The local chapter of the ever-growing Mario Gutierrez Fan Club will be reconvening in large numbers at Hastings Racecourse Saturday afternoon with the 137th running of the Preakness from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Fans will be able to watch Mario via simulcast go for the second jewel of the Triple Crown on the jumbo 40-foot screen installed in the infield at Hastings as well as hundreds of television sets located throughout the grounds. Preakness post time if 3:18 p.m. PDT and runs between races three and four of the local live racing card.
While supplies last, early arrivals at Hastings on Saturday will receive a free Go Mario Go t-shirt by presenting a special coupon in the official live racing program. The give-a-way begins at 12:30 p.m. in front of the winners circle on the tarmac.
Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing, is expecting another large crowd at Hastings on Saturday, comparable to the estimated 8,000 fans who showed up to watch Mario win the Kentucky Derby on May 5 aboard Ill Have Another.
The media exposure his Derby win created has been a major plus for Hastings, Mutti says. It seems the entire city will be riding with Mario in the Preakness.
After spending three days in Vancouver last week, Gutierrez arrived at Pimlico Thursday just in time to ride two winners in preparation for Saturdays historic race. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.
Ill Have Another is the second choice at 5-2 on the morning line behind favourite Bodemeister at 8-5. Ill Have Another beat Bodemeister by 1 lengths in the Derby with a perfect trip under Gutierrez, who became the first jockey in racing history to win the Kentucky Derby from the 19 post. Ill Have Another has drawn the 9th post for the Preakness.
THREE DAYS OF HOLIDAY WEEKEND RACING AT HASTINGS
Two $50,000 stakes races are on the three-day holiday weekend calendar at Hastings with the Ross McLeod for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday and the Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up on the Victoria Day Holiday Monday. Start times Saturday, Sunday and Monday are 1:50 p.m.
Saturday marks the inaugural running of the Ross McLeod. He founded Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, the parent company of Hastings Racecourse and Slots. Sheila McLeod will be the Guest Decorator in honour of her late husband.
FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE ON JUNE 1
Paul Ryneveld, Director of Racing at Hastings, is pleased with the fact that the average field size this season is 7.7 starters per race. With this thought in mind, Hastings management, the Horsemens Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) have made the joint decision to begin Friday Night Live racing on June 1 rather than the originally scheduled May 25, which would have meant running four days within one week.
