Government approval to move forward on the regulatory merger of the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), first announced in the spring, has now been granted. As a result, several changes are taking place at the Ontario Racing Commission effective today. First, Steve Lehman, who has been with […]
Stronach Stables’ homebred Shaman Ghost, ridden by Rafael Hernandez, reeled in Danish Dynaformer inside the sixteenth pole to win a thrilling 156th edition of the $1 million Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most famous horse race, by one and one-quarter lengths, Sunday at Woodbine. It marked the third Plate win for Frank Stronach, following two other homebreds, […]
Charles Fipke’s Danish Dynaformer, Stronach Stables’ Shaman Ghost and Bear Stables’ Academic head an ultra-competitive field of 14 for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most famous horse race, Sunday at Woodbine. The 156th edition of the Plate for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, will be televised live on […]
Trainer Reade Baker will saddle a trio of top contenders in Sunday’s $1-million Canadian Classic led by Oaks-winning filly Academic and the maiden-winning colts Bear At Last and Breaking Lucky. Bear Stables’ Academic, with Justin Stein up, romped to a 66-1 score in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser. It was just the second […]
When all of the costs have been tallied at the end of the year, keeping a racehorse in training can cost $40,000 to upwards of $75,000 a year or more.
A closer look at some of the top prospects for the 156th running of the Queen’s Plate on July 5 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Endless Light, with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard, outbattled favoured Hillaby and Patrick Husbands the length of the stretch to win the $100,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes, one of two features on the Canada Day holiday at Woodbine. At the finish of the seven furlong tilt for fillies and mares, Endless Light, making her Polytrack debut for […]
Favoured Red Rifle and jockey Alan Garcia held Florida Won safe in a late stretch duel, then had to withstand a steward’s inquiry before officially being declared the winner of the featured $150,000, Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes on Canada Day at Woodbine. Placed in sixth for most of the mile and one-quarter contest, while […]
The start of his career was a little spooky, but after three consecutive wins, this Queen’s Plate starter is the ‘Ghost’ with the most. His first three races didn’t produce the desired results, but Shaman Ghost, owned by Stronach Stables and trained by Brian Lynch, has reeled off a trio of victories, including a gutsy […]
Trainer Mark Casse, a seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s top conditioner, will try for a second consecutive Queen’s Plate win on Sunday. The last trainer to win back-to-back Plates was Mark Frostad (Scatter The Gold, 2000; Dancethruthedawn, 2001). Last year, Casse celebrated his first win in Canada’s most famous horse race when filly Lexie […]
