| 2005: Jalen at Woodbine Race Track |
 October 2005 -- Raptors player Jalen Rose was the honourary drawmaster
for the $2 million Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine
Racetrack. The Woodbine Racetrack visit was part of the Raptors Paint the Town Red community development initiative where players and coaches made spontaneous appearances across Toronto to promote the upcoming 2005-06 season. October 21, 2005 -- Toronto Star -- Racing powers mark out turf... The gloves are off between Woodbine and the Breeders' Cup in the battle to attract the top horses Sunday's $2 million Pattison Canadian International has drawn a classy field, led by Electrocutionist Jalen Rose was on hand out at Woodbine yesterday, pulling the peas, as they say, in his role as drawmaster for the $2 million Pattison Canadian International scheduled for Sunday. The Woodbine people apparently couldn't get any of the Maccabi stars to handle the draw. Anyway, what caught Rose's eye - and the attention of many other improvers of the breed ? was the purse for a race that was put on the map by the great Secretariat three-plus decades back, and kept there by a succession of tremendous champions over the years. For starters, $2 million is the most lucrative thoroughbred race in Canadian history, aside from the pot for a couple of Breeders' Cup races back in 1996, the one and only time the event will touch Canadian soil. But the timing for the International also confirms that Woodbine is more than content to run its big race in direct conflict with the Breeders' Cup Turf event, which this year goes six days later, meaning next Saturday in New York. That one also carries a $2 million purse, meaning the difference between the races is the U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange. Which sure isn't what it used to be. It may be overstating to say that the gloves are off between Woodbine and the Breeders' Cup in the never-ending battle to attract the good horses to their events. Those two aren't the only suitors, either. Turf races in Hong Kong and Japan also want the stars. It's a highly competitive business and maybe it's no surprise that this year's 1 1/2-mile International carries an extra half-million in rewards over last year's event, which was won by the outstanding Sulamani, arguably the best grass horse in the world at the time. His absence from the Cup damaged that field substantially and a peek at the crew of 10 assembled for this year's International makes it clear that the BC Turf, six days later, has been at least halved in quality. Electrocutionist is the 2-to-1 morning line favourite, with Yeats next at 3-to-1, and both display outstanding credentials at international-level racing. All told, there are five Grade 1 stakes winners in the Woodbine field, including Grey Swallow, King's Drama and Meteor Storm. No one is saying it's a decidedly stronger race than the BC Turf, but it certainly compares favourably. For the money, of course, it should. The Italian-based Electrocutionist has won three in a row this year and six of seven life-time for owner Earle Mack and trainer Valfredo Valiani. Those who know say he appreciates firm turf. Woodbine used to run its International as a prep for the Cup, but the Cup perhaps isn't quite what it used to be. It was promoted, and usually treated, as the end-of-year championship for thoroughbred racing's many divisions. But the long year and incredible wealth attainable by U.S. classics champions seems to remove more and more of the so-called big-name horses every year. Throw in only lukewarm interest by some European trainers for warm-weather Breeders' Cup (although likely not this year at Belmont Park) and the BC isn't necessarily the cat's pajamas for everyone. One of Woodbine's top trainers said yesterday the price of nominating foals to the Cup is getting so dear that maybe half the animals listed in the sales catalogues now aren't nominated. "Used to be one that wasn't nominated would jump out at you," he said. Woodbine is a terrific alternative for some good turf horses. The firm ground of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, named in honour of old Empty Pockets himself, is another attraction and, further, Woodbine also presents a $1 million turf race for fillies named, conveniently, the E.P. Taylor Stakes. Those seven figures also catch the eye of far-away trainers and owners. It's not the Breeders' Cup, but it's sure not bad, either. For the horse fans left out there, it's an annual treat. By DAVE PERKINS |
