Five-time leading jockey Ricky Frazier plans return to the saddle | Emerald Downs News and Notes

Ricky Frazier recently attended school in Kentucky for prospective stewards and racing officials. And yes, Emerald Downs‘ five-time leading jockey said he envisions himself in a stewards’ booth in the not too distant future.

But according to Frazier, the suit and tie won’t replace the white pants and black boots for a while yet. Frazier, 47, said he attended stewards’ school while awaiting medical clearance to resume his riding career, clearance he expects to get before Emerald Downs begins its 2012 season in April.
“I took the course (Nov. 9-16) at the University of Louisville, and it went really well,” Frazier said. “But (being a steward) for when my riding days are over.”

Frazier has ridden 3,490 winners in a 30-year career that includes Emerald Downs’ titles in 2004, ’06, ’07, ’09 and ’10, and Longacres Mile victories on Flamethrowintexan in 2006 and Noosa Beach in 2010.  He missed the entire 2011 meeting, however, and continues to be sidelined by the effects of a fractured skull he suffered in a fall at Fresno, Calif. on Oct. 17, 2010. The after effects included headaches, dizziness and disorientation, and neurologists advised Frazier against riding.

Frazier appeared riding fit when visiting Emerald Downs last summer, and said he feels even better now.

“The plan is to be cleared by March 1,” he said, “and then get up to Emerald Downs for the start of the season.”

Ricky Frazier
Born: July 23, 1964
Residence: Hot Springs, Ark.

Career Mounts: 25,443 1st: 3,490 2nd: 3,260 3rd: 3,099 Earnings: $42,426,343

At Emerald Downs
2010*Wins: 114 (1st) Stakes wins: 10 (1st)
2009*Wins: 155 (1st) Stakes wins: 11 (1st)
2008*Wins: 117 (2nd) Stakes wins: 7 (1st-tie)
2007*Wins: 157* (1st) Stakes wins: 12 (1st)
2006*Wins: 88 (1st) Stakes wins: 8 (1st)
2005*Wins: 107 (2nd) Stakes wins: 10 (1st)
2004*Wins: 109 (1st) Stakes wins: 8 (1st)
2002*Wins: 39 (10th) Stakes wins 6 (4th)
*track record

CLASS INCLUDED HONORED IN CANADA

Mike and Amy Feuerborn’s Class Included was named champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Open) at the British Columbia Thoroughbred Awards Dinner last week.

Trained by Jim Penney, the Kentucky-bred Class Included won the $100,000 B.C. Oaks by four lengths and finished second beaten a neck vs. older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (G3-C) won by Orchids Silver. Class Included also was Emerald Downs’ Top 3-Year-Old Filly in 2011 after winning the Washington Oaks and Seattle Handicap, and finishing second in both the Kent Handicap and Irish Day Handicap.

A Feuerborn homebred by Include-A Classic Life, Class Included is 3-4-0 in seven starts with earnings of $166,698 in 2011.

At the same dinner, Northern Causeway was named B.C. Horse of the Year while Almost Time was honored as the B.C.-bred Horse of the Year. Trained by Len Kasmerski for owner Roz Barclay, Northern Causeway held off the Penney-trained Jebrica to capture the $200,000 B.C. Oaks (G3-C) on Sept. 25.

VANN BELVOIR CONTINUES WINNING WAYS

Since splitting his stable between Washington and southern California, Vann Belvoir has fared remarkably well with a combined mark of 14-12-8 in 67 starts at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.

Belvoir is 4-5-1 in 14 starts at the Hollywood Park Autumn Meeting, and the just turned 38-year-old trainer turned in a show-stopping afternoon on Saturday. Dress Code, a double winner at Emerald Downs in 2011, won the fourth race and first off the claim by a nose in his turf debut, paying $22.60 and earning a career-high 87 Beyer.

A race later, the 2-year-old colt Yes It’s Snowing*0-for-3 at Emerald Downs*improved to 2-for-2 in the Southland with a half-length victory in a $32,000 claimer on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface.

Belvoir almost made it three wins in four races, but the 4-year-old Washington-bred finished second at 22-to-1 odds in the seventh race.

Belvoir’s final starter of the day, Assessment, finished ninth at 28-to-1 in the Grade 2, $250,000 Citation Handicap on the turf. The 2009 Longacres Mile winner was coming off a heartbreaking nose defeat at 43-to-1 in the Nov. 5 Lure on the turf at Santa Anita.

OREGON CHAMPIONSHIP DAY, SUNDAY, DEC. 11

Portland Meadows presents one of its biggest events with Oregon Championship Day on Sunday, Dec. 11, featuring five stakes races for Oregon-breds.

There will be two $15,000 stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs*Bill Wineberg for colts and geldings and Janet Wineberg for fillies; and a pair of $10,000 races for sophomores*Oregon Hers for fillies at one mile and Oregon His for colts and geldings at 1-1/16 miles. Older horses compete in the $10,000 Lethal Grande Oregon Sprint Championship at six furlongs.

Also at Portland Meadows, Felimon Alvarado was off to a sizzling start and led Jerry Hollendorfer 14-11 in the trainers’ standings thru Nov. 22. Alvarado, who was two-for-23 at Emerald Downs, was 14-for-29 for a red-hot 48.2 percent. In the jockeys’ race, Javier Matias led Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo 26-18, with apprentice Eliska Kubinova third with 16 wins.