The following is a letter sent to the Woodbine Media Office from jockey Chantal Sutherland, who has made the decision to ride full-time in California.
Sutherland, a two-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s top apprentice, recently won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap with Game On Dude.
Last year, she finished third in the Woodbine standings, winning 136 races, including a colony-best 18 stakes scores.
Sutherland is a finalist for a Sovereign Award (April 1) as Canada’s top rider and guided Queen’s Plate Winterbook favourite Inglorious through a highly successful 2010 campaign.
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“I just want Canada to know that I love Woodbine and this has been a personal goal for some time.
I am grateful for the support that my agent John Bell has given me and his part in the decision to ride in California. He told me “that opportunities like these don’t come along every day.” He supports my decision and he and his family wish me nothing but success. I am so grateful to him and his family and will miss them very much.
I also received a phone call from Angel Cordero and he also supports my decision. He told me I am riding very well and that “my focus is a 10.”
He told me to keep it up and to keep my heels down on the backside.
I would also like to thank everyone at Woodbine, including the Media and Marketing departments, for their help in promoting me and our great sport.
This is the biggest decision I have ever made in my career and I will work hard to make Canada proud.
Thank you,
Chantal Sutherland
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