Saturday, November 12 was a busy day at Woodbine racetrack as it was the HBPA’s (Ontario) Backstretch Appreciation Day as well as LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society Day.
The Ontario Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association gave out hundreds of hoodies to backstretch workers during the week leading up to Saturday when they honoured three of the year’s Outstanding Grooms and Assistant Trainers.
DENTON EBANKS, assistant to Kevin Attard, ADRIAN LEE, assistant to Stuart Simon and CHRIS HUARTE, who assists his father Frank Huarte, were honoured as the year’s top assistant trainers.
The three grooms honored were MARK MANUK, who works for John Mattine, SHELLEY PANACCI, a groom for Michelle Love and RICARDO NICHOLSON, who works for Ian Black.
Also on Saturday it was LongRun day, the annual graduate calendar giveaway, jockey meet-and-greet and fundraiser. Jockeys including Rafael Hernandez, Slade Jones, David Moran, Jose Campos and a visiting Jose Ortiz signed calendars for fans. You can inquire about a LongRun calendar, and how you can help retired racehorses with donations, by visiting www.longrunretirement.com.
Woodbine jockeys signed LongRun calendars on Nov. 12
Grooms Mark Manuk, Shelley Panacci and Ricardo Nicholson were honoured as top grooms of 2022 by the HBPA
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