Fraser Downs barn area will be hosting an open house on Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 9:30am to 2pm. There will be barn tours and opportunities to pat a horse and talk to the people who work in the backstretch. There will be cart rides and a BBQ and they usually have contests going on to win small prizes like baseball caps or other Fraser Downs merchandise.
Saturday is forecast to be a nice day so come out and meet some Standardbred racehorses and the people who love the horse racing industry.
The barn area is at 17740 62nd Avenue. You get to it off 176th Street, turn at the lights and drive almost all the way down the road. Its better to park across the street in the big parking lot next to the red Agriplex barn instead of trying to find a spot in the backstretch parking lot.
Showing posts with label Standardbred. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Standardbred. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Fraser Downs Barn Tours and Open House August 10, 2013
Fraser Downs is having an open house in the barn area on Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 9:30am to 2pm.
The backstretch area is located at 17740 - 62 Ave in Cloverdale. Take 176th Street, turn east down 62nd Avenue. There's traffic lights there and the Cloverdale Rec Centre is on the corner. Drive down until you see the red barns on the right side of the road. The left side is also a red barn, the Agriplex, and has nothing to do with Fraser Downs, but its probably easier to park in their parking lot and walk across the street.
The open house has tours of the barn area given by some of the people who work with the Standardbred racehorses. There is a free lunch as well.
Even though it says the open house/barn tours start at 9:30am I would say arrive later on. They are holding qualifying races on Saturday morning for the coming racing season that starts on August 17 and I don't think they'll be finished that early. The barn area will be a fluster of activity with horse, sulky, driver teams going back and forth to the track and the various barn workers getting their work done. The barn tours won't start until its safe for people to be moving around those areas. We've arrived as late as 11am in the past and the barn tours were just getting ready to start. Take a tour and learn what goes into getting a horse ready to race.
As for the free lunch, last year it was hot dogs on a BBQ. Previous years its been put together your own sandwiches and salads. No notice what the lunch will be this year.
The backstretch area is located at 17740 - 62 Ave in Cloverdale. Take 176th Street, turn east down 62nd Avenue. There's traffic lights there and the Cloverdale Rec Centre is on the corner. Drive down until you see the red barns on the right side of the road. The left side is also a red barn, the Agriplex, and has nothing to do with Fraser Downs, but its probably easier to park in their parking lot and walk across the street.
The open house has tours of the barn area given by some of the people who work with the Standardbred racehorses. There is a free lunch as well.
Even though it says the open house/barn tours start at 9:30am I would say arrive later on. They are holding qualifying races on Saturday morning for the coming racing season that starts on August 17 and I don't think they'll be finished that early. The barn area will be a fluster of activity with horse, sulky, driver teams going back and forth to the track and the various barn workers getting their work done. The barn tours won't start until its safe for people to be moving around those areas. We've arrived as late as 11am in the past and the barn tours were just getting ready to start. Take a tour and learn what goes into getting a horse ready to race.
As for the free lunch, last year it was hot dogs on a BBQ. Previous years its been put together your own sandwiches and salads. No notice what the lunch will be this year.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Excerpt from Horseman Spell by Cheryl Rhodes
“Ladies,” greeted Bob. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Scott.”
Pam had put her hand out to shake the newcomer’s, but snapped it back to her side as if it had been burned. Scott wheeled to face her.
“You!” Pam backed up a step.
“You!” The accusation in his tone cut off and filled the room with an awkward silence.
They stood motionless glaring at each other.
“I, uh, take it you’ve already met.” Bob cleared his throat and twirled the beer bottle in his hands.
Scott set his bottle down on the fireplace mantel and Pam scurried to the front hall. She grabbed her coat from the closet and curled her fingers around the front door’s handle.
“Don’t leave on my account,” the sarcastic voice behind her mocked.“I’ll go.”
Looking over her shoulder, Pam saw Joanne and Bob frozen in the doorway of the living room. They looked dismayed, but she couldn’t deal with them now when they only thing on her mind was putting some distance between her and Scott. She gripped the doorknob tighter, turned it, and marched out of the house. Hearing Scott’s footsteps close behind, she quickened her pace, reached the car and fumbled for the keys.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Forget it. Nothing you have to say interests me.” Pam tugged her car door open and slid into the driver’s seat. Before she could slam the door, Scott maneuvered his body between the open door and the driver’s seat. He braced his hands on the roof of her car and used his body to prevent her from closing the door. Pam desperately fought not to notice his thigh muscles bulged against his blue jeans as he flexed against the door at her eye level.
“You need to hear this.” Scott slapped the roof of her car once.
Pam raised her eyes and his dark eyes stared back into hers. Frown lines wrinkled his forehead and he scowled at her. Pam swallowed, remembering how many times she’d seen that expression before.
“Leave me alone or I’ll scream so loud I’ll have every person within five miles running to help me.”
“When are you going to grow up?”
They glared at each other. Scott bent down, his mouth drawn into a hard, thin line, his face getting closer to Pam’s. She pulled the seatbelt out, clicked it into place, turned away to put the key in the ignition, and started the car. Scott backed away from the car, palms toward her as if he were trying to ward her off. Just before Pam slammed the door shut, she heard him say, “You can’t avoid me forever.”
Buy links:
Musa Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Horseman Spell is available through other online booksellers and on iTunes.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Release Day for Horseman Spell!
My romance novel Horseman Spell is available today!
Your pace or mine?
The story takes place around Cloverdale but the settings are all fictional. We don't have forests and hills with riding trails. And there are no hobby farms around town. Though there used to be on 181A and 182 Street and points further east through to 192 Street when I was growing up.
Blurb:
Excerpt:
Musa Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Barnes & Noble
Horseman Spell is available through other online booksellers and on iTunes.
Your pace or mine?
The story takes place around Cloverdale but the settings are all fictional. We don't have forests and hills with riding trails. And there are no hobby farms around town. Though there used to be on 181A and 182 Street and points further east through to 192 Street when I was growing up.
Blurb:
Pam never expected to be spending time at the racetrack again, but a romantic connection with Scott – her new next door neighbor and ex-boyfriend’s brother – throws her back into the exciting world of horseracing.
Dealing with trips to the racetrack, mysterious phone calls, unknown late night visitors, and an unexplained light appearing upon the hill, the tranquil farm life Pam loves has been turned upside down ever since Scott moved in.If Pam’s life hadn’t already become chaotic enough, her relationship with Scott is threatened when his brother, Lyle, returns to town.
Excerpt:
“Ladies,” greeted Bob. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Scott.”
Pam had put her hand out to shake the newcomer’s, but snapped it back to her side as if it had been burned. Scott wheeled to face her.
“You!” Pam backed up a step.
“You!” The accusation in his tone cut off and filled the room with an awkward silence.
They stood motionless glaring at each other.
“I, uh, take it you’ve already met.” Bob cleared his throat and twirled the beer bottle in his hands.
Scott set his bottle down on the fireplace mantel and Pam scurried to the front hall. She grabbed her coat from the closet and curled her fingers around the front door’s handle.
“Don’t leave on my account,” the sarcastic voice behind her mocked. “I’ll go.”
Looking over her shoulder, Pam saw Joanne and Bob frozen in the doorway of the living room. They looked dismayed, but she couldn’t deal with them now when they only thing on her mind was putting some distance between her and Scott. She gripped the doorknob tighter, turned it, and marched out of the house. Hearing Scott’s footsteps close behind, she quickened her pace, reached the car and fumbled for the keys.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Forget it. Nothing you have to say interests me.” Pam tugged her car door open and slid into the driver’s seat. Before she could slam the door, Scott maneuvered his body between the open door and the driver’s seat. He braced his hands on the roof of her car and used his body to prevent her from closing the door. Pam desperately fought not to notice his thigh muscles bulged against his blue jeans as he flexed against the door at her eye level.
“You need to hear this.” Scott slapped the roof of her car once.
Pam raised her eyes and his dark eyes stared back into hers. Frown lines wrinkled his forehead and he scowled at her. Pam swallowed, remembering how many times she’d seen that expression before.
“Leave me alone or I’ll scream so loud I’ll have every person within five miles running to help me.”
“When are you going to grow up?”
They glared at each other. Scott bent down, his mouth drawn into a hard, thin line, his face getting closer to Pam’s. She pulled the seatbelt out, clicked it into place, turned away to put the key in the ignition, and started the car. Scott backed away from the car, palms toward her as if he were trying to ward her off. Just before Pam slammed the door shut, she heard him say, “You can’t avoid me forever.”
Buy links:Musa Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Barnes & Noble
Horseman Spell is available through other online booksellers and on iTunes.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Barn Tours and Open House at Fraser Downs Saturday August 11, 2012
Come to the backstretch of Fraser Downs for a free tour of the barn area and lunch on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Barn tours start around 10:30am and you get to meet some of the trainers and racehorses while following your guide around the backstretch. They are running qualifying races for the Standardbred horses in the morning and if they're late the start time for the tours will be delayed.
Lunch will be served from 11:30am to 1:30pm. I hear they will be barbecuing hamburgers.
Open house ends at 2pm.
Best way to get to the backstretch is head down 176th Street to 62nd Avenue and drive east. There are traffic lights there and the rec centre is on the corner and the red barn to the Agriplex is down the road. The best place to park is in the parking lot next to the Agriplex. The parking lot for the barn area across the street is probably already full of cars of the backstretch employees. Just walk across the street and sign up for a tour and enter to win prizes.
Barn tours start around 10:30am and you get to meet some of the trainers and racehorses while following your guide around the backstretch. They are running qualifying races for the Standardbred horses in the morning and if they're late the start time for the tours will be delayed.
Lunch will be served from 11:30am to 1:30pm. I hear they will be barbecuing hamburgers.
Open house ends at 2pm.
Best way to get to the backstretch is head down 176th Street to 62nd Avenue and drive east. There are traffic lights there and the rec centre is on the corner and the red barn to the Agriplex is down the road. The best place to park is in the parking lot next to the Agriplex. The parking lot for the barn area across the street is probably already full of cars of the backstretch employees. Just walk across the street and sign up for a tour and enter to win prizes.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Latest Novel Horseman Spell coming soon!
Here's the cover of my latest novel Horseman Spell coming soon from Musa Publishing! My novel takes place in a fictitious area near Cloverdale and the characters are all pure fiction too. If you like romance novels, horses, or Standardbred horseracing this novel has a little bit of everything.Sunday, June 3, 2012
Ringer by Cheryl Rhodes
Do you recognize the breed of racehorse in this picture?
If you don't recognize the breed of horse that races pulling a sulky and driver, keep reading below. The excerpt of my novel Ringer has the answer.
Never bet on an imposter!
“How do you suggest we get your horse off the track? Someone is going to see you and the horse walking out.”
“Drive up to Barn Three. I’ll duck down so no one sees me. Are the cops still there?”
“I can’t see them. They parked on the other side by the grandstand and walked over, so they might still be in the barns.”
Holly glanced at her passenger who was trying to crumple his large frame sideways, his head nearly in her lap. “Which side of Barn Three?”
“Left side and stop at the middle door.”
Holly drove through the unguarded gates. “The guy who manages the racetrack, his car is still here.”
“Johnson’s a jerk.”
She pulled the truck up to the barn’s side entrance, turned off the engine, and looked down at Matt.
“Okay, when you go in, turn to your right. She’s in the second stall down and wearing a halter with ‘Meadow Prancer’ engraved on it. Grab any lead shank. I’ve got them hanging all over the place.”
“What do you mean, I’m getting your horse? You want to bring her, you go on in there and get her yourself.”
“Holly, someone tried to kill me. What if they’re hanging around waiting for me to come back?”
“Why don’t you just tell the police who they are? And I doubt they’re hanging around with the cops crawling all over the place.”
“Please? I don’t want anyone to see me and know I’m out of the hospital.”
“What if someone sees me and I get arrested for attempted horse theft?”
“Not going to happen. Trust me. Please, just go on and get my mare.”
The man could talk a dog out of a big, meaty soup bone. He had a gentle persuasion that was impossible for horses and women to resist. Holly rolled her eyes and strode to the back of the trailer to let down the tailgate ramp. Scooby nickered softly and turned to look at her.
“Sorry, boy, you’re not coming out. You’re getting a passenger in a minute.”
Holly entered the dim barn, lit with only a couple of low-watt bulbs. She saw the main light switch but didn’t flick it on. If the police were still on the backstretch, she didn’t want to attract attention to herself and the removal of one Standardbred racehorse. Holly smelled the sweet aroma of alfalfa and listened to crackling straw as horses rustled softly in the stalls and poked their heads out to see the late visitor. She moved quickly to the second stall, read the horse’s name, Meadow Prancer, snapped on the lead shank, and unlatched the stall door.
“Come on girl,” she whispered, and the sleek, bay horse willingly followed. She walked the horse out the barn door and turned to her trailer.
“Stop right there!”
This is a picture of a Standardbred horse warming up before a race at Fraser Downs racetrack in Cloverdale, British Columbia. The same breed as featured in my novel Ringer.
Ringer is available as an electronic book. To purchase a copy of Ringer, click on one of the buy links below. Its also available on the iTunes bookstore and other online booksellers that might not be listed here. The Amazon link has a sneak peek at the first chapter and part of the second chapter.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Musa Publishing Memorial Day Blog Hop and Contest
Welcome to the Musa Publishing Memorial Day Blog Hop!
Although this is not a holiday we celebrate in Canada, it is recognized in the United States this year on Monday, May 28, 2012. I would like to thank all the military forces in Canada, the USA, and all other countries for their participation in peace keeping duties in other parts of the world where civil unrest exists.
I never met my mother's father. My grandfather passed away before I was born. He was a doctor and he served in the British Army in World War One. He rode a horse onto the battlefield to assist wounded soldiers and he lost a leg in the war. He didn't pass on his riding skills to my mother who was always scared of horses and didn't want to get too close to them.
However I have loved horses ever since I was a little girl and have owned horses for most of my life - the advantage of growing up in Cloverdale when it was still a rural community and our neighbor across the road on 182 Street owned 10 acres where I kept my first horse Duchess.
I watched the racetrack get started in Cloverdale for Standardbred racehorses. The track was first called the Cloverdale Raceway and is now known as Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino. I was very interested in Standardbreds as a riding horse, not as a racehorse, and in 1982 I purchased my first Standardbred - a wonderful gelding named Mark. He was the best horse I ever owned. Quiet, loving, well behaved, and always willing to hit the trails.
Here's a picture I took of Mark just after I bought him. He was lying down in the field so I brought his grain out to him so he could have breakfast in bed. 
Here's Lucky a few months after I bought him.
I always liked reading books with horses in them. Romances, mysteries, comedies, ranchers, cowboys, horse racing books - I read as many as I could get hold of. I never was able to find a romance that had Standardbred horses so I decided I should write one.
My romantic mystery novel Ringer was recently published with Musa Publishing as an electronic book. My ebook is available in formats for all ereaders, including iPads, or as a PDF document to read on a computer.
A horse who is a dead ringer for a missing racehorse. A missing cousin whose body was never found. An attempted murder. Is anything what it seems? Holly Thompson is drawn into the middle of ths puzzle when she rescues sexy horse trainer Matt Winter and flees with him and the look-a-like horse.
Holly and Matt follow the clues from British Columbia to Matt's home in Oregon to a horserace in California, trying to find who is behind the horse-swapping scheme. Matt didn't count on losing his heart to a feisty woman who can saddle her own horse and hotwire a truck. And Holly has done the unthinkable: fallen in love with a horseman, something she vowed she'd never do. Is Matt a wealthy racehorse owner or just another backstretch con artist, cheating on horses and women? And will he ride to her rescue when they unravel the mystery of the ringer?
If you'd like to read the first chapter of Ringer, please click here to go to D. Renee Bagby's blog for a sneak peek. There is a warning that you will be entering an adult content site because it contains first chapters and cover photos of romance novels that range from sweet to wild and hot. The first chapter of Ringer does not contain any adult content.
I am holding a contest over the Memorial Day long weekend for a lucky reader to win a copy of my ebook Ringer. You can enter my contest two ways:
1. Leave a comment on my Memorial Day Blog Hop. If you are the winner I'll need a way to contact you so if your Blogger profile doesn't include a link to your email or if you are posting anonymously, please leave your name and contact email in the comments section.
2. You can friend me on Facebook. On the right hand side of this page, scroll up a little until you see a photo of Lucky near the bottom of my archived articles. There is my Facebook badge. Click on that or click here. I will have to accept your friend request and then you can leave a message on my wall asking to be entered into the ebook contest.
Deadline for contest entries is midnight Monday May 28, 2012. I will be drawing a winner on Tuesday May 29, 2012. Good luck!
If you'd like to purchase a copy of Ringer, it is available through Musa Publishing and other online booksellers including iTunes and Amazon.
Ringer is also available to check out at your local library in the United States and Canada. If your library doesn't have a copy yet, ask your librarian to order one through their Overdrive system so they can add Ringer to their ebook collection.
Other Musa Publishing authors are holding contests this weekend for free copies of their ebooks. Continue on the blog hop by clicking the link below and choosing another blog to visit.
Thank you for stopping by!
Although this is not a holiday we celebrate in Canada, it is recognized in the United States this year on Monday, May 28, 2012. I would like to thank all the military forces in Canada, the USA, and all other countries for their participation in peace keeping duties in other parts of the world where civil unrest exists.
I never met my mother's father. My grandfather passed away before I was born. He was a doctor and he served in the British Army in World War One. He rode a horse onto the battlefield to assist wounded soldiers and he lost a leg in the war. He didn't pass on his riding skills to my mother who was always scared of horses and didn't want to get too close to them.
However I have loved horses ever since I was a little girl and have owned horses for most of my life - the advantage of growing up in Cloverdale when it was still a rural community and our neighbor across the road on 182 Street owned 10 acres where I kept my first horse Duchess.
I watched the racetrack get started in Cloverdale for Standardbred racehorses. The track was first called the Cloverdale Raceway and is now known as Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino. I was very interested in Standardbreds as a riding horse, not as a racehorse, and in 1982 I purchased my first Standardbred - a wonderful gelding named Mark. He was the best horse I ever owned. Quiet, loving, well behaved, and always willing to hit the trails.
Here's a picture I took of Mark just after I bought him. He was lying down in the field so I brought his grain out to him so he could have breakfast in bed.
In fact I liked this picture so much I commissioned a charcoal drawing of it.
And here is Mark a few years later getting ready to go for a ride.
A few years after Mark passed away another Standardbred came into my life rather by accident. I was at an auction house in Langley and couldn't bear to let this poor Standardbred end up in the hands of a meat buyer so I shelled out $50 and took Lucky home with me. That was nearly 10 years ago and my big boy is still doing great. Another wonderful trail horse Lucky is the first horse I've ever owned who actually looks out for his rider and makes sure to give trees a wide berth so his rider never bangs a leg on to them.
Here's Lucky a few months after I bought him.
And here I am with Lucky at a Standardbred horse show in 2008.
I always liked reading books with horses in them. Romances, mysteries, comedies, ranchers, cowboys, horse racing books - I read as many as I could get hold of. I never was able to find a romance that had Standardbred horses so I decided I should write one.
My romantic mystery novel Ringer was recently published with Musa Publishing as an electronic book. My ebook is available in formats for all ereaders, including iPads, or as a PDF document to read on a computer.
A horse who is a dead ringer for a missing racehorse. A missing cousin whose body was never found. An attempted murder. Is anything what it seems? Holly Thompson is drawn into the middle of ths puzzle when she rescues sexy horse trainer Matt Winter and flees with him and the look-a-like horse.
Holly and Matt follow the clues from British Columbia to Matt's home in Oregon to a horserace in California, trying to find who is behind the horse-swapping scheme. Matt didn't count on losing his heart to a feisty woman who can saddle her own horse and hotwire a truck. And Holly has done the unthinkable: fallen in love with a horseman, something she vowed she'd never do. Is Matt a wealthy racehorse owner or just another backstretch con artist, cheating on horses and women? And will he ride to her rescue when they unravel the mystery of the ringer?
If you'd like to read the first chapter of Ringer, please click here to go to D. Renee Bagby's blog for a sneak peek. There is a warning that you will be entering an adult content site because it contains first chapters and cover photos of romance novels that range from sweet to wild and hot. The first chapter of Ringer does not contain any adult content.
I am holding a contest over the Memorial Day long weekend for a lucky reader to win a copy of my ebook Ringer. You can enter my contest two ways:
1. Leave a comment on my Memorial Day Blog Hop. If you are the winner I'll need a way to contact you so if your Blogger profile doesn't include a link to your email or if you are posting anonymously, please leave your name and contact email in the comments section.
2. You can friend me on Facebook. On the right hand side of this page, scroll up a little until you see a photo of Lucky near the bottom of my archived articles. There is my Facebook badge. Click on that or click here. I will have to accept your friend request and then you can leave a message on my wall asking to be entered into the ebook contest.
Deadline for contest entries is midnight Monday May 28, 2012. I will be drawing a winner on Tuesday May 29, 2012. Good luck!
If you'd like to purchase a copy of Ringer, it is available through Musa Publishing and other online booksellers including iTunes and Amazon.
Ringer is also available to check out at your local library in the United States and Canada. If your library doesn't have a copy yet, ask your librarian to order one through their Overdrive system so they can add Ringer to their ebook collection.
Other Musa Publishing authors are holding contests this weekend for free copies of their ebooks. Continue on the blog hop by clicking the link below and choosing another blog to visit.
Thank you for stopping by!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I'm happy to announce that my novel Ringer will be available on April 13 2012, published by Musa Publishing.Don't bet on an imposter!
When Holly and Matt come into possession of a Standardbred racehorse and the ringer horse that’s been racing in its place in an elaborate scheme to manipulate the wagering odds, the race is on to stay one length ahead of the horse’s former owners who will stop at nothing to ensure a big pay day at the track.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Horse racing tonight
Fraser Downs racetrack is starting up again for the season after 6 months off. Tonight, October 7 2011, the first race starts at 7pm and the last race winds up around 10pm.
There is no racing on Saturday but the Standardbreds will be running again on Sunday October 9.
There is no racing on Saturday but the Standardbreds will be running again on Sunday October 9.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Barn Tour at Fraser Downs this Saturday September 24 2011
If you like horses and Standardbred racing you might be interested in the open house at the Fraser Downs backstretch this Saturday September 24 2011. Address is 17740 62 Avenue. You get there from 176th Street. Turn east bound on 62nd Avenue and follow it along till nearly the end. There is a parking lot at the backstretch on the right hand side. That said it is usually packed full of cars and horse trailers from the people who work in the barn. Might be easier to park across the street at the Agriplex parking lot.
Barn tours start at 10:30am. Or thereabouts. They were late starting the tours last year because they waited until the qualifying races had finished when there'd be less horse and sulky traffic jams around the barns. I'm not sure what time the last tour goes, maybe noon or one. They close the backstretch at 2pm so to be safe you want to be there no later than noon to get on a tour. They have about 15 people or so in a tour and several backstretch employees leading the tours.
There is a lunch between 11:30am and 1:30pm. Last year it was sandwiches that you put together yourself, salads, pickles, and cake. Very nicely done and easily set up for the guests and backstretch workers to help themselves and enjoy.
Barn tours start at 10:30am. Or thereabouts. They were late starting the tours last year because they waited until the qualifying races had finished when there'd be less horse and sulky traffic jams around the barns. I'm not sure what time the last tour goes, maybe noon or one. They close the backstretch at 2pm so to be safe you want to be there no later than noon to get on a tour. They have about 15 people or so in a tour and several backstretch employees leading the tours.
There is a lunch between 11:30am and 1:30pm. Last year it was sandwiches that you put together yourself, salads, pickles, and cake. Very nicely done and easily set up for the guests and backstretch workers to help themselves and enjoy.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
BCLocalNews.com - Horsemen step up pressure to extend racing season at Fraser Downs
Just thought I'd share this link for anyone who is not aware that the horseracing at Fraser Downs was cut back to 6 months of the year. I rarely go to the races, less often than once a year, so I would hardly call myself a supporter of the racetrack, but I thought this was important enough to mention and if anyone is in any of the local stores that have the petition to sign it and help out. Its the job loss that concerns me plus what might happen to all the horses. Many of these people have been working in the racing industry for most of their lives. They have no other job skills and would likely have a very difficult time finding a job anywhere except for some high turnover minimum wage type jobs. Hopefully things will get better for these people soon. BCLocalNews.com - Horsemen step up pressure to extend racing season at Fraser Downs
Monday, April 26, 2010
Future of Cloverdale grandstand
These days the Cloverdale grandstand in the fairgrounds is a far cry from the grandstand that I knew as a kid. Today it is the home of Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino. The casino came into being in late 2003 after the racetrack and many of the backstretch workers petitioned city hall to allow slot machines to help revive the sagging racing industry. Over the next two years the grandstand was revamped into the casino that stands on the fairgrounds today.
But how much life is left in it?
Although the casino has helped the racing keep its head above water, the reality is that wagering is down 10% from the past year and customers have found other venues for sporting entertainment. Purses are dropping, there are fewer race nights, and horse owners are earning less. Many are getting out of the business or relocating to other racetracks where they have a better chance of earning a living.
I've heard that Fraser Downs wants to open a show theatre on the grounds, similar to the Red Robinson theatre in Coquitlam or the River Rock in Richmond. The entertainers that frequent these theatres usually do both of them over a few day period, such as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, and Air Supply. They would need to build the theatre on part of the racetrack ground. Probably be a bigger money earner that the end result between the wagers currently placed and the purse money paid out to the racehorse owners.
There are also grumblings from the provincial government in charge of gaming in BC about combining Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing onto the same racetrack because both breeds run about 6 months of the year, during the opposite months. Thoroughbreds race April to October, while Standardbreds race October to April. Sometimes with a few cross over weekends. The government said this will likely occur within the next 2 years. Between the racetracks in Cloverdale and Vancouver, the government prefers Vancouver - Hastings Park located on the PNE grounds.
More surprisingly the government says if all the horse racing is moved to Hastings Park, then the slot machines at Cloverdale will be relocated to the Great Canadian Casino's other location in Surrey.
So that leaves Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino without horse racing and without slot machines. What else is left there? No one's going to convince me they'll still build a show theatre without an attached casino to draw patrons in.
Were all the upgrades to the original grandstand worth it for what could very well be less than ten years of actual use? I haven't heard any news on what the fate of the old grandstand will be if the Standardbreds move to Hastings and the slots are moved to the other casino.
But how much life is left in it?
Although the casino has helped the racing keep its head above water, the reality is that wagering is down 10% from the past year and customers have found other venues for sporting entertainment. Purses are dropping, there are fewer race nights, and horse owners are earning less. Many are getting out of the business or relocating to other racetracks where they have a better chance of earning a living.
I've heard that Fraser Downs wants to open a show theatre on the grounds, similar to the Red Robinson theatre in Coquitlam or the River Rock in Richmond. The entertainers that frequent these theatres usually do both of them over a few day period, such as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, and Air Supply. They would need to build the theatre on part of the racetrack ground. Probably be a bigger money earner that the end result between the wagers currently placed and the purse money paid out to the racehorse owners.
There are also grumblings from the provincial government in charge of gaming in BC about combining Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing onto the same racetrack because both breeds run about 6 months of the year, during the opposite months. Thoroughbreds race April to October, while Standardbreds race October to April. Sometimes with a few cross over weekends. The government said this will likely occur within the next 2 years. Between the racetracks in Cloverdale and Vancouver, the government prefers Vancouver - Hastings Park located on the PNE grounds.
More surprisingly the government says if all the horse racing is moved to Hastings Park, then the slot machines at Cloverdale will be relocated to the Great Canadian Casino's other location in Surrey.
So that leaves Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino without horse racing and without slot machines. What else is left there? No one's going to convince me they'll still build a show theatre without an attached casino to draw patrons in.
Were all the upgrades to the original grandstand worth it for what could very well be less than ten years of actual use? I haven't heard any news on what the fate of the old grandstand will be if the Standardbreds move to Hastings and the slots are moved to the other casino.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The old horse barns at the Cloverdale fairgrounds
There used to be a couple of horse barns in the east end of the parking lot at the Cloverdale fairgrounds. Partway inbetween the casino/grandstand and Greenaway Park.
People boarded horses in the stalls in the 60's and early 70's. All breeds of horses. There were two barns and one of them had an indoor arena. In fact if you look closely at the east end of the fairgrounds parking lot at some of the mounds where bushes and flowers have been planted, these are the foundations of the old horse barns. I guess they couldn't do too much else with them other than build them up and turn them into garden medians.
There used to be horse playdays held here on the weekends. At least once a month while I was growing up. Being horse crazy, I often walked down here to watch the games, wishing I had a horse and could enter the games. I guess by the time I got my first horse playdays were a thing of the past.
Once the Standardbred racehorses came to Cloverdale in the mid-70's, they were allotted the barns for stabling their horses. This was kind of the overflow barn. The majority of horses were stabled in the big red barns that are still standing in the backstretch area of the racetrack.
In December 1982 I came down to meet a racehorse whose career was ending and the owners wanted him to go to a good home. He was stabled in the overflow barns and that is where I met Mark. He'd had people sit on his back but wasn't really broke to saddle. It didn't matter. I fell in love with the gentle giant. The owners had a riding bridle they put on him and we led him to the dirt arena that was attached to the barn. The seller gave me a leg up and I rode him bareback around the arena. He was perfect. And two days later Mark Missile belonged to me and I moved him to his new boarding stable.
I don't remember exactly when the old barns were dismantled. They were still up and stabling Standardbred racehorses in the late 80's. They were down by the time the racetrack made renovations in the early 90's. I guess there wasn't much else they could do. There was no security in those barns. Anyone walking in from 60th Avenue had access to the barns and the horses inside. There are sick people out there who could potentially harm or steal a horse.
There is the Agriplex at the back of the racetrack, from 62nd Avenue, that is an indoor arena where horse shows and other events are held today. But unfortunately there is no stabling for horses. With the population growth around Cloverdale and many potential horse owners in the vicinity, a horse boarding operation would probably prove to be very profitable for the city.
People boarded horses in the stalls in the 60's and early 70's. All breeds of horses. There were two barns and one of them had an indoor arena. In fact if you look closely at the east end of the fairgrounds parking lot at some of the mounds where bushes and flowers have been planted, these are the foundations of the old horse barns. I guess they couldn't do too much else with them other than build them up and turn them into garden medians.
There used to be horse playdays held here on the weekends. At least once a month while I was growing up. Being horse crazy, I often walked down here to watch the games, wishing I had a horse and could enter the games. I guess by the time I got my first horse playdays were a thing of the past.
Once the Standardbred racehorses came to Cloverdale in the mid-70's, they were allotted the barns for stabling their horses. This was kind of the overflow barn. The majority of horses were stabled in the big red barns that are still standing in the backstretch area of the racetrack.
In December 1982 I came down to meet a racehorse whose career was ending and the owners wanted him to go to a good home. He was stabled in the overflow barns and that is where I met Mark. He'd had people sit on his back but wasn't really broke to saddle. It didn't matter. I fell in love with the gentle giant. The owners had a riding bridle they put on him and we led him to the dirt arena that was attached to the barn. The seller gave me a leg up and I rode him bareback around the arena. He was perfect. And two days later Mark Missile belonged to me and I moved him to his new boarding stable.
I don't remember exactly when the old barns were dismantled. They were still up and stabling Standardbred racehorses in the late 80's. They were down by the time the racetrack made renovations in the early 90's. I guess there wasn't much else they could do. There was no security in those barns. Anyone walking in from 60th Avenue had access to the barns and the horses inside. There are sick people out there who could potentially harm or steal a horse.
There is the Agriplex at the back of the racetrack, from 62nd Avenue, that is an indoor arena where horse shows and other events are held today. But unfortunately there is no stabling for horses. With the population growth around Cloverdale and many potential horse owners in the vicinity, a horse boarding operation would probably prove to be very profitable for the city.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
More about Cloverdale fairground's racetrack
When the grandstand at the Cloverdale fairgrounds transitioned into spectator seating for the Standardbred horse racing, changes came slowly. Most notably enclosing the structure, gating it in, so as to control paid admission into the grandstand. $2/person if memory serves correctly and back then racing was 5 times a week from mid-October to mid-April, during the off season for the Thoroughbred racing at Hastings Park in Vancouver.
By the mid-80's attendance was slacking off a bit. Other forms of entertainment were pulling racing aficionados away from the Cloverdale Raceway. I remember when traffic on racing nights was lined up down 176th Street to the Fraser Highway and sometimes even further north of the Fraser Highway. Bumper to bumper crawl into Cloverdale, trying to turn left onto 60th Avenue and the entrances to the fairgrounds. Back then there was no priority left hand turn lane signal.
Then in the mid-80's racing downsized to 4 times a week. I don't recall for sure, but I think it was Monday night racing that was bumped, leaving racing on Wednesday and Friday nights, and during the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday. Then the change was made from Wednesday night to Thursday night so that meant Standardbred racing was on 4 consecutive days.
Food service in the grandstand on racing nights consisted of a couple of hot dog and hamburger stands. There were a lot of wagering windows open where tellers took racer's bets.
There were a lot of horses still racing in Cloverdale even though the purses weren't all that great. There were several large horse barns in the backstretch area plus a couple of smaller horse barns closer to the grandstand on the parking lot side.
That left 6 months of the year when there was no racing at Cloverdale. During the off season Standardbreds shipping over to Sandown Park on Vancouver Island or over to one of the tracks in Alberta. There was also a couple of weekends of racing in mid-September, the fair meet, which was in conjunction with the now defunct fall fair that used to be held at the Cloverdale fairgrounds.
The Cloverdale racetrack headed into the 90's with a waning popularity.
By the mid-80's attendance was slacking off a bit. Other forms of entertainment were pulling racing aficionados away from the Cloverdale Raceway. I remember when traffic on racing nights was lined up down 176th Street to the Fraser Highway and sometimes even further north of the Fraser Highway. Bumper to bumper crawl into Cloverdale, trying to turn left onto 60th Avenue and the entrances to the fairgrounds. Back then there was no priority left hand turn lane signal.
Then in the mid-80's racing downsized to 4 times a week. I don't recall for sure, but I think it was Monday night racing that was bumped, leaving racing on Wednesday and Friday nights, and during the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday. Then the change was made from Wednesday night to Thursday night so that meant Standardbred racing was on 4 consecutive days.
Food service in the grandstand on racing nights consisted of a couple of hot dog and hamburger stands. There were a lot of wagering windows open where tellers took racer's bets.
There were a lot of horses still racing in Cloverdale even though the purses weren't all that great. There were several large horse barns in the backstretch area plus a couple of smaller horse barns closer to the grandstand on the parking lot side.
That left 6 months of the year when there was no racing at Cloverdale. During the off season Standardbreds shipping over to Sandown Park on Vancouver Island or over to one of the tracks in Alberta. There was also a couple of weekends of racing in mid-September, the fair meet, which was in conjunction with the now defunct fall fair that used to be held at the Cloverdale fairgrounds.
The Cloverdale racetrack headed into the 90's with a waning popularity.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The grandstand at the Cloverdale fairgrounds
When I was growing up in Cloverdale the grandstand was a lot different than the one that is standing there today. The grandstand back then were rows of bleachers, undercover with a roof overhead, but still open to the elements. In other words if it was raining, one could stay reasonably dry in the bleachers depending on where you were sitting, but if it was cold and windy, everyone was subject to that. This was where people sat and watched the rodeo and other events that might be happening in the infield throughout the year.
At the top of the grandstand, the nosebleed section, the building had window openings. No glass in them. People standing at the top could hang outside and wave to people below in the parking lot or out on 60th Avenue.
There were washrooms on the parking lot level that were open year round. Unlocked. Very convenient when we were playing over at Greenaway Park and someone needed to use the toilet, everyone would walk over to the grandstand. And then we'd continue playing in the grandstand, running up and down the steps, and along the benches.
I guess if there were any homeless people in Cloverdale back then this would have been an ideal place for them to stay. A covered place to sleep and washrooms.
By the time Standardbred horse racing came to Cloverdale in the mid 70's, the grandstand underwent a renovation. Seeing as how back then the racetrack charged patrons $2 admission to come in and watch the horse races, it wouldn't do to have open gates with access to the grandstand. Half of the grandstand was completely enclosed so patrons could sit and watch horse races in the winter months in warmth. Though I'm not exactly sure when that half was enclosed, whether or not that was the year horse racing started or a year or two later. The other half of the grandstand was left as it was - covered roof but otherwise open to the weather. Better known as the smoking section. The curling rink was attached to the original grandstand. A new building was built closer to 176th Street in its current location, to make way for the renovations for the racetrack.
By that time I was too old to be playing in the grandstand, running up and down the bleacher stairs and jumping from bench to bench, and then hanging out the window at the top watching the traffic go by on 60th. So I guess the renovation process kind of passed me by. The last generation of Cloverdale kids who got to enjoy playing in the grandstand before the renovations and locking it off to the public.
At the top of the grandstand, the nosebleed section, the building had window openings. No glass in them. People standing at the top could hang outside and wave to people below in the parking lot or out on 60th Avenue.
There were washrooms on the parking lot level that were open year round. Unlocked. Very convenient when we were playing over at Greenaway Park and someone needed to use the toilet, everyone would walk over to the grandstand. And then we'd continue playing in the grandstand, running up and down the steps, and along the benches.
I guess if there were any homeless people in Cloverdale back then this would have been an ideal place for them to stay. A covered place to sleep and washrooms.
By the time Standardbred horse racing came to Cloverdale in the mid 70's, the grandstand underwent a renovation. Seeing as how back then the racetrack charged patrons $2 admission to come in and watch the horse races, it wouldn't do to have open gates with access to the grandstand. Half of the grandstand was completely enclosed so patrons could sit and watch horse races in the winter months in warmth. Though I'm not exactly sure when that half was enclosed, whether or not that was the year horse racing started or a year or two later. The other half of the grandstand was left as it was - covered roof but otherwise open to the weather. Better known as the smoking section. The curling rink was attached to the original grandstand. A new building was built closer to 176th Street in its current location, to make way for the renovations for the racetrack.
By that time I was too old to be playing in the grandstand, running up and down the bleacher stairs and jumping from bench to bench, and then hanging out the window at the top watching the traffic go by on 60th. So I guess the renovation process kind of passed me by. The last generation of Cloverdale kids who got to enjoy playing in the grandstand before the renovations and locking it off to the public.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Cloverdale Raceway opens
When I was growing up in Cloverdale the only horse racing we had was during the rodeo on the long weekend in May and that was chuckwagon racing. The grandstand was a bit different back then. There were outside bleachers with a roof cover and more bleachers on the infield. The curling rink was attached to the bleachers on the east side, the Greenaway Park side.
In the early 1970's during Cloverdale's fall fair in late September a group of different racehorses showed up to race on the chuckwagon track during the weekend. They were Standardbreds pulling racing sulkies, guided by a driver, generally a man, sitting on the sulky.
In late 1975 or early 1976 Standardbred racing officially began in Cloverdale including betting windows and placing wagers. The grandstand was transformed into a closed in building. The curling rink was relocated to where it currently is off 176th Street on the west side of the fairgrounds. Barns to stable the horses were built at the north end of the fairgrounds and the racetrack was upgraded to a limestone track.
The racetrack was very popular during the first few years with racing 5 days or nights a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The popularity of racing fed off Hastings Park's Thoroughbred racing during the spring and summer months. When the season ended mid-October the gamblers had nothing until Cloverdale Raceway opened in the mid-70's and offered Standardbred racing from mid-October to mid-April. So the racing piggybacked off each other. One breed of racing ending as the other racing breed began. Of course back then there was no other types of gambling in the Lower Mainland and not a whole lot of entertainment options out there either other than movies, sporting events, and music concerts. Cablevision brought us about 12 channels on the TV.
Even though it was in competition with the Thoroughbred racing at Hastings Park, Cloverdale Raceway still held a fall meet of racing during the fall fair in September for the weekend. Eventually they expanded their fall meet to two weekends.
In the 1970's and 1980's it was not uncommon to see cars lined up all the way down 176th Street from Cloverdale to well past the Fraser Highway on race nights as cars came in to town to watch the racing. The races ended just after 10pm and it was a steady flow of traffic leaving Cloverdale too. Bumper to bumper traffic back then.
Cloverdale Raceway charged patrons a parking fee to park in the fairgrounds and also charged admission to the racetrack grandstand of $2/person.
In the early 1970's during Cloverdale's fall fair in late September a group of different racehorses showed up to race on the chuckwagon track during the weekend. They were Standardbreds pulling racing sulkies, guided by a driver, generally a man, sitting on the sulky.
In late 1975 or early 1976 Standardbred racing officially began in Cloverdale including betting windows and placing wagers. The grandstand was transformed into a closed in building. The curling rink was relocated to where it currently is off 176th Street on the west side of the fairgrounds. Barns to stable the horses were built at the north end of the fairgrounds and the racetrack was upgraded to a limestone track.
The racetrack was very popular during the first few years with racing 5 days or nights a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The popularity of racing fed off Hastings Park's Thoroughbred racing during the spring and summer months. When the season ended mid-October the gamblers had nothing until Cloverdale Raceway opened in the mid-70's and offered Standardbred racing from mid-October to mid-April. So the racing piggybacked off each other. One breed of racing ending as the other racing breed began. Of course back then there was no other types of gambling in the Lower Mainland and not a whole lot of entertainment options out there either other than movies, sporting events, and music concerts. Cablevision brought us about 12 channels on the TV.
Even though it was in competition with the Thoroughbred racing at Hastings Park, Cloverdale Raceway still held a fall meet of racing during the fall fair in September for the weekend. Eventually they expanded their fall meet to two weekends.
In the 1970's and 1980's it was not uncommon to see cars lined up all the way down 176th Street from Cloverdale to well past the Fraser Highway on race nights as cars came in to town to watch the racing. The races ended just after 10pm and it was a steady flow of traffic leaving Cloverdale too. Bumper to bumper traffic back then.
Cloverdale Raceway charged patrons a parking fee to park in the fairgrounds and also charged admission to the racetrack grandstand of $2/person.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Loose horses
“Cheryl, your horse is loose!”
Those words can strike terror into the heart of any horse owner. In this instance, I was fifteen years old and my mother had woken my up. I’ve never got out of bed and dressed so fast in my life. I ran into the garage, grabbed a bucket of oats and my lead shank and raced down the driveway, where I stopped. I could see my Quarter horse, Duchess, safely in the field across the street. And yes, there was a time when 182 Street on the hill above Cloverdale had several small hobby farms. Unfortunately we didn’t have a field and barn but our good friends the Scott’s let me keep my horse on their property. A quick glance at the field below where I kept Duchess and I could see the pony that lived in that pasture was accounted for. Then I saw the third horse, grazing at the side of the road by the field. I was carrying a bucket of oats and a lead shank so I walked down the street, approached the horse, gave him some oats and snapped on the shank. I led him to our back yard and put him in, not quite sure what to do next. Mother phoned the police department to report we’d caught a stray horse, only to be frustrated by a rude officer who kept repeating: “Phone the pound, ma’am, phone the pound.” She finally slammed the phone down on him and phoned the pound. They said they could pick up the horse, but it would cost the owner big bucks when they claimed him. Not wanting to cause someone financial problems, Mother told them we could keep the horse in our back yard, and passed the phone over to me to give the description. I was pretty sure the horse was a runaway from the local Standardbred track (now known as Fraser Downs) that had recently opened a mile from our home. I gave the clerk all the details on the horse. A couple of hours later the frantic owners phoned and we gave them our address. They were extremely grateful when they picked up the horse, which was indeed a racetrack escapee. This was the first in a long string of Standardbreds that I frequently caught over the next few years. My horse was probably the closest horse living to the racetrack, so they may have naturally gravitated in our direction.
One night I was driving home down 184th Street, nearing 24th Avenue and an oncoming car was flashing his high beams at me. I thought I saw something in its headlights and stopped my car. Sure enough two horses were galloping ahead of the car. I figured the owner could use a hand, pulled a U-turn and came up alongside him with my hazard lights flashing. An oncoming car cresting the hill forced me to pull behind the car trailing the horses. The car continued down the hill toward 16th Avenue, but I was positive I’d seen the horses turn right down 20th Avenue, which led to 176th Street a mile ahead. Just to be sure I turned right and caught up with them a block ahead. Carefully I pulled around them and got in front, slowing my car until I was able to bring them both to a stop. I got out of my car and approached them, but they ran down the nearest driveway. I got a hold of one horse’s halter. I knew a family who lived on acreage about a block away and figured I could lead the horse there and hope the other horse would follow. But it was not to be. The other horse bolted and the one I was holding yanked out of my grasp, and they both galloped down the road, fortunately headed back to 184th and not to the much busier 176th. I hopped back in the car and pursued them, but clearly I was not going to be able to catch them singlehandedly. I pulled out my cell phone, ready to dial 911 for assistance. These horses had to get off the street, for their own safety and the safety of any drivers who might not see them in the dark. As I approached 20th and 184th I saw several people on the street. I blocked my car behind the horses and two men managed to grab them and lead them onto the property on the corner. They’d heard the hooves pounding on pavement a few minutes earlier and had come out to investigate. With the horses safe, I turned for home, but at the first stop sign I noticed a man on the sidewalk. I rolled down the window and asked if he was looking for two horses. Fortunately he was and I told them they were safe and gave him directions where he could find them.
Cloverdale has grown significantly in the past 30 years. There are no small hobby farms housing horses. And the racetrack has fences around the barn areas making it less likely for Standardbreds to escape the fairgrounds. The days of catching loose horses roaming around town are over.
Those words can strike terror into the heart of any horse owner. In this instance, I was fifteen years old and my mother had woken my up. I’ve never got out of bed and dressed so fast in my life. I ran into the garage, grabbed a bucket of oats and my lead shank and raced down the driveway, where I stopped. I could see my Quarter horse, Duchess, safely in the field across the street. And yes, there was a time when 182 Street on the hill above Cloverdale had several small hobby farms. Unfortunately we didn’t have a field and barn but our good friends the Scott’s let me keep my horse on their property. A quick glance at the field below where I kept Duchess and I could see the pony that lived in that pasture was accounted for. Then I saw the third horse, grazing at the side of the road by the field. I was carrying a bucket of oats and a lead shank so I walked down the street, approached the horse, gave him some oats and snapped on the shank. I led him to our back yard and put him in, not quite sure what to do next. Mother phoned the police department to report we’d caught a stray horse, only to be frustrated by a rude officer who kept repeating: “Phone the pound, ma’am, phone the pound.” She finally slammed the phone down on him and phoned the pound. They said they could pick up the horse, but it would cost the owner big bucks when they claimed him. Not wanting to cause someone financial problems, Mother told them we could keep the horse in our back yard, and passed the phone over to me to give the description. I was pretty sure the horse was a runaway from the local Standardbred track (now known as Fraser Downs) that had recently opened a mile from our home. I gave the clerk all the details on the horse. A couple of hours later the frantic owners phoned and we gave them our address. They were extremely grateful when they picked up the horse, which was indeed a racetrack escapee. This was the first in a long string of Standardbreds that I frequently caught over the next few years. My horse was probably the closest horse living to the racetrack, so they may have naturally gravitated in our direction.
One night I was driving home down 184th Street, nearing 24th Avenue and an oncoming car was flashing his high beams at me. I thought I saw something in its headlights and stopped my car. Sure enough two horses were galloping ahead of the car. I figured the owner could use a hand, pulled a U-turn and came up alongside him with my hazard lights flashing. An oncoming car cresting the hill forced me to pull behind the car trailing the horses. The car continued down the hill toward 16th Avenue, but I was positive I’d seen the horses turn right down 20th Avenue, which led to 176th Street a mile ahead. Just to be sure I turned right and caught up with them a block ahead. Carefully I pulled around them and got in front, slowing my car until I was able to bring them both to a stop. I got out of my car and approached them, but they ran down the nearest driveway. I got a hold of one horse’s halter. I knew a family who lived on acreage about a block away and figured I could lead the horse there and hope the other horse would follow. But it was not to be. The other horse bolted and the one I was holding yanked out of my grasp, and they both galloped down the road, fortunately headed back to 184th and not to the much busier 176th. I hopped back in the car and pursued them, but clearly I was not going to be able to catch them singlehandedly. I pulled out my cell phone, ready to dial 911 for assistance. These horses had to get off the street, for their own safety and the safety of any drivers who might not see them in the dark. As I approached 20th and 184th I saw several people on the street. I blocked my car behind the horses and two men managed to grab them and lead them onto the property on the corner. They’d heard the hooves pounding on pavement a few minutes earlier and had come out to investigate. With the horses safe, I turned for home, but at the first stop sign I noticed a man on the sidewalk. I rolled down the window and asked if he was looking for two horses. Fortunately he was and I told them they were safe and gave him directions where he could find them.
Cloverdale has grown significantly in the past 30 years. There are no small hobby farms housing horses. And the racetrack has fences around the barn areas making it less likely for Standardbreds to escape the fairgrounds. The days of catching loose horses roaming around town are over.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Lucky at the Standardbred Show N Shine
Our local racetrack Fraser Downs has a horse adoption program called Greener Pastures to help place retired Standardbred racehorses into new homes. They make fine riding horses, they're versatile and excel in many disciplines.
To help raise money for Greener Pastures they've held a couple of horse shows this summer called Standardbred Show N Shine. They have classes in halter, showmanship, English riding, jumping, Western riding, and trail.
I have an ex-racehorse, Lucky, that I rescued from the local auction on December 15 2002. He was several hundred pounds underweight, covered in cuts, mud fever, and severely neglected. I got him for fifty bucks. The meat buyers weren't going to buy this rack of bones. I wasn't sure if Lucky would live or not, but that horse has heart and under veterinary care, some groceries and TLC he came back to be a healthy horse.
We've come out to both shows just for a little fun and an outing for him. At nineteen years old he's probably the oldest horse in the show ring and maybe the most obstinate too. The first show he refused to trot and paced nicely all day. His pace is so smooth to ride and I was quite comfortable, but he didn't score too well when he should have been trotting. The last show was held on September 7 and he was in a more agreeable mood that day and did everything that was asked of him. Lucky is a big boy with a big stride and when asked to trot and canter he decided he was in a race and ran circles around the other horses. He does nothing halfway. When asked to canter, he gallops. If I pull back the reins to slow him down he'll go into a trot.
Oh well, he can be a fun boy. I thought he would do his best in the trail class because he fearlessly goes through the trails and up and down hills, over bridges, around trees, and under branches as surefooted as a mountain goat. A trail class set up in a riding arena has makeshift obstacles. The bridge was a tarpaulin, and no way was he going to walk on that, even though he walks over a tarpaulin at home back at the farm. The gate was a couple of poles with a rope strung between them. Nope. No way. If it had been a real gate there would be no problem, but not this pole and rope.
Not too bad for an old, grumpy man!
To help raise money for Greener Pastures they've held a couple of horse shows this summer called Standardbred Show N Shine. They have classes in halter, showmanship, English riding, jumping, Western riding, and trail.
I have an ex-racehorse, Lucky, that I rescued from the local auction on December 15 2002. He was several hundred pounds underweight, covered in cuts, mud fever, and severely neglected. I got him for fifty bucks. The meat buyers weren't going to buy this rack of bones. I wasn't sure if Lucky would live or not, but that horse has heart and under veterinary care, some groceries and TLC he came back to be a healthy horse.
We've come out to both shows just for a little fun and an outing for him. At nineteen years old he's probably the oldest horse in the show ring and maybe the most obstinate too. The first show he refused to trot and paced nicely all day. His pace is so smooth to ride and I was quite comfortable, but he didn't score too well when he should have been trotting. The last show was held on September 7 and he was in a more agreeable mood that day and did everything that was asked of him. Lucky is a big boy with a big stride and when asked to trot and canter he decided he was in a race and ran circles around the other horses. He does nothing halfway. When asked to canter, he gallops. If I pull back the reins to slow him down he'll go into a trot.
Oh well, he can be a fun boy. I thought he would do his best in the trail class because he fearlessly goes through the trails and up and down hills, over bridges, around trees, and under branches as surefooted as a mountain goat. A trail class set up in a riding arena has makeshift obstacles. The bridge was a tarpaulin, and no way was he going to walk on that, even though he walks over a tarpaulin at home back at the farm. The gate was a couple of poles with a rope strung between them. Nope. No way. If it had been a real gate there would be no problem, but not this pole and rope.
But on the last show they changed the trail class a bit and held it in the warm up arena. They put the obstacles up ahead of time and let the horses practice a bit. This time they had a small wooden bridge. I tried Lucky across it with little success our first few times. Then he finally figured it out and crossed it nicely after that.
But the call came for the Western discipline classes and we returned to the show ring. Lucky picked up ribbons in each class and then the group headed over to the warm up arena for the trail class which each horse and rider would enter the arena one at a time and go through the course. When it was Lucky's turn he took the course wonderfully. And this time we were awarded a 2nd place ribbon.Not too bad for an old, grumpy man!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
My Small Town - Cloverdale, British Columbia
Growing up I used to hear the term one horse town and I figured that pretty much described where I lived and I owned that horse.
Cloverdale, British Columbia was a small community part of the district of Surrey, about 30 miles from the big city of Vancouver. The main street was about 4 blocks long, part of the Pacific Highway, and big semi trucks rattled through town, using this route to get to the US/Canada truck crossing at the border.
Cloverdale Elementary School was about one mile from out house and a huge hill, Broadway Road, was part of my walk to and from school each day. One mile is a long way for a six year old girl to walk, but walk I did both ways for the seven years I went there, rain or shine, and mostly rain in this part of the country. I sometimes rode my bike, but pushing it up that huge hill was exhausting.
I remember a lot of snow when I was a kid and we’d all go to Broadway with our sleds and toboggans. No car was going to attempt that hill in the snow and icy conditions. Especially not confronted with a couple of dozen kids careening down the hill. But again, only one or two trips down and the walk back up in the snow was enough to call it quits. And the local cow fields would flood over in the fall and freeze in the winter and we’d all go ice skating out there. The worst thing that could happen if the ice was too thin and we’d break through standing ankle or shin deep in water.
Friday after school was my favourite time and I’d accompany my mother grocery shopping at the Co-op. This was a two story building with groceries on the first floor and a flight of stairs up the second floor for the hardware and clothing. And the building behind was the Co-op’s feed store where I’d buy oats for my horses when I got a little older.
A typical little sixties town with assorted stores: a five and dime, a couple of clothing stores, a couple of shoe stores, a jewellery store, a delicatessen, a few diners, the Clover Inn with a restaurant and lounge, and the Clova Theatre where we often went on Saturday matinees. Dann’s bicycle and appliance store is still operating in Cloverdale, for over fifty years. The Clova is still running too. The five and dime has long since closed as have most of the other business, many replaced by antique stores for awhile, and now assorted other businesses, many that don’t stick around too long. The bowling alley, Clover Lanes, has been there as long as I can remember. In the late 60’s or early 70’s Aaron’s Pizza opened just off the main street. Kind of a competition to the Shakey’s Pizza parlours with its picnic tables and casual dining. Aaron’s is still there, but the picnic tables have been replaced by family seating and they still serve pizzas along with pastas and other meals.
Cloverdale was always known for its rodeo held on the long weekend in May. For a time it was the 2nd largest rodeo in Canada, behind the Calgary Stampede, then it became the 3rd largest. I’m not sure what its status is now. It lost its ranking with the pro circuit because it no longer allows some events, particularly those that deal with tying calves. But every long weekend in May Cloverdale was transformed from a sleepy little town to a whoop hollering party town carnival. It was a good weekend to get out of town.
And then in 1975 the harness horse racing came to town, using the fairgrounds, and Cloverdale no longer was known as a one horse town with hundreds of Standardbreds calling it home. Horse racing was huge back in the 1980’s. Cars lined way out of town on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. And the horses also raced on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. These days with so many casinos around and other entertainment venues horse racing has dwindled to 7 or 8 months a year on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The racetrack even converted over to a casino, Fraser Downs its now known as. The casino is the main form of revenue.
When I was growing up and a new neighbour moved in the neighbors would all come over with baking and to introduce themselves. When I was going to school I knew almost everybody and their brothers and sisters too, if not by face, then by name. Walking down the main street of Cloverdale always meant banging into someone I knew.
But nobody does that anymore. Cloverdale outgrew itself. But the small town atmosphere still kind of remains. This is home to Smallville and often the TV cameras and crew will have part of a street blocked off for filming. Likewise with other movie and TV projects that want a small town look. A few years ago in August Coca Cola filmed a commercial here that was a snowy Christmas theme and they trucked in snow to the streets and sidewalks. Several semi trucks decked out in Christmas lights are featured driving through town and a boy is racing across the fields yelling the Santa trucks are coming.
And maybe they’ll be back someday. Or maybe they'll find a real small town out there....
Cloverdale, British Columbia was a small community part of the district of Surrey, about 30 miles from the big city of Vancouver. The main street was about 4 blocks long, part of the Pacific Highway, and big semi trucks rattled through town, using this route to get to the US/Canada truck crossing at the border.
Cloverdale Elementary School was about one mile from out house and a huge hill, Broadway Road, was part of my walk to and from school each day. One mile is a long way for a six year old girl to walk, but walk I did both ways for the seven years I went there, rain or shine, and mostly rain in this part of the country. I sometimes rode my bike, but pushing it up that huge hill was exhausting.
I remember a lot of snow when I was a kid and we’d all go to Broadway with our sleds and toboggans. No car was going to attempt that hill in the snow and icy conditions. Especially not confronted with a couple of dozen kids careening down the hill. But again, only one or two trips down and the walk back up in the snow was enough to call it quits. And the local cow fields would flood over in the fall and freeze in the winter and we’d all go ice skating out there. The worst thing that could happen if the ice was too thin and we’d break through standing ankle or shin deep in water.
Friday after school was my favourite time and I’d accompany my mother grocery shopping at the Co-op. This was a two story building with groceries on the first floor and a flight of stairs up the second floor for the hardware and clothing. And the building behind was the Co-op’s feed store where I’d buy oats for my horses when I got a little older.
A typical little sixties town with assorted stores: a five and dime, a couple of clothing stores, a couple of shoe stores, a jewellery store, a delicatessen, a few diners, the Clover Inn with a restaurant and lounge, and the Clova Theatre where we often went on Saturday matinees. Dann’s bicycle and appliance store is still operating in Cloverdale, for over fifty years. The Clova is still running too. The five and dime has long since closed as have most of the other business, many replaced by antique stores for awhile, and now assorted other businesses, many that don’t stick around too long. The bowling alley, Clover Lanes, has been there as long as I can remember. In the late 60’s or early 70’s Aaron’s Pizza opened just off the main street. Kind of a competition to the Shakey’s Pizza parlours with its picnic tables and casual dining. Aaron’s is still there, but the picnic tables have been replaced by family seating and they still serve pizzas along with pastas and other meals.
Cloverdale was always known for its rodeo held on the long weekend in May. For a time it was the 2nd largest rodeo in Canada, behind the Calgary Stampede, then it became the 3rd largest. I’m not sure what its status is now. It lost its ranking with the pro circuit because it no longer allows some events, particularly those that deal with tying calves. But every long weekend in May Cloverdale was transformed from a sleepy little town to a whoop hollering party town carnival. It was a good weekend to get out of town.
And then in 1975 the harness horse racing came to town, using the fairgrounds, and Cloverdale no longer was known as a one horse town with hundreds of Standardbreds calling it home. Horse racing was huge back in the 1980’s. Cars lined way out of town on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. And the horses also raced on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. These days with so many casinos around and other entertainment venues horse racing has dwindled to 7 or 8 months a year on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The racetrack even converted over to a casino, Fraser Downs its now known as. The casino is the main form of revenue.
When I was growing up and a new neighbour moved in the neighbors would all come over with baking and to introduce themselves. When I was going to school I knew almost everybody and their brothers and sisters too, if not by face, then by name. Walking down the main street of Cloverdale always meant banging into someone I knew.
But nobody does that anymore. Cloverdale outgrew itself. But the small town atmosphere still kind of remains. This is home to Smallville and often the TV cameras and crew will have part of a street blocked off for filming. Likewise with other movie and TV projects that want a small town look. A few years ago in August Coca Cola filmed a commercial here that was a snowy Christmas theme and they trucked in snow to the streets and sidewalks. Several semi trucks decked out in Christmas lights are featured driving through town and a boy is racing across the fields yelling the Santa trucks are coming.
And maybe they’ll be back someday. Or maybe they'll find a real small town out there....
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