Profiles

OTTB: I Like Mike

Mike made a big splash at the Thoroughbred Makeover Competition all while raising money for the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.

Westana: All in, in Alberta

Bob and Pam Cramers have developed Westana Equine Training and Rehab Centre into a world-class facility for thoroughbred racehorses and other breeds.

Q&A with Glen Todd

Owner, breeder, trainer, promoter, teletheatre owner and media member. There’s virtually nothing Glen Todd doesn’t do in racing in British Columbia.

Empire Equestrian

Empire Meadows Thoroughbred Park has been reborn under the name Empire Equestrian, now owned and operated by Martin and Lori Neyka.

Alberta Breeder Sybil Palmer

As a member of a family with deep roots in Alberta, thoroughbred breeder Sybil Palmer has a long tradition of loving horses and thoroughbreds in particular.

OTTB: Unmissable

Unmissable was living life as a pasture mate for other horses when Carly Moore spotted her three years ago. Keep reading for more information.

Higher Power

Holy Helena and the dominant victory in the 158th Queen’s Plate is a product of three generations of Frank Stronach’s breeding program.

Will Wong

The Toronto-based celebrity blogger has had a lifetime passion for horse racing, which began with family trips to Woodbine.

From Anonymity to Awesome

Twenty years ago, Frank Stronach’s homebred Awesome Again came out of obscurity to win the Queen’s Plate in just his third career start. But that was only the beginning for the richest Canadian-bred in history.

Q&A with Rick Fior

The manager of racing for Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, SK talks about the 2017 season, economic challenges in Saskatchewan and the superpower he would most like to have.

Q&A with Dermot Carty

Dermot Carty, the man responsible for overseeing Adena Springs North talks about the state of the Ontario breeding industry, and more.

Sir Dudley Does It

Ken Ramsey dusted himself off while he was helped to his feet after tumbling to the ground leading Sir Dudley Digges into the Queen’s Plate winner’s circle.

Soaring at Shannondoe

Hard work, adaptability and a little girl power has Shannondoe Farms of St. Thomas, ON on the rise thanks to stallion Society’s Chairman and his talented, but spirited, daughter Caren.

OTTB: Afleet’s Star

Afleet’s Star was known by his racing name after he retired from a short career at the track and it was only years later than he was re-named Buttermilk.

Simply Divine

It is the morning after Sir Dudley Digges pulled off a 15-1 upset July 3 in the 157th edition of the Queen’s Plate — yes, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

Champion Male Sprinter: Stacked Deck

In April of 2015, Bruce Lunsford’s Stacked Deck may not have been among the favourites to earn champion sprinter honours, but by season’s end, the dark bay son of First Samurai left little doubt who stood at the summit.

Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Riker

Riker romped through the first four starts of his career, graduating at first asking before taking the Colin, Swynford and Grade 3 Grey Stakes, maintaining a perfect record on the Woodbine main while racing at distances ranging from five furlongs to 1 1/16-miles.

Ivan Dalos: Casting a Tall Shadow

When Ivan Dalos came to Canada from Hungary 60 years ago, he didn’t even know horse racing existed. Now the owner of Tall Oaks Farm is a finalist for the Sovereign Awards for both top owner and breeder thanks to an outstanding 2015.

Canadian Calling

Cara Bloodstock’s respected bloodstock man Bernard McCormack grew up in Ireland, but Canada lured him at a young age.

Faces At the Races: Jason Teague

His association with racing started out as weekend trips to the racetrack with his parents. Over 30 years later, Jason Teague has carved out a successful career in the sport he still loves.

Can’t Catch Her

Canadian owners Mike Ambler, Jeff Begg and Greg Lang — along with U.S.-based movie producer Gary Barber — celebrated the thrill of a lifetime winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf with Mark Casse trainee Catch a Glimpse.

Investment of Love

Bob and Mark Krembil are applying successful investment strategies and patience learned from the financial world in the hopes of building Chiefswood Stables into a perennial powerhouse with the help of Hall of Fame jockey Robert Landry.

Bar None Ranches

Learn more about Western Canada’s premier thoroughbred facility.

Plate Power

A closer look at some of the top prospects for the 156th running of the Queen’s Plate on July 5 at Woodbine Racetrack.

From the Backstretch to the Boardroom

Jim Lawson grew up relishing any chance to tag along with his Hall of Fame father on trips to the Woodbine backstretch. Now Lawson is hoping to bring some of that backstretch passion to his new position as chief executive officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG).

Wellspring of Talent

Seven years after Jay Hayden went to Lexington to buy a single mare (and came home with six), the owner of Hayden Water Wells in Lucan, ON has already produced a stakes winner and two horses that could be Queen’s Plate contenders.

In a Tizzy Over Izzy

Twenty-five years ago, the great grey Izvestia dominated the Queen’s Plate en route to becoming just Canada’s fourth Triple Crown winner.

Faces at the Races: Santino Di Paola

There was one time when Santino Di Paola fell flat on his face, literally. These days, that’s hardly the norm for one of the most passionate young figures.

Life to the Max

If you get the chance to talk to Max Gibb you can’t help but get caught up in his excitement, his passion, his joie de vivre.

Turning Heads

His breeding career started as a lark, but Head Chopper is proving to be the real deal with two stakes winners from four racing-aged foals in 2014 to earn more action in 2015.

Old World Work Ethic

John Carey is a hands-on, eighth generation Irish horseman that has made an impact in Ontario’s breeding industry thanks to his T.C. Westmeath Stud Farm and Old Forester, Canada’s leading freshman sire in three of the last five years.

Star of the Show

Hillstar won a bizarre edition of Pattison Canadian International after favoured Brown Panther tore off down the E.P. Taylor turf course before the start, dropping rider Richard Kingscote.

Reinvesting in a Downturn

Steve and Kathleen Kemp's Ballycroy Training Centre is beginning to reap the rewards of investing in better mares when the horse racing industry was in a down cycle.

Cowboy at Heart

As interim director of a new industry collective called Ontario Horse Racing, lifelong horseman John Snobelen is key to implementing a dramatic overhaul of the province's horse racing industry in the wake of the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program.

The Magic Touch

How the uncle and nephew team of Carlo and Lou Tucci claimed their way to a Queen's Plate victory in 2013 with Midnight Aria after 40 years in the game.

Faces At The Races: Craig MacPherson

Family history and fatherly advice prompted Craig MacPherson to consider a career as a thoroughbred trainer back in the 1980s. Some 300 wins later, he's still making his mark on the West Coast.

OTTB: Double Mi Trouble (Liath)

Thoroughbreds can have just about any kind of post-racing career in other sport disciplines such as jumping or barrel racing. It takes a unique racehorse to make the transition to polo pony, however. Double Mi Trouble was just such a horse.

OTTB: Livada

When Livada finished last of 11 runners in a race at Fort Erie in July of 2012, it was evident the daughter of El Prado was never going to race again. The four-year-old emerged from the race with two fractured knees and an uncertain future.

OTTB: Zanetti

Zanetti has been on this earth longer than his young owner and rider, Hunter Trombley. In fact when Trombley, now 15, was a toddler, Zanetti was racing in some major three-year-old stakes races in Kentucky, Illinois, Florida and Ontario.

OTTB: Agameone

There would be no mistaking Agameone for any of the top Thoroughbreds that have raced at Hastings Park in Vancouver in recent years. It took the Washington-bred 14 starts before she won her first race and in 13 subsequent outings, she never won again.

Faces At The Races: Malcolm Pierce

Trainer Malcolm Pierce has seen his affiliation with one of Canada's most well-known racing stables come full-circle over the course of his 31-year career on the backstretch in thoroughbred horse racing.

2011 Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Scott Williams

Whether it's on his Facebook page or during a meet and greet with fans prior to the start of the 2012 Thoroughbred season, Scott Williams could often be seen wearing jockey silks laden with shamrocks. It turns out the promising jockey didn't need the luck of the Irish after all.

Fame for Hall

Former jockey and trainer Sean Hall had to leave horse racing after a serious accident but not before he bred a Canadian classics contender.

OTTB: Mighty Mariner (Seahawk)

Many Thoroughbred racehorses have enjoyed a second career as Eventing horses. The breed has the endurance and grit the sport requires as evidenced by many of the sport's top athletes with thoroughbred pedigrees.

Top of the Charts : Old Forester

With two crops of foals at the races, Old Forester led all Canadian sires in 2011 by progeny earnings and two-year-old earnings. Other leading stallions included Gilded Time, Philanthropist, Wando and Vibank.

Faces At The Races: Jeff Bratt

While it wasn't a sure thing that he'd be working in the industry, it was a pretty safe bet the ideal job for Jeff Bratt would be in the Thoroughbred world. 

Richard Dos Ramos: Still Trying

A self-deprecating, playful roll of the eyes is followed by a smile when you broach the topic of the Queen's Plate with veteran jockey Richard Dos Ramos. "I haven't done it, but trust me, I'm still trying."

Coming Home

Adena Springs Retirement Program is in its seventh year of retiring, re-training and finding new homes for retired racehorses

Faces At The Races: Dan Loiselle

His first race call might not have been his most memorable, but for the past 25 years, the man known as the voice of Canadian Thoroughbred racing has managed to make a lasting impression on thousands of people.

2010 2yo Champion Colt or Gelding: Madman Diaries

Wesley Ward has trained racehorses all over the United States and has made a name as a high percentage conditioner who excels with young horses. In 2010, he took one of his best young runners to Woodbine and guided him to a Canadian championship.

2010 Sovereign Awards: Sand Cove

For four years on the Ontario racing circuit, Sand Cove has proven to be one of the most consistently good and versatile thoroughbreds and the grey horse is expected to come back for more in 2011.

2010 Sovereign Awards: Impossible Time

Roger Attfield had a good feeling about Charles Fipke's homebred Impossible Time from the first few months the Hall of Fame trainer had her in his barn.

2010 Sovereign Awards: Hollywood Hit

Hollywood Hit has been a smashing success for British Columbia's Peter Redekop, who purchased the Oklahoma-bred privately in May of 2009 from breeder C.R. Trout.

2010 Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs

Frank Stronach and his Adena Springs proved to be a powerful force in Canada in 2010 with 72 winners from 144 starters and some $3,582,736 in earnings which was more than enough to earn the Aurora, Ontario outfit their fifth Sovereign in six years.