The Saskatchewan Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association has been actively conducting a breeding program to improve the quality of bloodlines of standardbred horses in the province.
Association member Jane Grainger of Regina, who has been campaigning her horses in Yorkton, reports funding for the program will end after this summer. As a result, those involved in the program are actively lobbying Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming to continue funding the program because it's proved to be very valuable. There's been a positive response from the public, race fans and owners to the program.
The programs offers several races specifically established for Saskatche-wan horses, Grainger says. These events include the Prairie Lace for Saskatchewan owned, sired and foaled for fillies and mares. The Prairie Lily Pace cosponsored by Standardbred Canada is for mares four years and older. The Prairie Pace, a $5,000 added, for Saskat-chewan owned, sired colts and geldings. After Yorkton, the program moves to West Meadows in Regina, with a four-year-old pace for the top eight money earners in Saskatchewan. The stake 57 will be sponsored by the Saskatchewan Horse Federation, which would like to see the breeding program carried on. A two to three-year-old pace for the top eight money earners in the province will offer a purse of $2,500, Grainger reports.
Next year the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association is looking to establish a program for Saskatchewan sired foals.
There are people from the Yorkton area as well as from around the province, including, Kinder-s-ley, Regina, Swift Cur-rent, Davidson, and MacNutt, Grainger notes. "It is growing which is why we need the program to continue," she insists.
In addition to improve the breeding and increase interest in harness racing in the province, the program for Saskatchewan foaled and sired horses allows people from other provinces to have a piece of a Saskatchewan horse entered into the races, Grainger points out.
"I'm looking forward to another good year and hopefully we'll have another year next year with more breeding in place again," Grainger closes.
Betty and Gene Denischuk, members of the local harness racing fraternity, have taken a leave from competition to place their six year old mare Lap Ya into the Saskatchewan Standard-bred breeding program. She had some health issues last year and rather than sell her, the couple opted to put her into the breeding program. "I've been around horses all my life and I've never really owned a horse that had a foal and we thought this might be a good chance to get into a standardbred foal," explains Betty.
If Lap Ya turns into a good mother, the Denischuks would keep her as a brood mare.
As she is a very, nice quiet mare, Betty is considering breaking her to be a saddle horse as well. "There are different things to do with standardbreds. They're pretty versatile," Betty suggests.
The results of the harness races Friday, July 15 at the Cornerstone Race-way, Yorkton Exhibition were: Race 1 - 1) Miss Tinkerbelle, trained and driven by R. Remillard, owned by Trevor Williams of Winnipeg, Man., Garrett J. Isman of Yorkton, Sask., Michael J. Williams of Winnipeg, Richard A. Remillard of Gladstone, Man.; 2) Iza Bin Freezin, trained and driven by E. Tracey, owned by Betty L. Tracey of Leduc, Alta.; 3) Jomars Undapants, trained by S. McLedod, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Ronald A. McLeod of Regina, Sask. Race 2 - 1) Kinda Special, trained by S. Worthen, driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Kristel L. Olding of Inglis, Man., Ruth E. and Bill C. Welcher of Roblin, Man.; 2) Bling Kaching, trained, driven and owned by Clayton C. Braybrook of Kindersley, Sask.; 3) Jomars Nopants, trained by S. McLeod, driven by D. Tracey, owned by Ronald N. McLeod of Regina. Race 3 - 1) Nak-nak Whodare, trained by S. Worthen, driven by R. Remillard, owned by Nancy L. King and Max J. McInnes of Yorkton; 2) Starlite Diva, trained and driven by C. Braybrook, owned by Glenda M. Giles of Kindersley; 3) Sophio Hanover, trained and driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Debra A. McInnes and Samantha M. Tamblyn of Yorkton. Race 4 - 1) Crush On Clinton, trained and driven by R. Remillard, owned by Trevor Williams of Winnipeg, Richard A. Remillard and Valerie L. Emerson of Gladstone, Tyler J. Remillard of Waterdown, Ont.; 2) Jomars Tami, trained by S. McLeod, driven by D. Tracey owned by Ronald N. McLeod of Regina; 3) Marlowe, trained by E. Bell, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Don J. Soloninko of Wroxton, Sask. Race 5 - 1) Judges Discretion, trained and driven by Tyler Redwood, owned by Kelvin S. Godlien of Regina; 2) Thief On The Run, trained, driven and owned by Clayton H. Braybrook of Kindersley; 3) Kg Warrior trained and driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Terri Kaufman of Aldergrove, B.C. Race 6 - 1) Red Star Best, trained by S. Worthen, driven by T. Kaufman, owned by Bill C. Welcher of Roblin; 2) Everybody Dance, trained, driven and owned by Travis A. Cullen of Glenboro, Man.; 3) Intheghetto, trained and driven by B. Gray, owned by Brian, J. Gray of Raymore, Sask., Alfred P. Labas of Yorkton. Race 7 - 1) Black Mac, trained and driven by Tyler Redwood, owned by Trevor and Michael Williams of Winnipeg; 2) Barona Fivehundred, trained S. Worthen, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Bill C. Welcher of Roblin; 3) Trueland Hanover, trained by J. Cullen, driven by R. Cullen, owned by David R. Mutch of Kelwood, Man. Race 8 - 1) Starshine Jet, trained, driven and owned by Travis A. Cullen of Glenboro; 2) Dal Reo Indy, trained by E. Bell, driven by R. Remillard, owned by the Twisted Sisters Stable of Regina. 3) Bubblemint, trained, driven and owned by Tyler Redwood of Regina. Race 9 - 1) Four Starzz Smiley, trained by E. Bell, driven by B. Piwniuk, owned by Joe Soloninko of Wroxton; 2) Luckys Lil Dude, trained, driven and owned by Brian J. Gray of Raymore; 3) Stonebridge Camelot, trained by K. Hanson, driven by H. Woods, owned by Annabelle M. Pirie of Strathclair, Man.
