JEAN MOORHEAD and her son-in-law ROBERT TILLER in January of this year celebrating her 96th birthday. Every year they danced to the song ‘Jean’ (Jean)
Jean, Jean
JEAN MOORHEAD, a close friend of the Woodbine Racetrack community and mother of Gail Tiller (Bob Tiller), grandmother to Robert Jr. passed away April 6 at the age of 96.
‘Jean Jean’ had a great life and had many friends. If you were lucky to know her, well, you were lucky. Condolences to her daughter Gail, son-in-law Robert Tiller and grandson Robert Jr.
Friends and family were to be received at Ward Funeral Home in Brampton on Main Street 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday (April 8) with celebration to follow.
Jean was married to the late Larry Moorhead, a trainer, and certainly shared the passion for racing. And betting (one of her nicknames was Slot Machine Jean!) Jean was good at it too. She loved to pick out the hot jockeys and place her wagers through Horseplayer Interactive. Right up to recent months, Jean was cashing tickets on her current favourite rider, Paco Lopez, who seemingly got his horses up to win at Gulfstream Park when Jean had a bet on.
Jean lived with Gail and Robert since Larry passed away in the late 1970s. She was gracious and charming. Robert and Gail held an annual birthday party for Jean each January at their favourite restaurant in Brampton, La Capannina and generously invited dozens of friends to join the family. It was always a festive and fun loving gathering. This year, Jean was greeted by ‘Frank Sinatra’ who sang many of his top tunes (with a little help from Robert).
Jean was a special person and she has a special family. We know she will still be looking for somewhere to place a bet and no doubt, it will be a winning one.
GAIL TILLER and her mum JEAN – January 2017
‘FRANK SINATRA’ sings at Jean’s 96th birthday party
Jean loved her own cat – Tuxedo Ray – and this special kitty I brought for her this year
Jean had a big cake for her 96th birthday in January!
What’s on this weekend…
Kentucky Derby prep overload with the Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, that amazing mare Winx is at it again (her race is Saturday at Randwick in Australia, going for 17 straight)
SANTA ANITA DERBY – post time 7:12 EST
Had MASTERY not been injured in the San Felipe (which he won by almost 7 lengths with an injured leg), this would be a 6-horse field and he would have been 1 to 5.
Now it is a 13 horse field with a mish-mash of entrants that have been chasing Mastery.
ILIAD (7 to 2) is a Ghostzapper ridgling and half brother to Ontario stakes winner Melmich and this guy looks strong from post 9. He was 2nd in the Sam Felipe to Mastery. Doug O’Neill trains.
Bob Baffert still has 3 in the race: REACH THE WORLD (Tapit colt, maiden winner), AMERICAN ANTHEM, graded stakes placed and maiden winner IRISH FREEDOM.
Trainer JOHN SHIRREFFS has 2, GORMLEY, who is good but needs to bounce back from a poor Sam Felipe and ROYAL MO, a speedtser stuck in post 13.
BLUE GRASS STAKES -post time 6:17
Ah Keeneland. There may be no better racing meeting than Keeneland in the spring. The Blue Grass has quality over quantity with the unbeaten MCCRAKEN (Ghostzapper), Gotham winner J BOYS ECHO (Mineshaft) and Tampa Bay Derby winner TAPWRIT (Tapit) in the 7 horse field. Any one of them can win and even PRACTICAL JOKE (Into Mischief) is a danger.
WOOD MEMORIAL – post time 5:52
A stellar card at Aqueduct concludes with the 93rd WOOD MEMORIAL, like the other 3 events at 1 1/8 miles. Trainer Todd Pletcher has brought northward BATTALION RUNNER (Unbridled’s Song) and he is 2 to 1 over the exciting Chad Brown trainee CLOUD COMPUTING (Maclean’s Music).
CANADIANS IN ACTION
There is plenty of Canadian content in action at Keeneland including last year’s early Queen’s Plate favourite SHAKHIMAT (Lonhro-Aus) who makes his first start since he was 5th in the Plate for Dan Gale and RGH Bloodstock. The handsome Roger Attfield trainee will get back to action in the 5 1/2 furlong Grade 2 Shakertown on the grass with Julien Leparoux riding for the first time. ‘Shak’ has been working up a storm at Payson Park and loves the grass but he meets older guys for the first time and hotshots like Rainbow Heir and Green Mask.
This year’s 3-year-old crop of Canadian-breds have yet to sort themselves out and CHANNEL MAKER, who was recently transferred to the barn of Bill Mott from Dan Vella, will try to get back on track in an allowance race on the grass. The Vandal Stakes winner is owned by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and Wachtel Stable and he is 7 to 2 from post 1 in race 5.
And Ivan Dalos’ AMI’S FLATTER will try to win the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland for the 2nd straight year. Trained by Josie Carroll, this beautiful 5yo horse has not won since his big win last spring but he has been in good form this season.
STAMP OF APPROVAL
