Every picture tells a story for Bill
Blakewell
By Mark Ratzky – publicity – Cal Expo Harness
What
started out as taking pictures from the grandstand of a flashy near-white pacer
named Blue Canyon has turned into a labor of love and over 500 photographs here
at Cal Expo by 74-year-old Bill Blakewell.
His
takes no money for this, his reward for the work being the smiles it brings to
people as they see a moment in time that encapsulates the beauty and excitement
of the sport.
“I
was born in Omaha and then we moved to Oakland when I was 3,” Bill related. “My
mom and my aunt loved the horses and they used to take me to Golden Gate and
Bay Meadows, which was my first exposure to the racing.”
While
Bill made his living in the auto leasing business, photography was one of his
passions and he’s found a way to tie that love of snapping pictures with his
enjoyment of the horses. “We moved to Davis about 11 years ago, and that’s when
I started coming to Cal Expo and watching the trotters and pacers.
“The
horse that really caught my eye was Blue Canyon, because he was big and white
and almost always went to the front. I took some pictures of him from the
grandstand and gave them to his owner Bridget Desomer, who posted some of them
at the program stand where she worked.”
When
people saw the pictures, they asked Bridget who had taken them and she sent
them in Bill’s direction, including several owners and trainers who liked his
work.
“They
started coming to me and asking me if I would be interested to take pictures of
their horses, and I really enjoyed the entire process of going to the barn area
and also photographing them during the races.”
Blakewell
estimates he has taken some 500 pictures here at Cal Expo and has never charged
a penny for any of them. The look on the people’s faces when he presents them
is all the payment he needs.
Bill
was particularly proud when a composite of pictures he took of the horses My
Tryin Ryan and High Dollar were part of the ceremony at Kent Fox’s funeral,
spotlighting the late horsemen’s love for standardbreds at his remembrance.
“One
of my favorite series of shots was of My Tryin Ryan right after his race,”
Blakewell noted. “Kent would put out his head and it would look like the horse
was going to take a bite out of him, but what he would do is actually kiss
Kent.”
On
several occasions, Blakewell has put together a montage of sorts on particular
horses that start at the barn area, follow them to the paddock, including
several shots during the actual running of the race and then follow the
performer back to the barn.
“
I’ve also been able to take some very nice shots with drivers like Steve
Desomer and Steve Wiseman, who have been great to be around.”
Owner
KC Carvalho and trainer Tim Brown are also big fans of Bill’s work and he has
taken many pictures of their trotters and pacers over the last several years,
in addition to many horsemen who enjoy his work and want to be part of what is
a growing portfolio of Cal Expo memories.
Sire Stakes, Distaff Open share the
marquee
A
pair of $10,000 Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds and a Filly-Mare Open Pace that
brings out a powerful pair of stablemates in Show Runner and Strings are the
main attractions on Sunday’s Cal Expo program.
A
13-race card is on tap with first post set at 4:55 p.m. The Sire Stakes for
pacing fillies is the third race; the Distaff Open occupies the 5th
race slot; and the Sire Stakes for the trotters will go as a non-betting event
prior to the regular program.
Smash
has captured three of the first four big-money engagements for the 3-year-old
pacing fillies and looms the one to beat in that Sire Stakes. A homebred
daughter of Little Steven, she is owned by Billie Schwartz and Junior
Wilkinson, takes her lessons from Wilkinson and will have Luke Plano in the
sulky.
Taking
her on this weekend are Avila Beach with Mooney Svendsen guiding from the rail;
Speak English, who has the services of Tim Maier; Pips Valentina with Dave
Siegel; and Little Cher Amo from the outside with James Kennedy guiding.
Sandy’s
Song has dominated her sophomore trotting rivals thus far and is looking for
her fifth straight trophy in the other Sire Stakes. Henry Wieseneck owns the
daughter of Claudius Augustus with Bob Johnson training and Steve Wiseman in
his usual spot in the sulky. Cadet (Steve Desomer), Zoeys Delight (Mooney
Svendsen) and JK Journey (Leon Smith) round out the cast.
Trainer
Gene Vallandingham is strongly represented in the co-featured Distaff Open with
Show Runner and Strings in the cast. Show Runner is fresh from an impressive
win at this level while doing her work from the demanding No.10 post position
last week in her first start since October at Saratoga.
Racing
secretary Robin Schadt has once again assigned Show Runner the 10 slot for
Sunday’s gathering, while Strings will depart just to her inside in the No. 9
post. Challenging them are Stable Eyes, Part Time Lady and Live Love Laugh.
