JOCKEYS OWNERS/BREEDERS TRAINERS TRAINERS CON’T

JOHNNY LONGDEN AUSTIN TAYLOR DOC DARBYSHIRE BUD MACDONALD HEDLEY WOODHOUSE LYON APPLEBY JESSIE MCKENZIE GEORGE CUMMINS JOHN CRAIGMILE BOB GILLATLY GORDON CAMPBELL HAROLD BARROBY EMIL SPORRI JOE KIRK WALLY DUNN CY ANDERSON BASIL FRAZIER PETER GORDON SAM BRUNSON ALAN JACK GEORGE HUGHES ERIC HAMBER JIMMY HALKET DAVE FORSTER JIM HUNTER RIVERVIEW STABLE JACKIE RUSSELL ‘BUNNY’ JOHNSON BILL SKUSE EMERALD STOCK FARM SID MARTIN LANCE GIESBRECHT RONNIE WILLIAMS CHARLIE OLDFIELD ANGUS MACPHERSON ALAN MAY CHRIS LOSETH RED ROCK FARM SONNY O’CONNELL FRANK BARROBY SAM KRASNER REG ELLETT ANDY SMITHERS, JR. TROY TAYLOR BRIAN JOHNSTON CLINE HOGGARD DAVID CROSS MICKEY WALLS FRANK MCMAHON DON MORISON JOHN GUNTHER R.W. HALL NICK & PAULINE FELICELLA Hall of Fame Randy Goulding

Archie McDonald

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BUILDERS HORSES HORSES CON’T HORSES CON’T

ALF COTTRELL GEORGE ROYAL DALKEITH BOLD LADDIE JACK DIAMOND SO AND SO TRAVELLING VICTOR KID KATABATIC SAM RANDALL DARK HAWK DELTA COLLEEN STRAWBERRY MORN BOB LEIGHTON MAJOR TURLEY POLICE INSPECTOR MR PRIME MINISTER JACK SHORT MAJOR PRESTO ALTA MIRA SENATE APPOINTEE CLAY PUETT QUALITY QUEST LORD RENRAW RED’S HAWK BILL LOCHEAD WESTBURY ROAD HI DRIVE MAGIC CODE MASSIE WHITE MAGIC NOTE PAPWORTH SOPHIE J DOC MCKEON SIMONY GOLDEN RESERVE ARTIC SON STAN GODDARD CUM LAUDE TEEWORTH DANCEWITHAVIXEN ARCHIE MCDONALD LORD AVANTS GOLD LORD NELSON DR. PAT TALBOT EDIE’S BOY TY HAWK MERV PETERS AUBREY DAVIES BILL RANDALL, SR. DON DUNN BRYANT MCAFEE Hall of Fame Inductees by Randy Goulding Lord Nelson Visit www.bchorseracinghalloffame.org for more British Columbia Racing Hall of Fame

“It was my first year training for the Bennetts and RJ asked me to pick six horses to take to Hastings,” recalls Condilenios. “They had about 50 horses in training in Vernon,Ole but Lord Nelson Nielsen really stood out. He wasn’t that big, but when he trained he puffed him- self up to look like he was a big horse. It was the way he pre- sented himself that attracted me to him.” ...Dino Condilenios-trainer

Lord Nelson was named after an Admiral in the for being the best older B.C.-bred in 2005. again. Anita was a huge part of his success.” British Navy but he was the king at Hastings from 2001 through 2005. In just about every race he Lord Nelson’s remarkable record was Condilenios also praised the Bennetts for the way ran during that period he was the horse to beat. accomplished despite battling quar- they let him manage Lord Nelson’s career. ter cracks throughout his career. A son of Maudlin, out of the mare Lady Ham- “Because of the problems with his feet I let him ilton, Lord Nelson was bred and owned “I think he could have competed with the top sit out a lot of races he would have been 2-5 and by British Columbia’s perennial leading horses anywhere if he didn’t have such poor feet,” won,” said Condilenios. “They never complained breeders Russell (RJ) and Lois Bennett. says Condilenios. “Every time he ran, his feet that he wasn’t running enough, and they were would fall apart. He was so talented. I remember always supportive with what I did with him. You “Horses like Lord Nelson don’t come along very when he won the 2004 Hong Kong Jockey Club. couldn’t train for better people.” often and are the reason you keep at it,” says RJ. It was a strong field and he drew the nine-hole. Frank said he was going to send him despite all Lord Nelson’s last win came in the 2005 John A foal of 1997, Lord Nelson didn’t race as a the other speed in the field, including Celt, who Longden though he continued racing through 2-year-old. He won his first two starts as a 3-year- I trained and was as fast as any horse around. 2008 before being retired. His best race during old for trainer Dino Condilenios in mid-summer I didn’t like Frank’s plan at first, but the more I the twilight of his career was memorable. It was 2000, but due to the late start he wasn’t a serious thought about the more I liked it. Lord Nelson was a neck loss to Notis Otis in the 2006 B C Cup factor in the major races for sophomores. Over just that much better than any horse in the field.” Sprint. Notis Otis was making a comeback after the next four years, however, Lord Nelson domi- nearly dying and Lord Nelson was clearly beyond nated the older handicap division at Hastings. In Condilenios was impressed with Lord Nelson the his peak. The classy pair hooked up at the top one streak he compiled a record of 13-7-1 from first time he saw him. of the stretch and thrilled the large crowd with a 21 starts in stakes races at Hastings. In his career stretch-long duel. Lord Nelson’s performance dis- he won 16 races for total earnings of $673,099. “It was my first year training for the Bennetts played his tremendous heart. and RJ asked me to pick six horses to take to Lord Nelson’s dominance began with a win over Hastings,” recalls Condilenios. “They had about “It was one of the greatest races I have ever seen King Jeremy in the 2001 Hong Kong Jockey 50 horses in training in Vernon, but Lord Nelson at Hastings,” recalls track announcer Dan Jukich. Club. He forced the early pace and then drew really stood out. He wasn’t that big, but when he “Neither horse wanted to give an inch.” away in the stretch. In his next start in the B C trained he puffed himself up to look like he was Cup Classic he went right to the lead and was a big horse. It was the way he presented himself “We tried to retire him earlier, but he was just mis- never threatened. A similar scenario developed that attracted me to him.” erable at the farm,” said Condilenios. “He was a in the S.W. Randall Plate, where he toyed with real race horse and much happier at the track.” his rivals. It became the norm at Hastings. Lord According to Condilenios, Lord Nelson was the Nelson, with Frank Fuentes aboard, dictated smartest horse he has ever been around. Con- According to RJ, Lord Nelson has finally settled the terms of most of the stakes races for older dilenios also described Lord Nelson as having into his life of leisure at the Bennett’s Flying Horse horses. Any horse that beat him, earned it. some human traits – for example the way he felt Farm in Westbank. about Anita Bolton, his exercise rider and groom. He won the Grade 3 Lieutenant Governor’s “He seems happy enough but he still misses twice and lost by a neck in 2001 and 2004. “He was in love with Anita,” said Condilenios. the track,” says RJ. “Whenever a van comes by “Like most good horses Lord Nelson ate up eve- to pick up a load of horses, he wants to go with He was voted the champion older horse rything in his feed tub. I made Anita take a few them.” in the province from 2001 through 2004. days off when she was sick one time. He did not He was also the top sprinter and Horse eat an oat for the three days she was gone. As of the Year in 2004. He earned the award soon as she came back, the feed tub was empty 4 British Columbia Statistical Review 2012 Robert (Bobby) W. Hall

“I had no idea where Canada was and I had never heard of British Columbia,” says Hall. “I was the youngest of four children so there wasn’t any chance of me getting part of my parent’s property and there just weren’t many jobs around at the time. When my friend said he was going to Canada, I decided to join him.” ...R.W. “Bobby” Hall

Robert (Bobby) W. Hall is best known for being like racing, but at the end of the hunting season The rest is history. the owner and trainer of the greatest British I usually rode in a point-to-point race, which Columbia-bred ever, George Royal. Training was about three and a half miles.” As a 3-year-old in 1964 George Royal won nine horses, however, was the furthest thing from consecutive stakes races at Hastings, then his mind when he moved to Canada from Ire- Hall found work at a stable in the Vancouver named Exhibition Park. He gained international land in 1954. southlands, mucking stalls and exercising recognition with a win in the 1965 San Juan horses to keep them in shape for weekend rec- Capistrano. His second win in the Capistrano Hall’s decision to come to Canada was made reational riders. was historic. Legendary jockey John Longden on the spur of the moment over a few beers announced he would retire after riding George with a friend at a pub in his hometown of Sligo. In 1956 he went to work at Lavender Stock Royal in the Capistrano. As usual, George Farm in Walnut Grove, first galloping and then Royal was well back during the early stages of “I had no idea where Canada was and I had becoming the trainer for Elizabeth Gormley. the mile and three-quarters race on the Santa never heard of British Columbia,” says Hall. Anita turf course. The 60,000 people in attend- “I was the youngest of four children so there Elizabeth’s daughter Ann was intrigued when ance roared their approval when he made his wasn’t any chance of me getting part of my she heard about the good-looking Irishman patented late move to win by a nose. parent’s property and there just weren’t many who was training horses for her mother. jobs around at the time. When my friend said George Royal also won the Canadian Inter- he was going to Canada, I decided to join him.” “I was studying to be a nurse at St. Paul’s Hos- national Championship twice, and at the time pital and thought I should check him out,” says of his retirement, he was the second leading The long lineup for permits at the Canadian Ann. “The first day I met him, my mom had a Canadian-bred money-winner behind Northern Consulate spurred another snap decision that horse running and it won.” Dancer. He was inducted into the Canadian led him to B.C. Hall of Fame in 1976. A romance blossomed and they were married “Most of the people were either going to Toronto in 1959. Hall gave a lot of credit to Don Richardson for or Montreal,” says Hall. “I heard the odd person the success of George Royal. Richardson was say British Columbia so I thought it might be Hall started to make a name for himself with George Royal’s jockey early in his career and easier to find work where fewer people were horses like Desert Fire, a $1,100 claim that his trainer when he was based in the United going.” won the 1959 Premiers. In 1960 he won the States. Futurity with Ky Look and in 1961 he finished After walking the streets of Vancouver for sev- second in the Futurity with Polly Royal. “Donny stepped down as his rider in California eral days, he found a job with a small logging because he wasn’t riding many horses and felt company in Knight Inlet willing to take “green- Polly Royal was out of Polly Bashaw, making he couldn’t do George justice,” says Ann. “It horns.” her a half-sister to George Royal. She was was one of the most unselfish things I’ve ever the main reason Hall was interested in buying seen.” Seeing the danger involved in logging, how- George Royal for Vancouver furniture dealer ever, he decided to return to Vancouver. Ernie Hammond. After George Royal came Timber Music. In 1971 she became the first of her sex to be It was still difficult to find work in the city, so he “I thought if I could get a colt out of Polly voted the Horse of the Year in British Columbia. thought he would try to put his extensive knowl- Bashaw he might be a good one,” says Hall. Hall was lucky to get Timber Music back after edge of horses to use. “Ernie would only take him if I took half, though. he sold her to Jack Diamond for $2,000 in the He paid $3,000 for George and a filly out of 1970 yearling sale. “We always had horses on our farm back Polly Bashaw. My share came out of training home,” he said. “Mostly hunters. My dad didn’t bills.” “She had an odd way of going, and when I

2012 British Columbia Statistical Review 5 asked Mr. Diamond how she was training in race in 14 years,” says Hall. “He was such a me but he wouldn’t do it.” the spring, he said he wasn’t happy with her,” nice man and he was thrilled when we won a says Hall. “I thought she was a good breeding race with a horse called Never Out.” The Halls also have left a legacy of which they prospect so I offered a colt in exchange for her are very proud. Along with the horses they and he accepted the offer. I wasn’t planning on After the success of George Royal, Hall made raised six children at Emerald Acres. Three racing her, but she seemed fine so we just kept a shift to mostly training horses that he and Ann of them are heavily involved in horse racing: on going with her.” bred at Emerald Acres in Aldergrove. They had Sandra Loseth as a trainer, breeder and owner, bought the property in 1960 and according to Jennifer Johnson and Phil Hall are trainers Another notable achievement came in 1988 Ann, “George built the house.” and owners. Granddaughter Christine Loseth when Hall trained Screaming Sue, the cham- started her career as a trainer at Hastings in pion filly or mare, and the top B.C.-bred older There have been many celebrations at Emer- 2011 with three wins from her first nine starts. horse, Big Brac. ald Acres and a lot of fun along the way. Hall Grandson Justin Jensen is a jockey at Moun- recalls meeting Bing Crosby in the winner’s taineer. One of the proudest accomplishments of his circle at Woodbine after George Royal won his long career was winning a race for Earl Marks, second Canadian International. At 81, Hall officially retired this year. He enjoys an electrical shop owner who was also a small- spending his time with Ann and watching his time breeder. “He had just returned from Ireland and was the family carry on a rich tradition while his Irish decorator of the race,” says Hall. “I tried to get eyes are still smiling. “When I became his trainer he hadn’t won a him to sing ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’ with

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