Saturday, August 7, 2010

“Weekly planner: Rodeo, horse racing, Griz fans can rejoice” plus 1 more

“Weekly planner: Rodeo, horse racing, Griz fans can rejoice” plus 1 more

Weekly planner: Rodeo, horse racing, Griz fans can rejoice

Posted: 07 Aug 2010 06:25 PM PDT

Rodeo, horse racing and Montana Grizzly football fans, this is the week you've been waiting for.

The Montana Grizzlies open fall camp on Tuesday with a practice at 2 p.m. at the South Campus field. They'll have one-a-day practices through Saturday, then begin a regimen of two-a-days every other day. The first scrimmage is set for Aug. 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Rodeo fans will have a busy week, too. The Western Montana Fair Bullorama will get things started on Tuesday with a 7:30 p.m. performance. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children 5-12, free for children under 5 and $10 for bleacher seats.

The Missoula Stampede PRCA Rodeo will begin its three-night run on Wednesday. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children 5-12, free for children under 5 and $10 for bleacher seats.

Horse racing makes its return to the Western Montana Fair on Friday. Post time is noon on both Friday and Saturday.

The Missoula Osprey, meanwhile, will return to Missoula for a four-game homestand beginning Monday. They'll entertain Great Falls for two games and Helena for two more. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. each night at Ogren-Allegiance Park.

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

HORSE RACING / Zenyatta looking to extend streak to 18

Posted: 07 Aug 2010 05:29 AM PDT

As she has reeled off victory after victory with her huge kick down the stretch, unbeaten 6-year-old mare Zenyatta has added some crowd-pleasing, pre-race playfulness: prancing in the saddling paddock and shaking a front leg in the post parade.

"She's gotten to where she really knows she's a superstar," jockey Mike Smith said in a national teleconference. "It's almost as if she tries to intimidate the competition when she dances in the paddock. She loves entertaining."

Today at Del Mar, Zenyatta goes for her 18th win when she runs in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes - a race she has captured the past two years.

Only one thoroughbred, Peppers Pride, ever had more consecutive victories, and she won all 19 of her races in New Mexico events restricted to horses bred in that state.

Zenyatta has won 11 Grade 1 events and four Grade 2's and is the only female ever to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, which she did Nov. 7 in her only start against male opponents.

"Whenever you see her whole record on paper, it's just amazing," Smith said. "The way she runs makes it even more impressive. She's had to pass almost every single horse in every race."

Zenyatta has five seemingly overmatched opponents in today's 1 1/16 -mile race, including the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Dance to My Tune. There has been some criticism of Zenyatta's connections - trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerome and Ann Moss - for running her in races like the Clement L. Hirsch instead of more ambitious spots like the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap today at Saratoga.

"It used to bother me, but she is who she is," Smith said. "What she has done is incredible; for anyone to knock perfection is wrong. She's 17-for-17. We want to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic again (Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs), and John will get her there."

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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