Eight races, 46 entries for opening day

The Daily Inter Lake

Pari-mutuel horse racing at the Northwest Montana Fair begins Friday at 1 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds with an eight-race card, including time trials for the Charlie Russell Futurity for 2-year-olds.

The trials will take place in the second, third and fourth races. The eight fastest horses of the 17 entries will advance to the Charlie Russell Derby Finals on Aug. 27. The estimated purse is $35,000.

Also Friday, there will be a one mixed breed race and four thoroughbred races. All total there are 46 entries.

"So far, it's been the same (as last year)," said Shorty Martin, the racing secretary.

"Some people from Missoula have come up here, some Canadian people came down and we have some Washington and Oregon people. That's usually our makeup here."

Martin said the horses that ran at Missoula in the Western Montana Fair are split this week between Kalispell and Billings.

"I think we have a good group of jockeys," said Martin.

"Fourteen riders total. Good experienced riders and some newer people."

Two jockeys - Rowdy Luark and Nikeela Black - will ride all eight races Friday.

All total, there are five race dates on tap. Opening weekend also features racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Horse racing concludes Aug. 27-28. Post time for all racing is 1 p.m.

The final date is billed as Championship Sunday with Northwest Montana Fair Handicap and Matron Handicap events. The purse that day will be $10,000 for the Charlie Russell Derby.

Friday's Race Card

Race One - 5 furlongs, purse $1,400, thoroughbred maiden (3-and-up) - 1. General Slim (Brian Connelly); 2. Watch It; 3. Stoney's Outlaw (Nikeela Black); 4. Snow Peek (Jeff Ferguson); 5. Nolimitholden (Rowdy Luark); 6. Perry Option.

Race Two - 350 yards, purse $1,000, quarter horse futurity trials (2-year olds) - 1. Ima Snowbound Jet (Rowdy Luark); 2. Andys My Dash (Nikeela Black); 3. Two Dash to Fame (Jaime Martinez); 4. CPR First Feature (Tim Neal); TP Jingle Dance (Shaunda Larsen).

Race Three - 350 yards, purse $1,000, quarter horse futurity trials (2-year olds) - 1. Easy Stretch To Fame (Jaime Martinez); 2. Hope N Fast (Tim Neal); 3. Say Good Night Grace (Rowdy Luark); 4. KR Profitibility (David Brown); 5. IMA Flyn First Class (Chad Benjamin); 6. Dazzlin Dory (Nikeela Black).

Race Four - 350 yards, purse $1,000, quarter horse futurity trials (2-year olds) - 1. CPR First Rate (Tim Neal); 2. Chivatos Fiesta (Rowdy Luark); 3. Varitek (Chad Benjamin); 4. Tim to Fly Strait (Jaime Martinez); 5. Froghollow Flash Bac (David Brown); 6. Power N Fast (Nikeela Black).

Race Five - 660 yards, purse $2,000, mixed allowance (3-and-up) - 1. Dash Yawl (Nikeela Black); 2. RJ Mistral Dreamer (Terrence Bird Rattler); 3. Grannys Style (Chad Benjamin); 4. Oops He Duped Me (Rowdy Luark); 5. Stay Snowbound (Shannon Wippert).

Race Six - 6 furlongs, purse $1,800, thoroughbred claiming $4,000 (3-and-up) - 1. Vamp Inthe Heather (Rowdy Luark); 2. Plenty of Talk (Fernando Gamez); 3. I Came to Play (Chad Benjamin); 4. A Tempting Light; 5. Tamarack Creek (Nikeela Black).

Race Seven - 6 furlongs, purse $1,700, thoroughbred claiming $5,000 (3-and-up) - 1. Greystone Three; 2. Wasperino (Nikeela Black); 3. Under Desert Skies (Fernando Gamez); 4. Advancingscore (Shannon Wippert); 5. Annie Siren; 6. Fancy Comanche (Rowdy Luark).

Race Eight - 5 furlongs, purse $1,700, thoroughbred claiming $2,500 (3-and-up) - 1. Phone Scrambler (Nikeela Black); 2. J.D.'s Easter; 3. El Giuliani (Shannon Wippert); Brooksbobnbucky (Rowdy Luark); 5. Fleet's Promise (Tim Neal); 6. Redinal (Chad Benjamin); 7. Faster Than Music.