DEBBIE ENGLAND brings her horses into Woodbine on Wednesday – Woodbine/Dawn Kay photo
HORSES RETURN TO WOODBINE BACKSTRETCH
It’s back to business and what a great business it is. Ontario horse racing is a strong, resilient industry. We have seen how the Standardbred industry has come together and works as a team this year. Quarter Horse racing members are working hard to build the sport and on Wedmesday, Thoroughbreds and their human folk began to arrive at the Woodbine backstretch for the 2016 season.
Racing is on and the feeling is [should be] joy!
Woodbine’s Karl Lagerborg (training track photo) and Dawn Kay captured some images:
It’s -20- celcius this morning but the track is open – good news is, rain and plus 5 coming by the weekend. The track may suffer with the temperature swings but at least the horses and people will be more comfortable Karl L. photo
Stakes placed CRUMLIN SPIRIT eyes the barn as she comes off the van to trainer Mike Doyle’s barn
ANNIVERSARY TIME – 10 years old next month!
HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THOROUGHBLOG?
From Canadian racing news and results to features, sales results and opinion and comments plus handicapping Thoroughblog has been busy this winter..
FEATURE on Ontario’s newest jock agent Ryan Deyotte – https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/battle/
FEATURE ON new Racing Club – https://canadianthoroughbred.com/magazine_articles/sport-of-queens/
LUKES ALLEY wins Grade 1 https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/big-game-2/
WOODBINE ANNOUNCES CONDITION BOOK CHANGES – https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/patience/
and so much more, including cute foal photos.
Check out Thoroughblog every day and join the conversation!
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
From Jan. 1, Canadian-bred horses have been making plenty of noise in the US.
Here are the top Beyer Figures from Canadian-breds in 2016 through Feb. 17
AMI’S FLATTER – 105
HEART TO HEART – 103
LUKE’S ALLEY 103
LUKES ALLEY 103
KAIGUN – 96
CONQUEST TYPHOON 93
UNBRIDLED JUAN – 93
SPEIGHTSONG – 92
SCORCH – 89
STILL KRZ 88
BEHEMOTH – 88
DIODORO SET TO RETURN TO WOODBINE
Calagry born ROBERTINO DIODORO, one of the leading trainers on the continent by wins, is setting up shop at Woodbine this spring. Currently the leading trainer at TURF PARADISE, the former hockey player, 2-time Canadian Derby winner, has 16 stalls at Woodbine this spring.
Leading Trainers of 2016 by wins
Karl Broberg 216 43 36 17 $755,662
Todd A. Pletcher 179 41 30 23 $2,202,382
Robertino Diodoro 122 37 21 10 $526,681
Steven M. Asmussen 179 36 27 27 $1,158,985
Jamie Ness 112 30 18 13 $503,550
Michael J. Maker 137 28 21 17 $865,108
Jerry Hollendorfer 177 26 18 28 $1,069,411
Rudy R. Rodriguez 70 26 13 10 $1,036,050
Brad H. Cox 69 25 5 9 $798,212
Thomas M. Amoss 77 25 8 14 $615,180
Gerald S. Bennett 78 23 15 13 $368,476
DIODORO since 2010
2016 122 37 21 10 $526,681
2015 813 190 141 95 $3,198,906
2014 920 243 149 137 $3,780,862
2013 653 149 132 87 $2,356,297
2012 619 106 86 85 $1,542,746
2011 667 137 117 99 $1,748,505
2010 533 109 71 79 $1,200,249
More local news…
PRINCEPS SENATUS, an Ontario bred grey horse by Unbridled’s Song – Jealous Wildcat by Forest Wildcat, won his maiden at Gulfstream on Wednesday for owner and breeder craig Singer. The 5-year-old won for $35,000 claiming in a 7 1/2 furlong turf event, moving 5 wide around the last turn to win by 1/2 a length. Josie Carroll trains.
DELANO LOPEZ, son of jockey SIMON HUSBANDS, recently won his first race as a rider in Barbados
ALPHA BETTOR, Champion Older Horse in Canada in 2012, has been retired to stud in California fresh off his win in the Portland Mile at Portland Meadows. Fellow Adena Springs stallion MAST TRACK will join him…
http://www.drf.com/news/daehling-ranch-gets-alpha-bettor-mast-track
REPORT – CBC
HORSE RACING IN EDMONTON COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH
It’s the end of the trail for horse racing in the greater Edmonton area and northern Alberta — 2016 will be the final season.
On Wednesday, Northlands unveiled Vision 2020, a $165-million project set to renovate its buildings and revitalize its 64-hectare property.
Northlands’s big plan is to become a national sports tournament and festival centre, but horse racing is not part of the 137-year-old organization’s mega-project.
Northlands CEO Tim Reid
Northlands CEO Tim Reid said the horse racing industry in Alberta is not ending; it’s simply losing one main race track. (CBC)
The racetrack and casino will be converted into part of the festival site.
Northlands and Horse Racing Alberta have had a close-knit relationship dating back a century. But Northlands CEO Tim Reid says times are changing and the company is looking to widen the spectrum of the recreational services it offers to the public.
“We need to build for a future sustainability for Northlands, and not hedge our decision on what happens between the province and HRA,” said Reid…
read more at CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/horse-racing-in-edmonton-coming-down-the-home-stretch-1.3452769
DAVID MILCH – HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“He was one of the most devoted gamblers,” says John Perrotta, an author and adviser on that show. “He was very serious about it, and he was a very good handicapper.”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/david-milch-made-100m-gambled-866184http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/david-milch-made-100m-gambled-866184
