Randy Goulding: Fifth race Sunday at Hastings devoted to the Johnsons

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It’s arduous to search out anybody who had extra enjoyable on the races than Ken and Sharon Johnson. Sadly, Sharon died in September 2019 and Ken not lengthy after, in July 2020. The fifth race at Hastings on Sunday is devoted to their reminiscence.

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On race days, the Johnsons might be discovered on the bar in Silks. Ken was well-known for providing drinks to passersby and was at all times pleased to supply his knowledge.

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In 1978, sons Mark and Lyle have been considerably shocked when Ken introduced he was going to become involved in horse racing.

“Dad was sitting again in his armchair when he declared to a mixture of household and pals in his Horseshoe Bay house that he was going to get a race horse,” Mark recalled. “Most of us laughed, as a result of, as everybody is aware of, racing is the Sport of Kings, and for these with a king-size financial institution e book.”

Undeterred by the laughter, Ken proceeded together with his quest to turn into a horse proprietor, convincing 9 family and friends members to place up $500 every.

The very first thing they wanted was a coach. A good friend launched them to Heather and Doug Clyde, who have been among the many main trainers at Hastings on the time. Their daughter, Terry Clyde, additionally grew to become a profitable coach.

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”They have been so fortunate to have met and engaged with the Clyde household,” mentioned Lyle. “The primary horse they claimed didn’t win for the group, however fortunately, he was claimed and the subsequent low-end claimer they bought turned out to be Daybreak Duster. Although Daybreak Duster was previous his stakes-winning days, he received a few occasions for the syndicate and so they have been hooked on racing.”

Among the many many horses owned by the Johnsons, My Particular Angel was a standout. With Terry Clyde as her coach, she completed second within the 2007 Sadie Diamond Futurity. She retired with 5 wins and $115,529 in earnings. As a broodmare, she has produced a number of winners. The daughter of Finality remains to be owned by the Johnson household.

“Mother and pa can be so happy to be acknowledged for his or her half on this trade,” mentioned Lyle. “We’ve met so many good individuals on the backstretch and the entrance finish, and have fashioned lifetime relationships by way of racing.”

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Daring Arch needs to be powerful to beat within the race the Johnsons are being honoured. The six-year-old B.C.-bred runs properly contemporary, has been coaching properly for coach John Morrison and might be gone if he breaks on high.

He won’t supply quite a lot of worth, although.

Quagmire could be price taking a shot at within the sixth race. He can stalk the velocity and he will get in gentle with apprentice rider Frazer Aebly aboard.

As a result of competitiveness of the races, I’ve no robust emotions about any of the horses working Saturday. Nevertheless, if Simply Misty behaves and makes it into the beginning gate with none mishaps, and that may be a large if, she may pull off an upset within the sixth race.

Randy Goulding has been handicapping horses and writing for The Racing Type at Hastings Park for greater than 30 years. His column will run weekly all through the racing season.

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