Times Advocate, 1994-8-24, Page 18Page 18
Times -.advocate, August 24, 1994
Sidelines
by
Fred
G roves
Wagering on
horses in
a new form
Post time in 10 minutes.
That's a familiar sound for
those who are regular goers of
the racc track.
For those who don't want to
travel to see the horses thunder
around the track, teletheatre va-
gering is what you may be look-
ing for.
"It's goingover exceptional.
They (race fans) don't have to
drive as far," said Jane Musser,
manager of the Colonial Hotel in
Grand Bend.
Teletheatre wagering has been
at Grand Bend since June and
there are facilities in Chatham,
Kincardine, London, Port Stan-
ley, Stratford and Tillsonburg
which offer the betting al-
ternati ve.
"They have a little better view-
ing. We have nine screens and
you're within six to 10 feet. You
only have to walk 20 feet to
bet," said Musser.
Simulcasting the races from
such places as Woodbine and
Mohawk raceways has brought a
much needed lift to the horse
racing industry.
While many still believe that
live racing is the way to enjoy
the sport, others want the con-
veinience of wagering nearby
without jumping in to the car, af-
terall there is no race track in
Grand Bend.
Myself, I kind of like going to
the track, having a hot dog and
watching the live racing. In Bar-
rie I used to go back to the barns
once in a while and that's where
a lot of the action goes on.
"We've had payouts of $2,500
and $3,500 right on the spot. It's
good for the industry," said
Musser.
Exeter and surrounding area
have many horse owners, train-
ers and drivers and what the tel-
etheatre wagering does is help
keep their jobs going.
Live racing at Western Fair
Raceway may be down about 15
per cent but betting for the
month of July was $1.6 million,
$100,000 better than a year ago.
In Grand Bend, teletheatre wa-
gering for the month of August
goes five days a week, there are
no races on Wednesdays and
Sundays, Post time is 7:30 p.m.
"It was supposed to start a
year ago but it was put on hold
by the government," said Mus-
ser.
The provincial government
seems to t e getting behind gam-
bling as the Sport Select lottery
is still going on despite the base-
ball strike but 1 wonder what
will happen if the NHL players
and the owners can't get along.
From the sidelinea:...Sara?I
Hamilton and Tracy Wilson,
who are part of the Exeter and
Area Ringette Association are
trying out for the London AAA
team. There are 75 girls trying to
make the team, which, so ru-
mours have it, will also double
as the western regional team.
Only 19 will make the team so
Doug Miners and the other
coaches have a big Job ahead of
them. The girls were in Seaforth
on the weekend for yet another
tryout session.
A
iwtagon
This Week in Sports...
• Golf roundup - page 19
• Racing continues - page 20
Gillespie lands U.S. scholarship
ZURICH - The village of Zurich continues to produce good base-
ball pitchers.
Sunday, 19 year-old Shawn Gillespie left for Warren, Michigan
where he will begin school and play baseball for Macomb Com-
munity College.
Classes start earlier than they do in Ontario post -secondary
schools. Gillespie, who is on a partial scholarship (he'll have his tui-
tion paid for) plans on taking history and political science.
Zurich natives Dan and Derek Masse were in Oklahoma last year
on scholarships.
Bcfore he left for London to play with the Royals of the Bluewater
Junior League on Friday he admitted he is looking forward to going
to Michigan.
"You play all year long. We practice indoors and play a fall (ex-
hibition) schedule. We have tryouts for three weeks. We go to Ar-
izona for two weeks and we'll got to Indiana and Illinois. The (regu-
lar) season starts in April."
This past summer he has been playing for the Royals which, al-
though have a structured league, don't really determine a champion,
it's who is ever in first place when the final out is made.
"I think we're in first place," said Gillespie who obviously has his
future on his mind. "We don't have playoffs, whoever wins, wins.
Most of the players are going to school."
The right-hander admits his fastball is his best pitch and hopes to
use it to catch the eye of some professional scouts like the Masse
brothers have done.
"There's been lots of scouts at our games," said Gillespie who ad-
mitted to having aspirations to play professional baseball.
Being spotted by Macomb College was not an easy feat. He be-
came a number instead of a name and that's how he was picked.
"At the beginning of the year I went to a rating service by Doyle
baseball."
With them he was given a number for identification. His statistics
went on a list and the college picked his number because they liked
the information they saw.
"You went and threw against a radar gun," described Gillespie.
"They evaluated you and they make a prediction of what you're go-
ing to be."
What this young man hopes to be is a pro ball player.
Express continue to prep for OBA tournament
Exeter's senior baseball team beat Byron 8-2 and London 3-2
EXETER - Preparing for their
trip to the Ontario Baseball As-
sociation 'D' championship tourna-
ment in Kendal, the Exeter Express
won a pair of senior men's baseball
games last week.
Tuesday, in Exeter, they dropped
Byron 9-2 and on Sunday, travelled
to London and squeaked out a slim
3-2 victory. The wins give the Ex-
press an overall record of 18-11.
Labour Day weekend they will be
in Kendal for the tournament and
are expected to take on either Har-
row or Woodslee in their opening
game on Saturday.
Against London, it was a 2-0
game for the hosts up until the top
of the eighth inning when Don
MacDonald, Rob Dickey, Scot Rus-
sell and Ron Elliott all had singles
to tie the score.
In the top of the tenth, Rick Boon
singled, stole second and scored the
winning run when Frcd Gregus had
a single.
Boon started on the mound for
the winners, striking out four and
walking two in the six innings he
worked. Dave Atthill came on in
the seventh and he allowed just
three hits.
Tuesday in Exeter, the Express
pounded out 11 hits as they scored
three runs in the first, two more in
the fourth and three runs in the
fifth.
Marty Merner led the offence
with a home run in the fourth while
Scot Davidson, Gregus and Atthill
each had two hits each. Exeter used
four pitchers as Atthill started fol-
lowed by Elliott, Gregus and Dav-
idson.
Atthill had one of his best outings .
of the season as he struck out eight,
gave up no walks and just two hits
over four innings.
Benefit game held in Lucan
Latest Leaf Mike Craig has always wanted to play in Toronto
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
LUCAN - The newest Toronto Maple Leaf was all smiles
before last Tuesday night's benefit hockey game between
NHL players and the Grand Bend OPP.
Thomdale's Mike Craig recently signed a three-year con-
tract with the Leafs and in another week he'll be off to
training camp with a team that looks as though it is in a re-
building stage.
"It's been a thrill for me to be able to play for the Leafs,"
said Craig before the game, held in Lucan in front of over
700 fans. "It was a dream just to play in the NHL."
Craig, picked 28th overall in the 1989 draft by then Min-
nesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars), had 50 points last
year, his third with the Stars.
The Leafs have said goodbye to several veterans in-
cluding the popular Wendel Clark, Bob Rouse and Peter
Zezel. After being contenders the last couple of years, it's
time to work at getting the right combination.
"I won't look like the odd ball. There will be three or four
new faces. They're looking for young guys," said Craig.
He brings a lot of experience to the Leafs including play-
ing left wing with Eric Lindros in Oshawa with the Gener-
als where they won a Memorial Cup national champion-
ship. Craig was also a member of two world Junior gold
medal winning teams.
NHL commissioner Gary Beaman recently tried to shock
the players to get them back to a negotiating meeting as
their is no collective bargaining agreement.
Among his 16 operational changes are eliminating meal
allowances, having players pay for their own way to train-
ing camp, reducing roster sizes and making it mandatory
for players to take part in community service, like the OPP
benefit game.
Craig doesn't feel that doing community work is a man-
datory thing as most players enjoy doing it.
"There are a few going on," he said of benefit games.
"They're real good charities. You don't even hesitate to give
an answer."
Few surprises: Tuesday's game was called The Great
Southwest Chinook II and, although it was for a good
cause, it didn't offer the entertainment it did last year.
A year ago, at the Stephen Township Arena, there were
gags with the Hunter brothers and Benguin the Penguin. In
Lucan, other than a fake injury to OPP officer Dave De -
Boer it was just a game of shinny.
Referee Don VanMassenhoven, about to begin his first
full year in the NHL, was put in the penalty box by lines-
men Scott Driscoll and Greg Devorski.
OPP goalie J.J. Arseneau who is part of the Grand Bend
OPP detachment said the benefit game not only helps raise
funds for the parks and recreation department but gives the
police the opportunity to meet the public.
"It's a good chance for us to meet the public as part of
Nearly 700 fans tumed out
for last Tuesday night's bene-
fit game In Lucan. At left; To-
ronto Maple Leafs Mike Craig
(left); chats with John McIn-
tyre of the Vancouver Ca-
nucks. Above right; NHL refer-
ee Don VanMassenhoven Is
led to the penalty box by
linesmen Greg Devorski and
Scott Driscoll. Below, Dave
Gagne of the Dallas Stars
greets young fans. Over
$2,000 was raised at the
event.
community policing. Last year we (OPP) had kids asking
us for autographs," said Arseneau.
Funds raised went to a park and to help the lifeguards by
much needed equipment_
"We're putting this on to finish what we started last year,
to finish the renovations to the children's park."
After he let in four NHL goals, he was sent down to the
other end of the rink and Jordan Willis of the London
Knights came to tend goal for the OPP,
Arseneau made a few good stops during the game in-
cluding taking one hard shot off the shoulder. He admitted
doing a little homework before Tuesday's game.
"1 sat behind Jeff Ressc (at a benefit game hosted by the
Hunter brothers) and I said 'oh my', I'm going to be crip-
pled. I can't react to all the quick shots."
While the OPP were sitting on the bcnch they turned
around and signed autographs. On the other side of the are-
na, Dave Gagne spent most of the intermission inking his
name.
Pat Verbeck of the Hartford Whalers spent several min-
utes before the game signing autographs to a room full of
greatful young players who were just coming off an ice ses-
sion.
The scoreboard flashed 10-9 win for the OPP but it was a
fun game as all the players had a chance to shoot on Willis
and Arsencau in a shootout.
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