The sire of the 2011 Canadian Derby winner, FREEDOMS TRAVELLER, passed away unexpectedly over this past weekend at the relatively young age of eleven. PEACENFREEDOM was an unraced son of FREE HOUSE. Peacenfreedom was owned by Randy and Donna Feddema of Carstairs, Alberta who purchased him as a three year old. The Feddema's still own his stakes winning son, Freedoms Traveller. (Posted May 7th, 2012)
The Alberta based Donver Stables had a winning horse at Woodbine on Saturday, May 5th. BEEKER STREET won the $150,000 Queenston Stakes with Patrick Husbands riding. The three year old colt is by Belong to Me out of Carah Five by You and I. (Posted May 7, 2012)
Faraway Echo Passes Away Submitted by Glen Stouffer
(It is with great sadness I am informing you that one of Alberta's greatest race mares of all time passed away on May 2, 2012 doing what she loved to do - running. As big as her heart was, it failed her in her last race in her paddock against mares half her age. Bred by Winsong Farms and purchased out of the1989 CTHS summer sale, FARAWAY ECHO went on to be Horse of the Year as a three year old and Champion Older Mare in 1991 at five. She was trained by Carol Lyster for her entire career and groomed by Ken Orr, ridden by Jake Barton and Rick Stevens. The question was often asked "how good was she"?
My answer is ‘she wasn't good at all she was great!'
FARAWAY ECHO earned over $340,000 and placed in 32 of her 38 starts. Posted May 7, 2012
INGLORIOUS
Canadian Champion Three Year Old Filly owned by Alberta based Outstanding Canadian Owner Donver Stables placed second in her first outing of 2012. The now four year old filly placed at an Allowance race at Keeneland held on April 11 with available money of $67,000. (Posted April 17, 2012)
Lianne Knechtel walks Freedom’s Traveller after the talented horse went for his daily workout Monday morning at the Desert Park training facility in Osoyoos. Under the guidance of Knechtel, who used to race in Osoyoos many years ago, Freedom’s Traveller captured the prestigious Canadian Derby last August at Northlands Park in Edmonton. Both trainer and horse have returned to Osoyoos to continue training this spring at Desert Park. Photo by Keith Lacey
Equine Canada Releases Horse Racing in Canada Report
The Economics of Horse Racing in Canada is an in‐depth report just released by Equine Canada on the horse racing industry on a province‐by‐province basis and identifies the significant economic contributions realized through horse racing in Canada – the industry generates more than 47,000 full-time equivalent jobs and $5.7 billion annually to the national economy.
The racing sector represents a small percentage of the total number of horses in Canada, but a significantly higher percentage of the overall economic contribution that comes from horses in Canada. With 45,000 horses active in the racing sector (five per cent of the total Canadian herd), the horse racing sector provides 26% of the total economic contribution, a $5.7 billion annual economic impact. Racing in Ontario represents the largest provincial sector for the national racing industry, with more than 68% of the total racing opportunities and 86% of the total purses earned in 2010. To read the report, click on the following link :
>> The Economics of Horse Racing in 2010
(posted March 27, 2012)
