ENTRY DAY IS TOMORROW!
let’s get at’er!
WOODSTOCK/STAR SHOOT, speed on tap for 3yos this weekend
Lots of new faces at WOODBINE as the 60th season begins on Saturday. Entries will be taken tomorrow for the first of 133 cards and the opening day feature is the WOODSTOCK STAKES, a very old race that has a ton of history.
First run in 1885, the Woodstock has been run at a variety of different distances. It is currently an open dash at 6 furlongs for sophomores. Look for CONQUEST BIG LUCK E, an unbeaten Conquest Stable colt, to possibly be a contender.
**(For more on Woodbine entries, workouts, selections and historical bits on stakes races, make sure to visit JMBETS.CA at http://jmbets.ca/)
JIM LAWSON leads Woodbine into this year as he takes the reins from NICK EAVES as president following the resignation of Eaves last week.
Jim has served as a WEG Director since June, 2008 and sits on the Company’s Thoroughbred Racing Committee, which he chairs, Standardbred Racing Committee, Pension & Compensation Committee and Audit Committee. Jim is also Chairman of the Jockey Club of Canada and is active in the racing industry, both as an owner and big fan. His father Mel owned JIM DANDY Stable and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jim has also been the Chief Executive Officer of Westerkirk Capital, a private investment company based in Toronto, and is the interim commission of the Canadian Football League.
With former VP of racing STEVE KOCH also having resigned, the works of the racing program and backstretch fall to Jamie Martin, Steve Lym and new racing secretary STU SLAGLE.
ALAN GARCIA was a top rider in the US and recently completed a stint in Saudi Arabia MONMOUTH PARK PHOTO
ALAN GARCIA is the new rider on the block – a 20-time Grade 1 winning jock, Belmont Stakes winner – who will try to get between Patrick Husbands, Luis Contreras, Eurico da Silva and Emma-Jayne Wilson.
Handicapping seminars and fun events will continue to dot the schedule as Woodbine continues on to the end of November. At that time, the Polytrack will be replaced by Tapeta, a synthetic surface.
By June of this year, longtime track announcer DAN LOISELLE will retire, leaving the door open for a new voice of Ontario TB racing (see the rumour mill below)
DON’T FORGET that Woodbine offers a great WOODBINE CLUB experience – get your affordable membership today by contacting Christy Fraser at Woodbine:
The Woodbine Club has expanded and re-vamped a lounge area that was previously a paddock-view dining area. Great good and fun, handicapping contests and more!
MORE ON WOODBINE OPENING WEEK – Sovereign Awards Friday night
FEATURE ON LEXIE LOU/SOVEREIGNS IN TORONTO SUN
POPULAR RACE ANNOUNCER VIC STAUFFER resigns as California steward
Popular race announce Vic Stauffer, who called races at Hollywood Park for years, has been out of the race announcing business for a bit but he has stayed into the sport he loves.
In recent ‘chats’ with Stauffer, Thoroughblog passed on good wishes to Stauffer who is hoping to become the next racecaller for WOODBINE. Dan Loiselle will retire at the end of May.
Today. we read that Stauffer has resigned as a California steward.
Hmmmm…
http://www.drf.com/news/vic-stauffer-resigns-california-steward-post
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS – CONQUEST CURLINATE impresses at Keeneland
With AMI’S FLATTER possibly getting a little break from his good runs this winter to DANZIG MOON heading to Churchill Downs with perhaps a start in the Kentucky Derby, there are certainly 2 very tough Canadian-breds at the top of the Queen’s Plate contenders list.
But there are others and it is a long way to the Plate.
Mark Casse, speaking from Florida yesterday, likes CONQUEST CURLINATE as a major Plate contender. The Curlin fellow, a winner at Oaklawn this year, worked at Keeneland on Monday in 1:02 breezing for 5 furlongs and he is set to run in the WANDO STAKES, an overnight event at Woodbine coming up.
NIPIGON has been busy getting ready at Payson Park for Chiefswood Stable and the fillies LONDON TOWER, BROOKLYN’SWAY and SHEZ A MASTERPIECE are also getting prepped.
The QUEENSTON STAKES on May 2 is approaching quickly and is the first major prep for the Plate.
Other horses for the Plate who are still busy are PHIL’S COCKTAIL, DANISH DYNAFORMER (Transylvania Stakes this weeke) and DECISION DAY.
Note that KINGSPORT and UNBRIDLED JUAN have been absent from the worktab for more than a month.
