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Show -N E*W S- Spanish Fork B4 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007 Covering what matters most SF trainer getting noticed Jonathan Horowitz LOS ALAMITOS . Justin Clark isn't swinging vfor the fences yet, but the first-year trainer has picked his spots better than any other trainer at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, CA. Clark's horses have won almost as consistently as they eat hay. Through Sunday, July 29, the 29-year-old has saddled 15 winners in 35 starts for a win percentage of 43 percent. To put that number in perspective, the next highest win percentage of the 23 Quarter Horse trainers with at least 10 victories this year is Hector Jaime Hernandez' 28.9 percent. After that, only Adan Farias and Sergio Fiscal have win percentages higher than 20 percent. Clark's .secret: "Trying to keep my horses fresh and not nln them so much - not make them think they have to run but make them want to run," he said. A native of Spanish Fork, Clark became a full-time trainer at Los Alamitos in Sep. 2006 after 10 years based in Utah. The son of jockey Barry Clark, a rider in Utah in the late 1970s, Clark began training at 18 years old in 1996. His horses raced primarily in Utah at Laurel Brown Racetrack and in Wyoming at Wyoming Downs. He said his biggest victory early in his career Courtesy photo Courtesy photo / Los Alamitos NEED FOR SPEED: Justin Clark trained Flashin Dashin, above. The horse won the Newport Beach Overnight Handicap. Justin Clark came in the 2002 Utah Classic at Laurel Brown. "It's more of a breeding ground," Clark said abouthorse racing in Utah and Wyoming. "If they can run, then they come out here. The horses that compete there can come down here and be competitive." The breeding ground for young racehorses also proved to be a breeding ground for a young trainer. In 2001, Clark visited Los Alamitos Race Course and worked as a groom for leading Quarter Horse trainer Paul Jones. In subsequent years, Clark would bring a few of his horses to run at Los Alamitos and then ship them back to Utah. "I came down here a couple of times for two or three months a few years ago and thert went home," he said. "But then I came down last September and have been here ever since." Clark's modest stable really anything big but a lot of approximately 10 horses of little things," said Clark. has miide its mark quickly. "There were things about In addition to his high win conditioning a horse that percentage, Clark also helped me a lot. notched his first stakes "Don't gallop your horses victory at Los Alamitos so much. Keep them fresh. on Saturday's California Once they're fit and running, Breeders Champions Night just keep them wanting to run. when Flashin Dashin won Basically he told me that if the the $21,150 Newport Beach horse can breathe good and he Overnight Handicap. Clark isn't hurting, he's going to run. had claimed the 3-year-old There were a few things with filly for $10,000 in April. the feeding that I learned, too, "I couldn't have dreamed that he said are different." this up," he said. "This is Clark said he still seeks way better than I expected. I Jones' training advice. knew if I did what Paul taught "We're really good friends. me and what I've learned I owe a lot to him. I learned from my dad at home, I knew a lot at home, too, but I think I could be successful. But I this gave me the extra little never dreamed I could win 42 bit I think I needed," he said. percent of races or.whatever, When racing concludes It's crazy to even think you for the year in Wyoming later could do that. So I'm really this month, Clark expects his happy." stable size to grow on account What did Jones teach of the success he has achieved at Los Alamitos. Clark? "I learned a lot — not Reprinted with permission. LADY GOLFERS: Pictured, back row, left to right, are Gloria Hartley, Jolynn Griner, Dickie Jane Sargent, Linda Roylance and Gloria Christensen; front row, Luena Howell Francom, Sandi Nilson and La Rue Taylor. SF Ladies win Tri-City tourney The Spanish Oaks Golf Ladies team played against the Tri City Golf Ladies on Aug. 13 at the Spanish Oaks Golf Course. The Oaks team really played a great competitive game. They won the competition with 90 pbints to 54 points. The most points were taken by Gloria Christensen and Dickie Jane Sargent. Least points was won by Gloria Christensen. This was the last of the Travel Team Competition for the season. The closing social for the travel teams Park & Rec Notes Matt Marziale SF PARKS & RECREATION Salem Days Pull-up Contest winners The Salem Days Pull-up .Contest.results from August 41^,2007 follow. Joseph ^Hopkin was the men's winner, and overall winner, with 21 pull ups. Jace Kelly was the Boys' (under 16) winner with 15. Kallee Wilson was the Girls' winner with 14. Courtney Acosta won the girls' flexed-arm hang with 100 seconds. Pull-ups are a good way to develop upper body strength regardless of body type. Contestants can increase the number they can do with three sets of pull-ups two times per week". The United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Academy sponsored this event. GIRLS AND WOMEN: Ages 8-9 Kate Wixom 2 Parker McEwan 1 Adult Flag Football Men desiring to play or find a team for flag football, the time is at hand. Spanish Fork Recreation will offer two leagues this year of men's flag footbaU4;Mbnday night will be the open league for men with speed and skill. All players should be out of high school. Tuesday night will be the recreational league for men 28 years and older. Two players 23 and older will be allowed on each rec. league team. Team fees are $210 if paid prior to Aug. 27, $235 if paid Aug. 28 or after. For more information, call Spanish Fork Recreation, 798-4068. Guys that like to fight, argue or complain are encouraged to sign up in another league — you're not welcome in this one. Ages 18-19 Scott Christian 14 Ages 10-11 Walker Van Tassell l l Kyle Skinner 10 McKay Coughlan 8 Hunter Vance 7 Spencer Strong 5 Ages 10-11 Averi Porter 10 Ages 12-13 Kallee Wilson 14 (overall winner) Courtney Acosta 11 Ages 12-13 Spencer Davis 11 Matthew Strong 10 Trent Kelly 9 Sean McEwan 6 Ryan Quist 6 MEN AND BOYS: Ages 6-7 Ryan Wixom 3 Dalton Hotman 2 Michael McVey 1 Dillon McEwan 1 Ammon Critchfield 1 Ages 14-15 Ages 20-25 Joseph Hopkin 21 David Clark 15 Ages 30^36 Dave Acosta 15 Travis Hancock 11 Ryan Sorenson 8 Ages 49-52 Don Applegate 8 Charles Wixom 5 Ages 53+ Andy Bradford 7 Jace Kelly 15 Ages 16-17 Ages 8-9 Jake Wilson 16 Jaxon Van Tassell 6 GIRLS' FLEXED-ARM HANG (in seconds) Ages 1-5 Adelaine Smith 15 Ages 6-10 Jacie Wilkenson 60 Ages 10-12 Averi Porter 63 £iajL> ajw (tfkzr Cruder will be held on Sept. 10, 2007 with all of the teams coming to the Spanish Oaks course to compete in a Fun Day competition where the teams will be divided up into equal handicap teams and compete. Every team will receive a prize. There will be awards made to the two winning teams from the overall season competition. The ladies of the Spanish Oaks will continue to play at 9 a.m., and meet at 8:30 a.m. for pairings as long as the weather is good. Come join us any time for a fun round. Ages 13-15 Courtney Acosta 100 Calle Wilson 90 Ages 16-20 Kylee Burns 10 Ages 21-31 Wendy Hancock 31 Ages 32-40 Tammy Swinton 10 Youth Flag and Tackle Officials Spanish Fork Parks and Recreation is currently looking for football officials. Flag officials must be a sophomore in high school or older. Pay rate is $ 10 an hour. Tackle officials should be adults to high school seniors. Pay rate is $15 an hour. Officials will receive training and rule education. All prospective officials should plan to attend at training meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in SFHS CBuilding wrestling room. This meeting will end at 9 p.m. ROY HOBBS - MEN'S BASEBALL TEAM w Astros Mudcats Brewers Yankees Braves Bruins Diamondbacks Tigers Cardinals Mariners 3 4 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 L 1 0 1 3 3 3 2 2 1 0 the Oil Change ••' • .'•• / - - • , • - • j-foart • 280 North Main • Spanish Fork, UT 84660 Phone (801) 798-6816 • jmartprinting@sfcn.org Serving the Spanish Fork area with quick and friendly service! 552 N. Main, Spanish Fork • 798-7877 V \ |