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Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-19, Page 21SECOND SECTION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1985 Sire Stakes . dates set Ontario's top horses and drivers wj1l visit the Clinton Raceway this summer on two race dates as part of' the Ontario Sires Stakes. June 23 and Aug. 11 have been set as Clinton's dates to host the OSS, a pro- gram designed for two and three-year-old pacers and Trotters. The Goderich Raceway will also feature two OSS 'races this season, one on July 18 and another on Sept. 5. The primary condition for eligibility of a horse for this program is that he, or she is sired by a stallion standing at stud in the province during the year of the foal's con- ception. Initiated in 1974, the OSS is somewhat of a self-help program, in which breeders and all the racetracks (there are 19 par- ticipating tracks in Ontario) contribute a portion of their operating funds towards the purse strructure. In 1984, the purses raced for in these stakes totalled more than $6 million, with nearly $500,000 being paid out to breeders of winning horses. The program, has done much to upgrade the calibre of Ontario race horses. In the early 1970's, Ontario -sired standardbreds just weren't up to world class levels and there was really no added incentive for a breeder to take his mare to an Ontario - based stallion. Money poured out of the province as Ontarians went to the USA, bought horses there, andbrought them back to race. Since the inception of OSS, 16 horses • have earned more than $100,000 in strictly OSS earnings in one season. The Clinton Race way will hold 14 races, all at the usual Sunday post time of 1:30 p.m. Races begin in June, on June 23 and i 30 and continue July 7, 14, 21 and 28; August 4, 11, 18 and 25; September 1, 8, 15 and 22. The weather was not bad enough to postpone opening day at the Clinton Raceway as the horses kept their feet firmly on the ground. The highlight of the day was the one mile Walter Oster Memorial Trot, held in memory of the well known man. (Anne Narejko photo) Raceway opens CLINTON Periodic downpours, thunder and light ning and a muddy track did not deter the riders during the Clinton Raceway's opening day on June 16. The weather conditions did hamper the horses performances but the 11 races went as scheduled. "It takes an awful lot of organizing to cancel the races," commented Clinton Raceway Secretary Toby Rainey. "It has to get a lot worse than it was before they will be cancelled." The grandstand was not filled, as one wonder expect on opening day, but consider- ing the weather conditions, a good number of spectators turned out. Results from the races are as follows: First Race Bold Face, driven by Ross Battin; Team Captain, driven by John Yake .Jr.; Londesboro Don, driven by Fred Maguire. Second Race Counteractor, driven by Donald. Windsor; DL's Hope, driven by Ross Battin; Willvan Duke, driven by Jack Radcliffe. Nor Lea Rob, driven by Robert Taylor; Moving Leroy, driven by Matthew Dupuis; Violas Woe, driven by Ross Battkin. ' Fourth Race True Blend, driven by Ross Battin; Pleasing Miss, driven by Doug Hopkins; Plain Rhody, driven by Matthew Dupuis. Fifth Race Winsome Blue, driven by Corbett; Vellas •TJ, driven by Greg Darnell; Sports Jan, driven by Ross Battin. Sixth Race Tina Willvan, driven by Greg Darnell; McRoan, driven by Ross Battin; Vanline Linda, driven by Forster. Seventh Race Baronal, driven by Robert Windsor; Lady Scarlet, driven by Randy Henry; Call Me, Mc, driven by Tammy Watt. Eighth Race Poppy Love, driven by Wayne Dupee; Shyloh Calypso, driven by Ross Battin; Beau Bodine, driven by Rick Wa'de. Turn to page 3A The crowd probably would have been larger had the weatherman co-operated with the Clinton Raceway on June 16, however, a fair number of spectators braved the elements. The heavy rain caused the track to be slow but the crowd enjoyed the races. ( Anne Nare jko photo) Horse racing is a safe bet Last year, 14 million people watched Canada's largest spectator sport. The athletes? Race horses. And, like other sports, there is continuing concern about the administration of illegal drugs. The race track division is responsible for regulating and supervising pari-mutuel bet- ting on horse races. A large part off that job involves drug control service and research. "burgs can, of course, alter a horse's race performance," explains Bud Toews, direc- tor of Agriculture Canada's race track divi- sion in Ottawa. "We protect the industry, and the betting public, by preventing the use of any medica- tion that may influence the outcome of a race," Mr. Toews said. This is not intended to prevent the legitimate use of drugs to treat horses who are injured or ill. Veterinary drugs on the market are assessed by a drug advisory committee, consisting of representative from the race track division, and the veterinarians' from the private sector. A horse is not permitted to be under the in- fluence of any drug found by this committee to alter -its race performance at race time. These are listed under the Race Track Supervision Regulations. "There are more than 700 substances listed in the schedule under the regulations. It is provided to . veterinarians and horsemen," Mr. Toews said. "The fact that a drug is listed in the schedule does not prohibit its use for medical treatment. But there is a warning to the user that sufficient time must have elapsed between administration of the drug and a race." Urine and blood samples are collected under the supervision of Agriculture Canada officials from selected horses, in- cluding the winner, following every race on which pari-mutuel betting takes place. These fire analyzed by one of three official laboratories approved by Agriculture Canada. "We check the samples for all drugs listed in the schedule. When a drug is detected by at least three separate tests, the sample is declared `positive', indicating an offence," explained Mr. Toews. The presiding judge or steward at the track is notified of this finding. The case is then turned over to the provincial racing commission. Penalties ranged from the loss of the purse and standing in the race to possible suspension and fines. Research into the use of drugs and their effect on race horses is conducted at the race track division's research farm in Jerseyville, Ontario. At this training facility, 12 horses are kept under conditions simulating a commercial racing stable.. The horses have' actual race experience and train on a 11alf-mile track. A veterinarian administers commercially available drugs in acceptable dosages. Blood and urine are collected at regular in- tervals and tested. "The information from this research helps us provide more effective drug control and improved detection techniques," com- mented Mr. Toews. This research also provides veterinarians, owners and trainers. better „information on how quickly drugs are eliminated once medication stops. This helps owners and trainers prevent the ac- cidental use of drugs too close to the day of the horse race. According to Mr. Toews, today's Cana- dian horse racing industry is competitive, exciting and honest. "Through our federal programs and the strong support of the industry, we are work- ing to keep. horse racing as one of the major spectator sports in Canada," said Mr. Toews. Recor.s set in Clinlon History has shown that when the Ontario Sires Stakes two-year-old pacing colts come to Clinton Raceway, speed records are made. Such was the case in 198;3 when Dunn- ville Scamp and driver Norm McKnight Jr. • rolled into town to perform a mile in 1:59.4/5, giving the Clinton oval one\of the fastest two-year-old track records of any half -mile track in Ontario. s year's group of two-year-old colts has 'etre shown substantial talent and top - class performers are promised for the Clin- ton fans on June 23. The fastest of the colts when they made their Ontario Sires Stakes debit recently at Windsor Raceway was Fella Dallas, a son of Dallas Almhurst Who stands at stud at Killeen Acres in Ingersoll for a •fee Of $2.500. Megens also trained the winner of another , OSS division winner at Windsor. Senor Ralph, a small but speedy' son of Senor Skip • - per from the good race mare Avon May Queen, won in 1:59.3/5. Roth Fella Dallas and Senor Ralph are owned by Ernie and Marion Spruce of.Rexdalc, Ont. Back To Basics, a son of Fundamentalist. owned by the Thames Lea Stables of Chatham, Ont.; won his Ont<:rio Sires Stakes' division at Windsor in 2:00.3/5. The colt was driven by Terry Kerr, a top Ontario driver who learned his early lessons at Clinton R aceway. Trained by 71 -year-old 'Levi "Jiggs" McFadden, who stables at I)resden Raceway, Back To Basics was purchased for $20,000'from his breeders Malcolm and Robert MacPhail of Dover Centre, Ont. McFadden, one of Ontario's most respected horsemen, said Back To Basics was "A tough colt to break. He was very mean when we started with him, hut he gives us hardly any trouble at all now." Some of the other possible starters at Clin ton include: Sea To Sea, a Super Wave colt from the always powerful Dave Wall stable, who has won at London this year and shows a lot of promise for owner Dr. George Boyce of London; Smoky Cedarwood, who finished second to Back To Basics at Windsor. He's a son of Smog trained by Jean Poulin for Lon- don owner Ray Twist; Armbro Elgin, an Armbro Omaha colt who finished third to Fella Dallas in Windsor for owner Helen Stollar of Don Mills. Armbro Elgin is train- ed by Ontario Jockey Club regular Kent ' Baker.