If you’re a Thoroughbred racing enthusiast, you’d better check your local TV listings because this fall a great new program featuring “all things Thoroughbred” is coming to a flat screen near you.
Airing Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until noon on CTV’s Ontario network, beginning September 6th, for a 10-week run, “Talkin’ Horses” is the brainchild of co-hosts and executive producers, Joe Tilley and Jason Portuondo. The program, specially commissioned by the HBPA of Ontario, will take a behind-the-scenes look at the province’s Thoroughbred racing industry, promote upcoming events and feature profiles of and interviews with some of the sport’s most interesting personalities. According to HBPA president, Sue Leslie, though, the main focus of the program will be on attracting new fans and new owners to racing.
“Everyone knows that our industry is going through a critical period,” stated Leslie. “Every individual and organization within the industry must assist OHRIA to ensure its ultimate success. One of the HBPA’s contributions is this TV initiative. Through tit, we hope to demonstrate what a terrific pastime Thoroughbred racing can be from a fan’s perspective and why owning your own racehorse can be such an unparalleled thrill.”
Tilley, Portuondo and the show’s producer, Alex Narvaez, will base the action out of Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack with frequent side trips to Ontario’s other Thoroughbred venue, the picturesque oval at Fort Erie.
Portuondo, a prominent freelance sports journalist, said Tilley, a legendary anchor with CTV Sports, have a great deal of horse racing experience between them and both are known for bringing refreshingly original approaches to their projects. They will be supported on-air by long-time Thoroughbred writer and handicapper, Jennifer Morrison, well-known Fort Erie commentator, Elissa Blowe and Maddie-Joe Tilley, a Humber College honours journalism graduate.
HBPA directors are viewing the first 10 episodes of “Talkin’ Horses” as a pilot project. Success should encourage a longer run in 2015 with corporate sponsorship and an even more ambitious format.
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