The 2021 horse racing season at tracks across the country began without spectators once again, most tracks had delayed starts and sadly, one track, Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, did not open again.
But by the summer, fans were welcomed back, and with them some of the amazing horse racing lovers who come with camera in hand. These are some of the unsung, special people in racing who share their images on social media of horses and their people.
We share images from them from 2021 and thank them for their generosity to this site and their passion for the sport. You can find all of these fine people on social media platforms.
Our cover image (above) is courtesy of John Loper, who is a frequent visitor to Woodbine and Ajax Downs, and this photo is of the great Pink Lloyd following his 9-year-old debut in the Jacque Cartier Stakes (G3) when second to Souper Stonehenge.
Laurie Langley has hundreds of super images from Fort Erie training and racing (forteriehorsepeople.ca) and shares them with everyone.
Laurie Langley provided hundreds of photos of training and racing at Fort Erie. This one from April came from the early days of spring training.
Training in November at Fort Erie by Laurie Langley
Laurie Langley photo. Fort Erie 2021
Lisa Thompson is an ace photographer in British Columbia and captured great action at Hastings Racecourse:
“First turn” at Hastings Racecourse by Lisa Thompson
Sunset at Hastings by Lisa Thompson
Sovereign Award winner Will Wong shares hundreds of photos on his Facebook page and often on his website www.mrwillwong.com and his focus is horses and the great people who care for them:
My horse won! Photo by Will Wong
Fans returned to Woodbine July 1 – photo by Will Wong
Mighty Heart, 2020 Horse of the Year, fittingly won the Dominion Day Stakes (G3) on July 1 – Will Wong photo
Terence and Cindy Pierson Dulay travel throughout the continent to cover horse racing; at their site www.horse-races.net they have in-depth reports and images of the biggest races:
Silent Poet after his Highland Stakes (G1) victory for the Stronach family and trainer Nick Gonzalez. Cindy Pierson Dulay
Celebration at the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Gary Boulanger plants a big one on trainer Kevin Attard after they won with Haddassah. Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
Avie’s Flatter was a top turf horse and sprinter in 2021 for Ivan Dalos and Josie Carroll. Terence Dulay photo
John Watkins photographs three breeds of racing – Standardbreds, Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds!
Snow day at Woodbine by John Watkins
Julie Wright works for Daily Racing Form, here is one of her amazing images from 2021:
Dash to the wire by Julie Wright/DRF
Jason Halstead is the sharpshooter at Century Mile and Assiniboia Downs:
Jason Halstead captured a jubilant Alexander Marti aboard Uncharacteristic, winner of the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile.
Sovereign Award winners Jeff Bowen and Santino DiPaola often share their superb images:
Good grab! by Santino DiPaola
Race day by Santino DiPaola
Say cheese, by Jeff Bowen
Tranquility at the track. Photo by Jeff Bowen
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