Veteran jockey calls Desert Park a diamond in the rough
Veteran jockey, Alan Cuthbertson is enjoying getting fit at Desert Park Race Track this spring.
The riding legend has travelled the continent riding race horses for a living.
Cuthbertson began his career when he was 17 years of age and will continue with his passion for riding at Hastings Park this April.
Cuthbertson has ridden at a number of race tracks both in the U.S. and Canada and has won well over 2000 races.
The highlight of his career was winning the prestigious, richest race at Hastings Park – The B.C. Derby – twice.
Galloping and working horses at Osoyoos' Desert Park Race Track has been a great way to get fit for the season and still be close to his family who live in Kelowna.
He rides 15 – 20 horses a day and finds the local trainers friendly and not in such a rush as in the bigger centres.
Cuthbertson attributes his successful career in race riding to great horses and good, knowledgeable trainers. Desert Park, he claims, is one of the best facilities for training horses.
He has also enjoyed the particularly great weather we have had this spring.
I don't know of a better training facility in all of Canada, said Cuthbertson.
Desert Park is a diamond in the rough. When word gets out that this facility exists there will be horse owners, trainers and riders racing to get here.
I am glad to hear the Town of Osoyoos is working with the local people to promote this great equine facility.
In more Desert Park news, Urban Systems, a consulting firm hired by the Town of Osoyoos to study Desert Park, has now completed their study.
The Friends of Desert Park encourage the public to come out to Town Hall on March 17th from 3 – 8 p.m. to view the three options proposed for the future of Desert Park.
The Friends have received over 300 letters of support in favour of keeping Desert Park as a multi-use recreation facility.
Support has come from throughout B.C. and as far away as Ontario.
All letters of support will be presented to the town on March 17.
Write to friendsofdesertpark @hotmail.com or to Friends of Desert Park, 3405 Jasmine Drive, Osoyoos, B.C., V0H 1V1.
