The first race day on Aug. 8 drew an enthusiastic crowd to Desert Park for five races. Racing will be back at Desert Park this Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
The second and final professional horse racing card for the 2015 season will take place on Saturday at the Desert Park racetrack facility in Osoyoos.
Pete Hormes, race director for the Desert Park Exhibition Society, said he expects there will again be five races, as there were on the first race day Aug. 8.
The event gets underway at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 and post time for the first race is at 1:20 p.m., Hormes said. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.
In a bid to attract even better horses, Hormes said the purse “bottoms” have been increased so that the lower-priced races will pay winning horse owners substantially more.
“They fit their horses to where they figure they can make the most money,” Hormes said.
Several changes are also being made to improve the experience for spectators, he said.
This includes improvements to the sound system so that announcer Tom Shields can be better heard, as well as changes to reduce the waiting time between races. Dust control will also be better addressed, he said.
“We’re learning from each race day how to be more organized and more efficient,” said Hormes, who had never organized races before the event in early August.
Once again there will be races with thoroughbreds and quarter horses. On Aug. 8, the quarter horses competed in two races, one of them mixed.
Hormes said it’s an age-old question of whether thoroughbreds or quarter horses are faster. This year a quarter horse won, while last year a thoroughbred won.
Generally quarter horses are fast sprinters, while thoroughbreds are better at longer runs.
“It’s like distance runners at the Olympics,” said Hormes. “They have the 200 metres. Who’s better at it – the milers or the hundred-yard dashers? It’s not always easy to tell.”
The first race, which drew an estimated 1,200 spectators, was very successful, he said.
“We’re hoping for an even better crowd,” he said. “The bigger attendance we can get this time, it’ll encourage bigger more high-end horses next year. Turnout is important, so please bring your families, friends and neighbours who might be interested.”
Higher attendance allows for higher purse offerings in future races and this attracts a higher standard of horses making a more exciting event, Hormes said.
Admission is $5 and parking is free. This is to encourage attendance, he added.
The Desert Park Exhibition Society is a non-profit group and all proceeds are put back into the horses, Hormes said.
Volunteers are still needed and anyone interested can call 250-495-8181.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
