WOODBINE JOCKEYS ON THE MOVE – Husbands, Garcia and Hernandez
SANDY LANE GOLD CUP – MARCH 4
Ken and Sarah Ramsay employ Woodbine jockeys
PATRICK HUSBANDS and RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, both finalists for the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey in Canada in 2016, will be riding the pair of starters in the Barbados Gold Cup on March 4 at Garrison Savannah. The biggest race in the Caribbean has been somewhat of an obsession for the Ramsays, who have won 2 of the last 3 editions and they were 2nd last year.
Their 2 starters for 2017 are KEYSTONEFORVICTORY (Shakespeare from Canadian-bred, Woodbine stakes winner Free Fee Lady) and HIGH NOON RIDER (Distorted Humor). Husbands is expected to ride Keystoneforvictory, a recent winner at Gulfstream Park. Both horses are trained by Mike Maker.
KEYSTONEFORVICTORY is the likely favourite for the March 4 Sandy Lane Gold Cup – Gulfstream Photo
Possible starters:
CONQUEST BESPOKE (Mr. Shivam Maharaj) (T&T)
DAUNTING DAVID (Sir David Seale)
DORSETT (Messrs. Steve & Allan Madoo)
HIGH NOON RIDER (Mr. Kenneth L. & Sarah Ramsey) (USA)
INDIANO JONES (Mr. Lewin Godding)
INFRARED (Messrs. Dan & Martin Raizman)
INWON (Messrs. Dan & Martin Raizman)
JUST A FASHION (Aysha Syndicate)
KEYSTONEFORVICTORY (Mr. Kenneth L. & Sarah Ramsey) (USA)
KNIGHT RIDER (Mrs. Gay Smith)
NEKITTA (Mr. Lewin Godding)
NINEPOINT SIX-NINE (Mr. D.D. Haynes)
PRINCESS TIANA (Mrs. Gay Smith)
SECRET AMERICAN (Steve Samaroo)
TRINI NAVIGATOR (Mr. Baskaran Bassawh) (T&T)
SATURDAY – EMIR’S TROPHY — GROUP 1 SAUDI ARABIA
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The H H The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) Thoroughbred, is headed by Noor al Hawa who is trained by Andreas Wohler in Germany. The son of Makfi ran out an impressive winner of the Qatar Derby over 10 Furlongs (2,000m) on 29 December for jockey Adrie de Vries and will step up in trip again as he attempts to complete a valuable Qatar race double.
From the USA, trainer Doug O’Neill runs Royal Albert Hall who was last seen finishing 3rd in Santa Anita in January, [sic]will be ridden by Alan Garcia.
http://www.gulf-times.com/story/533759/Al-Shaqab-Racing-s-Al-Mourtajez-on-course-for-Trip
LONG BRANCH RACETRACK 1924-1955 – Etobicoke, Ontario
There were a lot of racetracks in the Toronto area in the early 1900s and if you are a history buff and interested in preserving the history of horse racing, you will find some of the gems uncovered in my research this winter fascinating. There is work being done on a collector’s edition magazine called 250 Years of Horse Racing in Canada, available in the spring, and the stories and photos of racing dating back to the 1700s will capture your imagination.
There are not many plaques or historical makers left in Toronto when it comes to horse racing spots – I recently discovered the plaque on Bronte Road in Oakville in front of the farm land where Don Juan, the first Queen’s Plate winner, is no longer there.
I did, however, visit the site of the old Long Branch racetrack recently..in the 427 and Gardiner Expressway area and it was interesting.
The CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL began at Long Branch in 1938 and was won by Bunty Lawless, twice, and Shepperton, twice.
When you watch a video of the 1952 Cup & Saucer Stakes, a race inaugurated by Abe Opren’s wife in 1937, you can see the trees lined down the backside, those large maple trees are still there today – the great Canadiana won this particular Cup & Saucer for E.P. Taylor…
http://www.gettyimages.ca/license/578409404
My YouTube video of my visit to the site of Long Branch racetrack:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhZ4-PCG6BxXiBw0cSvPNw
FROM THE CANADIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME ‘THE WAY WE WERE’
TRACKS IN ONTARIO – Where The Races Were Run
Prior to 1800 – “The Bend”
Toronto Island – A sandy neck of land that connected the central portion of the Peninsula (the western tip of the Peninsula at Gibraltar Point) with the main shore to the east. On Sept. 16, 1793, Mrs. Elizabeth Simcoe, the wife of
Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, and Lieutenant Thomas Talbot, informally inaugurated horse racing on the Peninsula. Races, which were informal, were held periodically among military officers and local citizens. The course was not
oval-shaped but a long, straight level track.
1820s to 1837 – Garrison Common
The Upper Canada Turf Club (organized in 1837) grew out of a series of military races under the patronage of officers stationed at Fort York on a course laid out in 1835 on Garrison Common between the new and old forts. There was also an
informal course on Front Street between Small’s Corners (east of the Don River) to Market Place during the early 1800s. Placards posted throughout the town heralded the matches.
1837 to 1840 – Scarlett’s Simcoe Chase Course
On the property of John Scarlett, who lived in the Humber Valley above “The Old Mill.” The property stretched north and east a considerable distance. His estate was named “Runnymede”, which accounts for the name of the western section of
the city. The course, managed by the City of Toronto and Home District Turf Club, was north of Dundas Street between Weston Road and the woods on the bank of the Humber River. (It was near the present boundary of Lambton Golf Course
north of St. Clair Avenue.) Inaugural Meeting: September 6 – 9, 1837.
1841 to 1845 – St. Leger/Union Race Course
Situated on the Bill Boulton’s property back of The Grange. Boulton was the track manager. It was also known as the Union Course. It was just south of the Cricket Grounds and College Street and was bordered by Spadina Avenue on the west,
as well as streets later named Baldwin and McCaul.
1850s to 1875 – Toronto Driving Park
A half-mile oval north of Queen Street West, between Lisgar Street and Gladstone Avenue, and south of Dundas Street.
1840s – Maitland’s Course
Managed by Jack Maitland, it was south of Queen Street East, and east of Broadview Avenue near the Don River and Kingston Road. The locale is now the Cherry Street district.
1854 to 1870s – Newmarket Race Course
North of The Danforth and east of the Don River (between Coxwell and Woodbine Avenues). In 1869 Nettie won the ninth running of the Queen’s Plate at Newmarket. Charlie Gates, owner and trainer of the 1870 Plate winner at Whitby, owned
and operated the east Toronto track. He also owned Gates’ Hotel near Main Street, which was a popular hangout for horsemen.
1857 to 1876 – Carleton Race Course
On William Conroy Keele’s farm in an area known as the West Toronto Junction. This tract of land was adjacent to Lambton Mills, Brockton, Seaton and the village of Carleton. It was south of Dundas St. and west of a road later named Keele
St. To pinpoint it further the track’s northern and southern boundaries are Annette and Glenlake, streets that were built after the track had been subdivided into building lots in 1883. In 1857 it became the headquarters of the Toronto
Turf Club and hosted the first running of the Queen’s Plate on June 27, 1860. The first four Plate races were run here.
1875 to 1993 – Woodbine Park
Also known as The Woodbine, Old Woodbine and Woodbine Riding and Driving Park. Named Greenwood Race Track in 1963. On Joseph Duggan’s property south of Queen St. between Coxwell and Woodbine Ave. The track backed onto Lake Ontario and
Ashbridge’s Bay prior to the construction of Lakeshore Blvd. Hosted the Queen’s Plate in 1876, 1881 and 1883 – 1955. Inaugural Meet: October 19, 1875. The meet featured trotting and thoroughbred races and steeplechasing. Harness racing
was discontinued in 1894 but returned in 1954. Steeplechase racing discontinued in 1953. Final thoroughbred race: Dec. 8, 1993; final standardbred race: Dec. 31, 1993.
1879 to 1938 – Exhibition Park
CNE Grounds. Harness racing only. The immortal world champion pacer Dan Patch performed on the Ex’s half-mile track in the autumn of 1905 and broke the Canadian record for a mile by 1 1/4 seconds. Grattan Bars, Archie Peden’s sensational
pacer from Strathroy, Ont., set a track record in 1927.
1907 to 1955 – Dufferin Park
Dufferin Ave., south of Bloor St., and north of Muir St. On west side of Dufferin St., and east of Brock St. Harness racing as well as thoroughbred meets were staged initially by the Toronto Driving Club. Later owned by Abe Orpen and his
son Fred. Toronto mayor Sam McBride served as president for many years. The track was founded by the Denison family, who had received grants of land from the Crown because of its outstanding service to King and Country. Charles Leslie
Denison built a training course on this location.
1912 to 1916 – Hillcrest Park
South-west corner of Bathurst Street and Davenport Road. Owned and operated by the Toronto Driving Club. Inaugural Meet: August 20, 1912. Final Meet: July 16, 1917.
1920 to 1952 – Thorncliffe Park/Raceway
In village of Leaside; east of Millwood Rd., south of Eglinton Ave., and north of CPR line.
Entrance off McRae Drive. The Prince of Wales Stakes and the Clarendon Cup were the track’s feature thoroughbred races each year. Inaugural Meeting: July 21-28, 1917. Final Race Day: June 23, 1952. Final race meet for Harness Racing –
July 4-August 12, 1953. Feature races each year were the Canadian Cup Pace and Maple Leaf Cup Trot.
1924 to 1955 – Long Branch Race Track
Bordered by Evans, Kipling and Horner Avenues and CPR Railway Line. Owned and operated by the Orpens – Abe and his son Fred – it was the home of the Long Branch Championship Stakes (later named the Canadian International Stakes) and Mrs.
Orpen’s Cup and Saucer Stakes Handicap).
Inaugural Meet: September 6, 1924. Final Meet: October 21, 1955.
