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His first mount of the 2021 Woodbine season wasn't a winning one, but for Sahin Civaci, it was a good start.

The fourth race on Woodbine's opening day card on June 12 attracted a field 11 fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, including Pipestone, bred and owned by Chiefswood Stables.

A 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, the dark bay departed the gate as the 3-1 second choice in the seven-furlong journey over the Toronto oval Tapeta.

At the wire, Civaci and Pipestone settled for second prize, 4 ¼-lengths behind the favored Shedat.

There was no winner's circle photo, but for Civaci, simply being back in action, to reconnect with the feeling of being in the irons, was a victory in itself.

“Of course, the goal is to always win. But I was happy with the effort and I was happy to ride for Chiefswood and [trainer] Stuart Simon. This mare will be hard to beat next time out. Just to be back racing, it was such a good feeling for myself and for everyone else.”

After a successful run at his hometown oval, Hastings Park, which began in 2014, Civaci made the decision to set up shop in Toronto two years ago.

Being the new jockey on the block presented its share of challenges. But after a modest start at Canada's Showplace of Racing, he would eventually find his stride.

“Coming to a big track like Woodbine can be intimidating to some people, even myself,” who was born in Vancouver but at the age of 10 moved with his parents to their native Ankara, Turkey. “That first year was a little difficult, getting adjusted to a new situation. After I got through all of that, I felt very comfortable. I feel very comfortable now and I'm very happy with where I am at.”

He can readily recall his first trip to the Woodbine winner's circle and the trip itself.

The milestone moment came on June 5, 2019, aboard Phil's Glory, an Ontario-bred daughter of Philanthropist.

Sent off at 7-2, Phil's Glory, bred and then owned by Paul Buttigieg, rallied for a half-length score in the 1 1/16-mile main track race.

“I loved that race. We came from off the pace, we ran down the horse that was on the lead and got them at the wire. It was definitely rewarding. I got a lot of calls from people back at Hastings. I have a lot of support from back there, so it meant a lot to have so many people reach out to congratulate me.”

Civaci has had plenty of other reasons to celebrate since settling in Ontario.

In 2019, he won 39 races in 363 starts. Last year, he boosted his win total to 47 from 434 starts.

His goals for this year won't come as a surprise.

“I want win more races than I did in 2020 and to also be in more races, and in the bigger races. I was really happy with last year's performance. Each year, it seems like it is getting better and better, and opportunities are opening up for me. I'm just pleased with how everything is going.”

That would also apply to his life away from the races.

When he's not getting a leg up, Civaci can be found indulging in his passion for gaming, going for a walk with his girlfriend Alyssa, or taking care of their pet hedgehog, Bruce.

“I like going out for walks with my girlfriend, and we'll also watch movies on Netflix too,” said the 27-year-old, who lists the 1996 movie Jingle All the Way as his all-time favorite. “I love to play videogames, too, so I do that a lot. You just really try to take advantage of any downtime you get. It's a good balance to have. I'm very happy with how things are in my life.”

The rider with 202 lifetime wins, including a victory aboard Calgary Caper in the Grade 3 BC Premier's Handicap three years ago, will hope to echo those same words at the conclusion of this year's Woodbine Thoroughbred meet.

He's looking forward to the journey.

“I'm going to continue to work hard to get more opportunities to ride. The key for me is to always do better than the year before. That's what pushes me every time I go into the gate. Win or lose, I always give my best.”

The post ‘Such A Good Feeling’: Jockey Sahin Civaci Glad To Be Back Racing At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 2017 GIII Canadian Derby has been declared official–for the fifth time.

But the upholding of the controversial commission-level disqualification of Chief Know It All (Flashy Bull) from western Canada’s most prestigious race might still not end up being the final judgment in a case that has now languished in the courts for three-plus years.

The Alberta Court of Appeal ruling, first reported Nov. 23 by Canadian Press, is the latest twist in the prolonged legal challenge over whether stewards are the final arbiters of foul-related race disqualifications in that province.

This latest judgment–which essentially upholds the right of a quasi-judicial, independent body to overturn race outcome decisions made by track officials in Alberta—stands in stark contrast to the opposite United States federal court ruling from earlier this year that declared Churchill Downs stewards had the full power and final say in DQ’ing the winner of the 2019 GI Kentucky Derby for an in-race foul.

On Aug. 19, 2017, at Northlands Park, Chief Know It All, then owned by Rollingson Racing Stable and trained by Robertino Diodoro, won the $150,000 (CDN) stakes by a half-length.

There was a dead heat for second, and the stewards investigated a foul claim on behalf of one of the runners-up.

The objection focused on whether Chief Know It All came over and impeded rail-running Double Bear (Kentucky Bear) at the head of the stretch or if Double

Bear caused his own stutter-step problem by running up on the left hind of Chief Know It All.

The stewards ruled no foul occurred, leaving up Chief Know It All as the winner.

The connections of Double Bear appealed to Horse Racing Alberta, which has something called an Appeal Tribunal comprised of up to three members who hear appeals on rulings made by horse racing officials, with the ability to render reversals independent of Horse Racing Alberta.

Ten months later, the Appeal Tribunal did indeed reverse the outcome of the 2017 Canadian Derby, DQ’ing Chief Know It All for interference while elevating Double Bear and Trooper John (Colonel John) as dead-heat winners.

Rollingson Racing took the matter to court, seeking a remand back to the original stewards’ decision, but had no luck in two lower court attempts before the case went before the Alberta Court of Appeal, which similarly upheld the tribunal’s power to overrule stewards.

According to Canadian Press, “Rollingson Racing argued that the Appeal Tribunal did not have enough members to make the decision to disqualify, because one of them had been let go partway through the proceedings. The Appeal Court has dismissed the argument [ruling that] a section of Alberta’s horse racing act could be interpreted to allow a former member to return so as to conclude a complaint that was already before the tribunal.”

It was unclear if Rollingson Racing will pursue further legal attempts to fight the DQ.

Chief Know It All has long since left the Rollingson stable and Diodoro’s barn. He won the GII British Columbia Derby at Hastings in his next start after the Canadian Derby, then shipped out to race at Zia, Oaklawn, Prairie Meadows, Canterbury, Turf Paradise and Churchill.

During 2019 and into 2020, he was claimed four times while crossing the finish line first in five of six races at Churchill, Saratoga, Keeneland and Aqueduct.

But in one of those races, on Nov. 14, 2019, Chief Know It All was DQ’d from a 12 1/4-length win at Churchill while also having his claim voided for a Class 3 naproxen positive while under the care of trainer Danny Gargan. The gelding currently competes at the $25,000 claiming level in New York, most recently running third at that level Nov. 13.

The post Controversial 2017 Canadian Derby Declared Official–For Fifth Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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