***BREAKING NEWS SATURDAY – MAJOR MARVEL, an 8yo son of Bernstein – Ms Isadorable, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, easily won the 33rd SANDY LANE GOLD CUP at Garrison Savannah racecourse in Barbados at about 3:40 p.. EST. The bay gelding track speedy pacesetter Areutalkintome, took over with just over two furlongs […]

HOLY WILD FINISH BATMAN Stretch battle in Gotham city   SAMRAAT tracked 3 wide all the way in the Gotham at Aqueduct on Saturday and won a stretch fight with rivals Uncle Sigh and In Trouble (on rail). The winner posted a 96 Beyer (as did Uncle Sigh). SAMRAAT (‘Emperor)  is trained by Rick Violette […]

                                HORSEPOWER! WELCOME to WILLOW RIDGE FARM From an OPP Aux. Officer of the Year to breeding and selling classy racehorses, Bonnie Rowntree strives to be the best   Thoroughblog recently had a chance to interview owner/breeder/CTHS director Bonnie Rowntree […]

    BOOM! Ontario Sire Program altered and rewards get bigger!   The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) have spent months reviewing the Ontario Sired (OS) racing program at Woodbine Racetrack. We have consulted extensively with Owners, Trainers, Breeders and other industry stakeholders representing numerous viewpoints on how to […]

    UP WITH THE BIRDS HAS FIRST BREEZE Sam-Son Farms’ top 3-year-old colt of 2013, UP WITH THE BIRDS, had his first workout of 2014 when he posted a :38.00 time for 3 furlongs on Tuesday at Fair Grounds. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, Up With the Birds won the Grade 1 Jamaica on the […]

 GOOOOOLLLLLLLD!  Okay, the gold medals for hockey are securely in the pockets of Canadians – back to horse racing…wild day watching racing yesterday. Fans were restless about Gulfstream’s dirt surface and stewards move in the last race…Canadian horses like DECEPTIVE VISION win big and in fast time…   DERBY PREPS INTENSE Gulfstream betting tops record […]

  WHO DO YOU LIKE? Lots of awesome races today and two very big, 50 point KENTUCKY DERBY prep races..                         FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH – GRADE 2 1 1 /16 miles – post time 5;31 p.m.   CONTENDERS COMMISSIONER – post 1, 2 wins […]

     TALES OF YOUTH It is foaling season and Kentucky Derby prep season., the season of youth. So while local breeders are welcoming the stars of the future, the more immediate, potential stars are in 2 big races in Florida and New Orleans tomorrow. Two major Kentucky Derby prep races take place: the Fountain […]

 Are you going to Woodbine today? The backstretch is open and while we got yet another dumping of snow, surely the temperatures of 0 and perhaps plus 1 will give a chance to the mounds and piles of the white stuff to melt. Now for that thick  layer of ice underneath…. Welcome back, be safe […]

 Happy Sunday -THOROUGHBLOG has bits from TRINIDAD, SAUDI ARABIA, FLORIDA and elsewhere.. .Thoroughblog friend APPRENTICE HANOVER won his 7th consecutive race at Woodbine last night in a preferred pace, OH AND WITH APOLOGIES TO DAN LOISELLE (track announcer)… get on the phone and call your mammy, that’s 4 wins for Emile Ramsammy…      CANADIANS […]

  In memory of MELANIE WALTERS.. (shown with her father Dr. Ken Walters) British Columbia native Melanie Walters passed away suddenly on Feb. 13 after a training accident. She had recently joined her father in the racehorse business after a successful show horse career. The mother of 2 was just 37. Walters won 15 of […]

    WINDWAYS FARM TO SHUT DOWN Top Canadian breeder Jeff Begg and family have sold farm In its 35the year, Windways Farm in King City, Ontario will close down Canadian operations, ending a long and successful business started by the late James Begg and continued by his son Jeff and wife Annabel. There are […]

                       HO-LEA! 114 Beyer Speed Figure for flashy horse in Donn Handicap As mentioned on THOROUGHBLOG  when he won the Hal’s Hope (Grade 3), LEA is starting to look a lot like the next CIGAR. Here is a horse who spent a lot of time […]

  In memory of DEAN DEVERELL               He is remembered for his bright smile, his friendly demeanor and his super work ethic.  DEAN DEVERELL, a Sovereign Award finalist for apprentice jockey in 2007, passed away this week and Ontario horsepeople from Woodbine, Fort Erie and his beloved Ajax Downs […]

 BREAKING NEWS – FORT ERIE WILL RACE IN 2014! Horsepeople of Canada, gather your horses. Bring some more in from the U.S. Fort Erie racetrack will be racing in 2014 and it will not just be a two-week ‘festival’ meeting. The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario directors have been meeting with Ontario Premier […]