “I am just taking it one day at a time for now, though.”

If Square Dancer continues to thrive, he likely will make his next start in the $50,000 S. W. Randall Plate on Sept. 13. He is owned by the Hastings Racing Club, so he isn’t going out of town, and there really isn’t another option for Square Dancer at Hastings.

The 200 members of the Hastings Racing Club are living the dream. The club was formed with the idea of getting people who may be interested in horse ownership, but found it too costly or intimidating, to get involved. It cost $250 to become a member of the club, which was capped at 200 members this year.

Square Dancer and the other club-owned horse, Urban Achiever, were bought with marketing money left over from last year’s budget, which is controlled by the government-appointed B.C. Horse Racing Management Committee. The money the club members put up is used for training expenses, and anything left over after the current meet ends will be distributed among the members upon the dissolution of the club. The club will be reconstituted with a cap of 300 members for next year’s meet.

In his two starts at Hastings, Square Dancer has earned $68,750, so the members are guaranteed a nice return on their investment.

The members of the club were ecstatic when he won a $50,000 optional claimer in his first start for them July 18.

His previous win came in a $20,000 claiming race at Emerald Downs for trainer Mike Chambers on May 25. He was bought for an undisclosed sum after he finished third in a $25,000 claiming race at Emerald on June 21.

“Nobody would have thought he was going to turn out this good,” said Henson. “We were just hoping for a decent, high-priced claimer that would be competitive. He just loves this track, though. I think if he was running anywhere else, he would be a hard-knocking $16,000 or $20,000 claimer.”

For a brief moment, Henson thought that when Classic Sense clipped heels and went down in midstretch in the Redekop, it was Square Dancer. Earlier on the card, his 2-year-old Groot went down after clipping heels at the top of the stretch in the Nursery.

“I had lost sight of where Square Dancer was,” said Henson. “I knew he was coming from behind, and when I saw the horse go down, I thought it was him. As soon as I saw Scotty had him outside and he was rolling, I don’t think I could have yelled any louder. I was just thrilled. Talk about the ups and downs of racing. I was completely devastated when Groot went down. Luckily, he came back okay.”

Catz on Fire out for year

Trainer Barbara Heads said Catz On Fire is out for the year after sustaining an injury in the $50,000 Stellar’s Jay last Monday. Catz On Fire came from last to win the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds that was the last of six stakes on B.C. Cup Day.

“It’s a shame,” said Heads. “He was just coming around, and he looked like a legitimate B.C. Derby horse.”

Heads won the Grade 3 B.C. Derby with Halo Steven in 2006 and Majesticality in 2010.