dave landry photo                 CANADIAN STUFF Zoning in on Barbados SAFETY ZONE, claimed last fall by Eugene Melnyk and trainer Mark Casse, won an allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday in his first run since he won the Labeeb Stakes at Woodbine. The son of […]

HEAVY SNOW IN ONTARIO TODAY – I may have lost the dog out there! – Kidding. So while Thoroughblog stays in to watch racing, snuggle with the pup and read my books, how about some excitement already cooking up south of the border for Canadian racing fans? Read on!     OOOO, FREAKY STUFF.. That […]

    ROBERT CHARLES LANDRY – embarking on a new career (well, he actually started last year) and he has hung up his tack… photo by Dave Landry (his brother!)         ROBERT LANDRY OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT It was not a surprise announcement but the timing was. Rob Landry, one of Canada’s top […]

                  SO LONG TO 2010 not sure we’re gonna miss ya The biggest stories in Ontario racing were a mixture of the feel-good and some horrific events. WAKE AT NOON’s death on the training at track at Woodbine was certainly the biggest story of the year. The […]

 Tomorrow is the last day of 2010 – where did it all go so fast?? CANADIAN STUFF RED STRIKE, the undefeated Smart Strike – Hummingbird Red fellow for Sam-Son Farms, is in the WOODCHOPPER STAKES tomorrow at Fair Grounds. The Ontario bred is 2 for 2 on the Woodbine turf with Beyer Figures of 87 […]

  It’s sunny but sharp here in southern Ontario, -20 Celcius currently but hey, it’s going up to 6 by the end of the week (that’s 45 fahrenheit, balmy!) Canadians are back in action at tracks around the continent – Scott Fairlie saddles several at Parx today (unless weather cancels that card) and Emma-Jayne Wilson […]

    It’s Boxing day in Ontario, good luck to those who went out shopping!  What a happy time for friends and family, certainly horse racing lovers perhaps received some new books for Christmas – LORD OF MISRULE perhaps? the new DICK FRANCIS (Felix Francis), or maybe the new Laura Hillebrand (author of Seabiscuit?) – […]

  It’s Thursday, Dec. 23, the sun is up and the windchill is about -14 Celcius, very windy in southern Ontario. The roads and stores are already busy. There is Christmas cheer to be done today, some more little purchases, lots of wrapping and, well, just lots of fun! Thoroughblog hopes your holidays are happy […]

    ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS…. Those 43 horses at LongRun that are waiting for a home to find a home! Step up to the Plate folks!!  www.longrunretirement.com                **Thoroughblog also wishes for… lots more fun stuff to write about this winter, go Canadian horses and horsepeople!…plus, […]

  It’s not just in southern Ontario where the deep freeze has already set in. Parx Racing (Philly) had to cancel its card Tuesday because of sub-zero temps. That card was to mark the first day of riding for top Canadian rider Emma-Jayne Wilson. The next Parx card is today. Wilson is scheduled to ride […]

  WINTER HAS ARRIVED IN THE THOROUGHBLOG SURROUNDINGS – brrrr…the hustle and bustle of the holidays getting close, race-watching limited but some good things to report in recent days…   (above – the folks at horse-races.net saw a wild rally from virtually last place by the 3yo filly SNOW FAIRY (by the Red Ransom stallion […]

  FRIDAY NEWS – Tis the season to watch Canadians in the south, check out stallions for your mares, reflect on the year that was 2010..           OPEN HOUSE AT NORSE RIDGE FARM THIS SATURDAY! Noon to 3 p.m. In King City –  Norse Ridge is one of the biggest stallion […]

THE  WEDNESDAY AFTER – WOODBINE SET TO RELEASE NUMBERS FOR SOLID 2010 SEASON…SOVEREIGN AWARD POSSIBLE WINNERS LongRun Graduate Cocoria (Yankee Victor), who was kindly donated to our programme by owner Doug Reddington, and her loving adopter, Georgia Ormerod, get into the festive spirit. Our horses were the recipients of a very generous donation from Georgia […]

  Man, it was cold! Last day of 167 day Woodbine  season…Norm Files photo                 CASSE, DA SILVA, SAM-SON TOP STANDINGS AT WOODBINE Final racing squeaks by despite high winds Fittingly, Dec. 5 was crips, cold, and windy. Very windy. At some points of the afternoon in Etobicoke, […]

  The sun will set on another Woodbine  season today – well, tonight, 13 races, sharpen those pencils!     CROWNING DAY Who is the valedictorian of 2010? It is a unique race and one of the most fun to watch of the entire Woodbine season. While races continually get shorter and shorter (even Woodbine’s […]