Todd steps in with loan to keep meet going through August

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Thanks to owner-trainer Glen Todd, the Hastings meet will continue to at least Aug. 31. The meet is scheduled to run through Oct 25, but until Todd stepped in with a $1 million interest-free loan, there was not enough purse money to keep the meet going past Aug. 2.

“This is great news and the first step in extending our season into the fall,” said Dave Milburn, president of the local Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “Our thanks go to Glen for stepping up the plate.”

“There are a lot of people here who really care about the industry, including me,” said Todd. “I am just trying to do my part to keep things going.”

Milburn is hoping the government of British Columbia will chip in to help fund purses to the end of the meet.

“We continue to engage with government with the hope of a positive outcome,” said Milburn.

The government has denied previous requests for help for the industry. The HBPA is working with Harness Racing B.C. in lobbying the government. The groups are now talking to directly to the provincial premier’s office.

“All we need is a little assistance and we will get through 2021 and be able to see a bright future for 2022.” Said Nigel Holmes, Harness Racing B.C. executive director. “We are continuing to work hard to make the case with government for some form of assistance for both breeds so trainers and owners can plan the balance of 2021.”

Monday will be the first time since 2020 that fans will be allowed to attend the races. The casino at Hastings opened to half capacity on July 1, and there will be a limited number of fans allowed to watch the races ontrack.

“Including the casino, we are going to limit the amount of people on site to 500,” said Hastings general manager Michael Zerebeski. “We are opening Jerome’s [racebook] on race days, and people will be allowed on the tarmac. We’ll have mutuel machines open with tellers on hand and food services available.”

Zerebeski considers Monday just a start to moving to bigger and better things for racing fans.

“I’m feeling positive about opening more of the facility soon,” he said. “Right now, we are under an active review, which includes simulcasting. As more restrictions get lifted and we see a demand from our customers we will continue to move forward.”

Erlich might get up in time

If the seven-race card Monday looks familiar it is because it is the same seven races that were canceled last Tuesday due to the excessive heat that gripped the Vancouver area. As was the case going into the canceled card, there is a $65,689 carryover on the pick five. The jackpot wager begins on the third race.

The feature is a nonwinners-of-three allowance race for 3-year-olds and up. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew six horses and goes as race 5. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m. Pacific.

It might be worth taking a stab with Erlich in Monday’s feature.

The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Curlin has not lived up to the promise he displayed when he received a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his romp in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct in 2019. However, Erlich closed with a rush to finish third in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race for trainer Kim Kozak in his first start this year, and was very impressive in two subsequent workouts. He should also have a fast and contested pace to work with.

Erlich will break from post 4 with leading rider Efren Hernandez aboard.

Leading trainer Barbara Heads has solid chances with Cha Ching and Set to Shine. Cha Ching was an upset winner in her first start of the year, the same race Erlich exits.

Set to Shine romped in a $25,000 maiden claimer on June 14, and the 80 Beyer he received is the best last-race figure in the field.

The Mel Snow-trained Cascade Billy figures to attract a lot of support following his runner-up finish behind Cha Ching.

Sir Bregovic risks streak

Sir Bregovic will try to complete the hat trick in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race that will serve as Tuesday’s feature. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew five horses and includes claiming options of $35,000 for open horses and $43,500 for British Columbia-breds.

Trained by Jim Strachan, Sir Bregovic took them all the way in a $10,000 claimer for nonwinners of three on May 25, and duplicated the effort in a race with the same conditions as Tuesday’s feature.

In all of his six races, which include four wins, Sir Bregovic was ridden by Jose Sanchez. Sanchez will likely try to put Sir Bregovic on the lead Tuesday when he breaks from post 2.

Sir Bregovic will have to fend off the Mark Cloutier-trained Coulterberry, who should be rolling late as he tries to make amends for his loss as the odds-on favorite in the same race Sir Bregovic exits. The moderate pace Sir Bregovic set in the 6 1/2-furlong dash doomed any chance Coulterberry had. There is not a lot of other speed in the field, but Home Run Guy set honest fractions in his win in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race in his last start on Sept. 20, and being a fresh horse he figures to be on his toes early.