DELICIOUS DINING UPDATE: Still room on New Year's Eve  Sorry, Thursday theme nights are sold out for December. But bookings for all-you-can-eat $14.95 Prime Rib buffets are being taken for 2010. (A good way to beat the winter blahs!) And there's still room at the New Year's Bash featuring a lavish feast, DJ and dancing, party favours, champagne at midnight and more, all for $39.95 per person. Call Abbi at 885-3330 ext 277 to reserve.
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ALWAYS SCENIC, SOMETIMES SCARY: Winter driving through the Rockies is made worthwhile by scenes like this near Roger's Pass. But a sudden whiteout in the Coquihallas turned scenic into scary as I found out after a near-collision.

Thank goodness for ABS brakes!  Otherwise I might be writing this column from a hospital bed--or worse.  On a whirlwind trip to Vancouver (I just love the mountains), a sudden whiteout blizzard in the mountains of the Coquihalla highway in B.C. produced the scariest driving experience of my life.  All I could do was follow tracks in the ice and snow immediately ahead of my car. Was there a curve? Was I going uphill, downhill? It was hard to know.  Suddenly out of the swirling snow appeared the back end of a u-haul trailer and I slammed on my brakes, thinking a collision was inevitable.  You could hear all four ABS brakes grinding away to slow the vehicle.  And, somehow, almost miraculously, they did, with just a few feet to spare.  Talk about being shaken up!  Those white knuckle conditions continued for 20 minutes and, all I can say is, I feel lucky to be back to show you a couple pictures of the scenery that makes such a trip worthwhile--and, in an upcoming column, share with you a quirky discovery about horseplayers on the West Coast.

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In the meantime, let's talk about this Saturday, a day that can only be dubbed Super Saturday because so much is happening and bonuses and rewards are available to everyone. Where do you fit?

ATTENTION CONTEST VIRGINS:  Never fear, Bigg is here!

The final Player's Choice horseplayer tournament of the year is taking place this Saturday and I'm especially interested in helping those of you who perhaps have never played in such a tournament and perhaps feel intimidated by the process. Or maybe you've just played in a live tournament and not a simulcast racing tourney.  I want to (a) make it easier for you to play and (b) give you a $100 bonus if you play and finish among the top three.

Fair Grounds: one of the two tournament tracks

It's simple:  Come to the Finish Line banquet room at 11 a.m. Saturday and we'll discuss the two tournament tracks--Fair Grounds and Aqueduct--and discuss strategy you can use in playing those tracks.  That automatically qualifies you to pick up an extra $100 if you finish first, second or third in the tournament--in addition to collecting the main cash prizes (the winner is expected to get to about $750).

How to sign up?  You can sign up anytime from now through to Saturday at noon--the time the tournament begins.  Cost:  $25 which also entitles you to a comfort luncheon (see below) while playing in the tournament.  Being part of the tournament also entitles you to predict which key will open the Treasure Chest in the Goose Contest Awards Fest that is also taking place Saturday.  Identify the correct key and another $100 is yours.  If you're within three of the correct key (without going over), you still will get $25.  Now how much fun is that?   It's time to lose your contest virginity!

CONTEST VETERANS:  Think you're smart?  Show it

Feel left out by the special deal for contest virgins above?  Okay, by coming to the Finish Line at 11 a.m. you veterans will also qualify to win an extra $100 if you finish in the top three in the tournament. (The top prize is expected to be $750.)  And, just by playing in the tournament, you get to predict the winning key in my Goose Contest Awards Fest to win another $100 similar to the above.  But, as experienced players, you'll be expected to add your two-cents worth in the discussion about races at Aqueduct.  A group pick-6 ticket will be put together at the seminar and you'll have an opportunity to put your money where your mouth is in investing in a share of the ticket.

Good luck to those of you who are playing in the tournament with a view to nabbing the title of Handicapper of the Year.  I know it's down to a few of you.  A beautiful trophy and a trip to Las Vegas to participate in a $1 million contest are at the ready for you.  See the rankings of players who are vying for the title here.

GOOSE CONTEST FINALISTS:  Treasure awaits

All finalists in my "When will the geese leave?" contest have been contacted.  The Treasure

Predict which key will open the chest and get $100!

Chest containing $500 awaits the turn of a key they will choose from the board of "I Love Canadian Geese" key chains.  The goose contest finalists also are eligible for all the goodies above if they also participate in the horseplayer tournament.  I hope all of them have decided to be part of that action, too. 

Entertaining, too!  For everybody else in the Clubhouse Saturday afternoon, the Goose Contest Award Fest should just be entertaining to watch.  Since there was a three-way tie for predicting the correct day the geese would leave, the tie-breaker consisting of a game of RPS (rock, paper, scissors) will determine the ultimate winner, hosted by yours truly.  That fun begins at 1 p.m.   And, remember, everyone who enters the horseplayer contest gets to predict which key will open the Treasure Chest.  The correct predictor gets $100.  Those who are within three of the correct one (without going over) receive $25.

This card will get you double the rewards Saturday

ALL BETTORS:  Double the rewards points!

Nobody is left out on Super Saturday!  EVERYONE who makes a bet on Saturday, whether it's on the phone, at an off-track facility or at the track, will receive DOUBLE the awards points on their Player Rewards card.  Do you have a Player Rewards card?  You can get one instantly from now through Saturday simply by signing up for one at the track.  On Saturday, visit the kiosk in the Clubhouse even before the 11 a.m. seminar begins to pick up your Rewards Card to be ready to earn your just rewards every time you bet that day.

COMFORT FOOD LOVERS:  Shepard's Pie hits the spot

Shepard's Pie=a happy tummy

A meal to make your tummy happy on a cold December day--shepard's pie--will be ready for you, piping hot, in the Clubhouse.  Everyone who plays in the horseplayer tournament will be served this delicious comfort meal without charge.  Those who aren't in the tourney can purchase it for $7.99.

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QUICK BITS:  Trainer dies in farm accident

CRUSHED BY HAY: Downs' horse owner/trainer Frank DeRose, 50, died tragically Saturday in an accident on his farm. He apparently was lifting a large round bale of hay on a forklift and, when it was lifted high, it rolled off the lift and crushed him. Those bales weigh anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds.  Chelsea, who hosted Winners' Circle presentations last summer said she recalls his excitement and generous nature after his horse won a sponsored race.  "He was so happy and thanked the sponsors and spent a lot of time talking with them. I know a lot of people are pretty shaken up. I guess that just shows the track is one big family."

VERBAL ATTACK COSTLY:  Woodbine jockey Justin Stein was fined $4,000 and given a seven-day riding suspension for verbally attacking rider Chantal Sutherland, a former Winnipegger, in front of spectators, after he was unseated from his mount in a race on September 9.  His riding suspension will take effect when Woodbine's 2010 meet opens April 2.  Chantal, by the way, is in Hong Kong, competing in a jockey challenge series.

QUEEN TO ATTEND PLATE?  Woodbine has moved next year's Queen's Plate from its usual June scheduling to July 4 because that's the time Queen Elizabeth will be visiting Ontario.

WHO'S BETTER?  RACHEL OR ZENYATTA?  Vote your choice for Horse of the Year by visiting the Daily Racing Form website at www.drf.com.  Zenyatta is leading in the voting.  The Horse of the Year will be officially unveiled at the Eclipse Awards Banquet in Los Angeles on Jan. 18.  Racing writers, employees of the Daily Racing Form and racing secretaries at tracks belonging to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association are the official voters.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  "She's filled out and happy and when she is happy, I am happy." -- Dominic Terry, exercise rider of wonder filly Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds.

Third time's the charm for snake-bitten Al