Fransor’s Finest (centre) is in the lead rounding the final bend in the fifth and last race on Saturday at Desert Park. He was followed by Lil Miss Bean (second from left) and Soaring Like Eagle (left). At the back (right) is Silent Punch. (Richard McGuire photo)
Horses kicked up dust in five exciting races under sunny skies Saturday at Desert Park in the first of two race days this summer.
Pete Hormes, race director for the Desert Park Exhibition Society, estimated attendance reached 1,200 people, although crowds dwindled later in the afternoon.
“That was an excellent day of racing,” Hormes said at the end of the event. “The crowds loved it and so did we.”
Anyone betting on No. 4 would have done very well, even though in Chinese culture that number is often considered as unlucky as 13 is in the West. Horses carrying the No. 4 won four of the five races, only failing to win the third race when Kinzie’s King came third.
The third race was the only one to see a horse disqualified when Mrs. Corcoran decided to lie down for a nap at the starting gate, refusing to get up.
There were, however, no significant injuries to horses or jockeys in any of the races.
This was Hormes’ first time organizing the races at Desert Park and he admits it was a steep learning curve, pulling together equipment and volunteers and getting the grandstand ready for its first use in many years.
The grandstand completion, however, seemed to be appreciated by fans, who were able to enjoy the races from shaded seats.
“People showed up with lots of nice horses,” said Hormes. “Everything went off really smoothly. The weather co-operated and it was just a beautiful day to be outside in the shade.”
The first race date of 2015 attracted 28 horses, up from last year. Hormes is hopeful there will be even more on the next race day on Aug. 22.
For the next race day, there will be higher purses spread more evenly across the races, he said, adding this should increase interest from horse owners.
Former Osoyoos mayor Tom Shields was back again this year as the announcer and at times he had to shout to be heard over the excitement in the crowded grandstand.
“I thought it was a great day,” said Shields. “It was nice, it was hot, it had a little sand blowing up just like the old days, dust with your burgers. But it was a good exciting day.”
With scarce water used sparingly to wet down the track and with gusts of wind picking up in the afternoon, there was dust and fine sand in the air.
“I thought the second race really set a tone,” said Shields. “It was pretty close and it had a great finish. That got everybody hooting and hollering. It was just a great day to be out.”
In the second race, Rollingintheaisles came up the outside on the final bend, narrowly beating Marshland and Magna Sweetheart in a five-horse thoroughbred allowance.
Hormes hopes that local residents and visitors will continue to come to the horse races.
“The more people that turn out and enjoy it, the more we can hold good events like this,” he said. “We have people coming from all over because everybody seems to have a good time here. Osoyoos is one of the most favoured places to visit. When the locals come out and other people, it just adds to the excitement. It was a real electric atmosphere with the grandstands being so full.”
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Horses Special Grade (left) and Snake Eyed Gal race down the track in the first of five races at Desert Park on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Five horses start out in the second race on Saturday at Desert Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
The horses are close together after leaving the gates in the second race on Saturday at Desert Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Four of the horses are close together in the exciting second race on Saturday at Desert Park. Rollinginthe aisles (left) won the race while Marshland (second from left) placed and Magna Sweetheart (right) showed. (Richard McGuire photo)
Three horses race to the finish in the exciting second race on Saturday at Desert Park. Rollinginthe aisles (right) won the race while Marshland (middle) placed and Magna Sweetheart (left) showed. (Richard McGuire photo)
Four horses start out in the third race at Desert Park on Saturday. A fifth was disqualified when it lay down at the starting gate and refused to get up. (Richard McGuire photo)
Three horses race side-by-side after leaving the gate in the third race at Desert Park on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Three horses race side-by-side after leaving the gate in the third race at Desert Park on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
All four horses are still close together on the final stretch of the third race at Desert Park on Saturday.
Three horses are still close together on the final stretch of the third race at Desert Park on Saturday. Stormello Fello (centre) won followed by Just Zoom Will Do (left) and Kinzie’s King (right). (Richard McGuire photo)
Five horses round the final bend in the fourth race on Saturday at Desert Park. (Richard McGuire photo)
Five horses round the final bend in the fourth race on Saturday at Desert Park.
Honor the Call (number 4) speeds up on the final stretch of the fourth race to overtake Its a Royal Star (number 3) and win. Both are quarter horses. (Richard McGuire photo)
Four horses start out in the fifth and last race at Desert Park on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Lil Miss Bean (number 2) and Soaring Like Eagle are neck and neck as they race down the track at Desert Park in the fifth and final race on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Lil Miss Bean (number 2) and Soaring Like Eagle are neck and neck as they race down the track at Desert Park in the fifth and final race on Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
