Heliskier Back on His Game

Horse racing has more than its share of stories that tug at the heartstrings, bring tears to your eyes and leave otherwise stout human beings weak in the knees. It doesn’t take million dollar colts and fillies or regally-bred champions, either. When you’ve invested much of what you have – even in an expensive claimer – […]

Feel Good Story Caps Weekend

Feel good stories abound at any racetrack. Stories about horses winning with limited vision, maybe a single working eye. Stories about horses rebounding from near-death experiences with winning efforts, horses with names dedicated to a dying patron or trainer coming through in his memory. But how about this one: A husband-wife training team partnering up […]

Canterbury Jockeys Make Plans

Some of the trailers are lined up like sentries on the backside, ready to receive their cargo when the meet officially closes on Monday. They have been swept out and lined with fresh straw in anticipation of the awaiting trip, to farms where their cargo will be turned out or to other racetracks where they […]

Patriate Claims the Crown

Bob Johnson left no doubt about his thoughts on the Claiming Series Thursday night as he considered it in the paddock minutes before post time for the championship race. “I like this,” he said. “I like it a lot. I hope they have a lot more of them.” Rival trainer Mike Biehler could understand the […]

Two of a Kind

They dressed for the wedding in the jockeys’ room, and then piled in the back of a pickup truck for the trip to the Turf Paradise garden where the ceremony was held. The men were duded up in western hats and jackets, the perfect ensemble for the place and setting. The bride stayed more traditional […]

Patriate Does it Again!

The Colt & Gelding Division of Canterbury’s 2012 Claiming Series continued last night with the second of three qualifying races. Patriate and jockey Patricia Trimble didn’t figure to get as easy of a lead this time around but it turns out they had little trouble jumping on the field and putting them away taking them […]

Patriate Gains Command

The Colt & Gelding Division of Canterbury’s 2012 Claiming Series got underway last night with the first of three qualifying races (the next two are scheduled for July 5 and July 19). Patriate and jockey Patricia Trimble snuck away on a lonely lead and were just able to hold on over a hard charging French […]

A Grand Opening

Joshua’s Journey was a great deal smoother Friday night than the one his trainer had last weekend. Smoother, easier, trouble-free. The four-year-old gelded son of Good Journey got a perfect ride from Patricia Trimble to win the first race of the 2012 racing season, going gate to wire with a trouble-free trip. So Trimble, who married […]