SPORTS FLASHBACK 2002: Grunthal horsemen enjoy great day at the Downs

A trio of Grunthal horsemen have enjoyed a great year at Assiniboia Downs, highlighted by Speedy Treat’s July 13th win in the Manitoba Maturity, followed by another major win in the Agassiz, September 2.

The four-year-old thoroughbred earned big purses in those two races for Jake Penner, who, along with his wife Barb, owns J-Bar Stables, 10 miles south of Steinbach, They are having a dream year at the Downs, with Speedy Treat winning $35,000 in the Manitoba Maturity and adding $30,000 when he raced to the win in The Agassiz on September 2.

Speedy Treat is a collaborative effort with Penner’s friends and fellow horsemen, George Friesen and Peter Funk from the Grunthal area. Friesen provided the stud for Speedy Treat, while Penner purchased the horse from Funk, two years ago. Friesen also had a horse in the Manitoba Maturity, finishing third with G and L Special.

With owners eligible to keep 60 percent of a purse in a race, those two races alone netted Penner $39,000. Speedy Treat has raced eight times this year, winning a total of $53,000.

“He has had a great year, only once finishing worse than third.”

A dairy farmer for 10 years, Penner, who now owns a cattle feedlot, has been involved with horses all his life, and has owned race horses for 20 years. He was involved in harness racing for a number of years and has owned thoroughbreds for the past 10.

Penner, who has owned about 50 race horses over the years, says Speedy Treat is the best horse he has ever owned. In winning those two major stake races, Speedy Treat was declared the “Manitoba Bred Horse of the Year.”

The 1-1/16 mile Manitoba Maturity is a race for Manitoba bred four-year-olds and Speedy Treat, with Manuel Alicea aboard, won by a full length. Trained by Emile Corbel, Speedy Treat went on to win The Agassiz in dramatic fashion on Labour Day, nipping defending champion Gus Again at the wire. Juan Crawford was the winning jockey. The Agassiz, a distance of one mile, is a race for Manitoba bred horses of any age.

“Although this has been largely a hobby over the years, having a horse like this is very rewarding, and it is a nice feeling.”

Penner has had other successes. His horse, Young Johnny, still holds the track record for five furlongs, which has stood since the mid-1980’s.

Being involved in horse racing is not always a moneymaking venture, says Penner. “My first five years were a disaster financially.” But he added, the next five years he broke even and for the past decade he has made some money.

As good of a year as it already has been for Penner and Speedy Treat, the season is not over. Juan Crawford will ride Speedy Treat in the $60,000 Gold Breeders Cup, on the final day of racing at the Downs this year.

After Sunday’s race, Penner plans to ship his prize horse to Edmonton for the final month of racing in the Alberta capital. He is then considering taking Speedy Treat to Texas for the winter to continue racing.

“He is such a good horse at all distances, and in wet or dry conditions, he is a very versatile horse.”

Penner was asked if he would consider selling the best horse he has ever owned.

“Of course, everything’s for sale. It’s the nature of the business; if someone offered me $50,000 for Speedy Treat, I don’t think I would say no.”