Five Questions with Jeff Bratt

When Jeff Bratt started at Woodbine in March of 1999, it became clear early on that the broadcast department and horse racing fans, alike, struck gold.

After cutting his teeth as one of The Racing Network’s (now known as HPItv) first hosts, Bratt shifted to the simulcast Thoroughbred team, where he has since served as a leading source for horseplayers across North America.

The versatile presenter has also hosted numerous network shows, including Queen’s/King’s Plates, Woodbine Miles, and Canadian Internationals. He also lends his expertise to Woodbine’s Standardbred simulcast.

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Normally the one asking the questions, Bratt took on the role of interviewee ahead of his 26th season at Woodbine.

Q: What was your race of the year?

A: “For my non-Woodbine race, it would obviously be Moira. To see her finally get the elusive Grade 1 win [Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf] was amazing. I remember watching it at Woodbine and everybody screaming when she won. She represented Canada so well.

“My favourite Woodbine race would be the Grade 2 Nearctic when Patches O’Houlihan won on the turf. I realized he had won on the inner turf course before, but it was against such restricted company, I didn’t know if he was going to be as good on the turf as he was in the Nearctic. To see him dig in down the lane – and he drifted a little bit – but what got him into the winner’s circle, I think, was all heart.

“To me, that put a real cherry on the sundae of what was a terrific season for him – to move over to the turf and be as game as he was on that day. That’s probably the race that will stand out to me the most from last season at Woodbine.”

Q: Who was your favourite horse you watched at Woodbine?

A: “Growing up, before I started working at Woodbine, Dance Smartly was my favourite horse that I had a chance to see at Woodbine. I love the way that she ran. She always looked towards the grandstand when she came down the stretch, and she obviously went on to become a fantastic mother.

“Since I started working at Woodbine in 1999, the favourite horse that I got a chance to watch would have to be Wise Dan. To see him come to Woodbine on not one occasion, but twice, and watch him win, with the ease in which he did to win my favourite race of the year, which is the Woodbine Mile… he was just breathtaking. When he came to the paddock, he had this aura about him.

“I had a chance to actually meet him in his retirement life. The LoPrestis invited me to their farm, and I got to see him in the paddock with his brother, Successful Dan. He’s still the screensaver on my phone.”

Q: Which Sovereign Award category are you most intrigued by?

A: “Horse of the Year. To be honest with you, I’m not sure who’s going to win it. I think it’s a two-horse race between Full Count Felicia and Patches O’Houlihan. You can make a strong case for both of them, and I’m not sure which way it’s going to go.

“I’ve pondered that decision a lot, trying to figure out, will a Grade 1 win [E.P. Taylor] that Full Count Felicia got vault into Horse of the Year honours? Or, will it be a horse like Patches O’Houlihan who won on two different surfaces? Will that be enough to earn him honours at the end of the year? Horse of the Year, for me, is what I’m most intrigued to see.”

Q: If there was a Jeff Bratt Stable, what would the silks look like?

A: “I’m a very proud Canadian, and I wanted to do the reverse Canadian flag style. JB is obviously my initials, so I thought it would be cool if I owned a horse to be able to travel around the world and have my silks represent Canada and represent me at the same time.”

Q: Which horse person would you most like to interview and why?

A: “It would be Ernie Samuel because he not only brought Canadian racing to the forefront with a Breeders’ Cup winner [Dance Smartly, 1991 Breeders’ Cup Distaff], but the fact too, that he bred all these outstanding horses. I’d be curious to know what led to his decisions to breed mares and certain stallions, and how proud he must have been when Dance Smartly won for Canada.

“I think picking his brain over dinner would be an amazing thing to try and figure out what he saw as the highlight of his racing career and what led to all the decisions he made throughout his breeding career as well. That’s a gentleman that I would really like to have dinner with. Unfortunately, he’s passed away, but it’s Ernie Samuel, for me.”