Kazushi Kimura once called him a “******” amazing horse” (insert expletive) on the in-house simulcast channel and now PHILIP MY DEAR has transformed from a champion in Canada on the flat to a hurdle winner in the United States.
Owner Raj Maharaj named Philip My Dear for a favourite song and he enjoyed some big wins with the dark bay horse bred by Adena Springs. The son of Silent Name (Jpn) was the top two-year-old in Canada in 2022, winning the Cup & Saucer, Soaring Free Stakes and finishing third in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes and Coronation Futurity.
Kevin Attard trained Philip My Dear to a big first season, but the gelding did not progress as a three-year-old and after he won once more, in 2024 in a claiming race, Philip My Dear was sold to Commonwealth Stable this spring. Trained by Katherine Neilson, Philip My Dear was unplaced in his first four hurdles before he won at Callaway Garden on November 15. The dark bay led throughout 2 3/8 miles over National Fences and won by a neck under jockey Freddie Proctor in 4:15.40. He earned $18,000.
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From OAKLAWN PARK’S MEDIA OFFICE: Gary Stevens, the retired Hall of Fame jockey turned jockey agent, said Wednesday morning that he will represent three riders this season at Oaklawn, including newcomer Eswan Flores.
Flores, now based at Woodbine in Canada, enters Thursday with 599 career North American victories, the first coming July 4, 2011, at Hollywood Park, according to Equibase, racing’s official data-gathering organization.
“He started out in California,” Stevens said. “I rode with him there. He’s been up in Toronto (Woodbine) the last couple of years.”
Stevens said Flores was steered to him by trainer Norman McKnight, who, beginning in 2018, made Oaklawn and Woodbine his year-round circuit. McKnight, who has 87 career Oaklawn victories, is reportedly retiring this year.
“Norm McKnight called and asked me about it,” Stevens said. “I said: ‘Absolutely, I would love to have him.’ ”
Flores was fourth in voting for North America’s champion apprentice jockey of 2012 after setting career highs for mounts (726), victories (86) and purse earnings ($3,010,177). He enters Thursday with 59 winners this season at Woodbine.
Stevens said he will also represent veteran Travis Wales and apprentice Amanda Poston this season at Oaklawn.
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WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT announced another group of layoffs, reportedly about 20, this week, including Woodbine Club patron favourite Christy Fraser, the hospitality manager who has run events and all restaurants and has been with the company for more than a decade.
According to a report on Horse Racing Nation, Woodbine Entertainment has restructured its workforce and issued layoffs in response to challenging economic and industry conditions. The organization described the move as part of a wider effort to realign operations and support its five-year strategic plan.
So far this year, Woodbine has held the same number of Thoroughbred race dates as in the comparable period of 2024, but the total number of races has declined slightly. Betting activity has dropped by just over 5%, while purse money has risen by about 1.5%, with all figures influenced by currency fluctuations.
Despite the dip in wagering, Woodbine’s share of the North American Thoroughbred racing market has grown modestly, even as overall handle across the continent has fallen by more than 10%. The organization emphasized its ongoing commitment to Ontario’s racing sector and to maintaining high-quality racing at its facilities.
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