‘Sprinter’ , or winter in spring, has arrived. Ontario got away with a mild winter and maybe a handful of days of snow…well, Mother Nature is not done with that season just yet….
But the Blue Jays flew back into action yesterday (in Tampa), Keeenland racing begins Friday and opening day at Woodbine is Saturday, so the real spring should be soon, just not this week.
The festival, as it were, of the return of racing at Woodbine begins Friday night at the SOVEREIGN AWARDS, honouring the top horses and people of 2015 at the always fun ceremony at Woodbine.
The nominees for the awards can be found here: http://www.jockeyclubcanada.com/2016/01/20/2015-sovereign-award-finalists-announced/
Media nominees are:
Writing Category:
Joe Nevills and Nicole Russo – Smart Strike Remembered – Published Daily Racing Form
Curtis Stock – A Love of Horses – Published Edmonton Journal
Paul Wiecek – Turbulence at the Track – Published Winnipeg Free Press
Digital Audio/visual and Broadcast Category:
Horse Racing Alberta – 2015 Canadian Derby – Broadcast on Canadian Television Network
Darryl Kaplan & Brittney Mayotte – So God Made a Racehorse – Broadcast on Standardbred Canada & Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Talkin’ Horses – Horses So2 E17 – Broadcast on CTV and CTV2
Photograph Category:
Michael Burns Jr. – Early Morning – Published Woodbineentertainment.com
Hayley Morrison – Gigantic Breeze – Published Ontario Horse Racing
Chris Young – Early Morning Groom – Published on globeandmail.com
JACQUES CARTIER/WHIMSICAL START SEASON
Moved 3 weeks earlier this year
Champion sprinter, 2014, CALGARY CAT, nominated for 2015 as well, had a quick workout on the Tapeta on Sunday morning in 47.80 (6th fastest of 126) as he continues to prepare for his 6-year-old campaign. The son of Cowtown Cat, owned by Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman, will not, however, be starting his year in the Jacques Cartier on Saturday even though he won the race last year.
The Jacques Cartier, first run in 1954 (and won by Blue Scooter) is being held 3 weeks earlier this season than it was in 2015 and so Calgary Cat will not be ready to ramble just yet.
The race will instead be the unveiling of the possible 2015 champion sprinter, STACKED DECK, who has been buzzing around in the mornings after a winter in South Carolina for Barb Minshall and owner Bruce Lunsford.
Keep and eye on all the winter-raced and trained horses as always. Yes, our winter was mild and training began in February, but the fitter horses will have a big edge.
Saturday, there is a Handicapping seminar with Jim Bannon and Jim Mazur at 11 a.m. on the 2nd floor.
The temperatures do not go above 1 degree for the week and opening day but Sunday could creep up a bit to 6 (about 45 Fahrenheit).
ONTARIORACING.CA!
Handicapping races is always a cool puzzle and the Ontario racing website has an entire HANDCAPPER’S CORNER library which tips and news. Latest feature: sizing up a race and how it may be run..check out
Features and news, profiles and dates are all on one site for THOROUGHBRED, QUARTER HORSE and STANDARDBRED RACING.
**WOODBINE SELECTIONS will return on THOROUGHBLOG**
ALCOHOL AND GAMING (AGCO) TAKES OVER REGULATION OF HORSE RACING IN ONTARIO
from THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
Although the start of the Thoroughbred racing season in Ontario is still a week away, the province ushered in a new era on Friday with the official regulatory changeover from the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
“Today marks yet another significant step in the evolution of racing and how it will be regulated,” AGCO chief operating officer Jean Major said in opening remarks during a one-hour webinar. “[Thursday] the ORC, as a corporation, was dissolved. And today is the first day that the regulatory authority for racing is being transferred from the ORC to the AGCO, with a new statute, new rules, and new responsibilities for the administration of industry programs, and a new appeals process for licensees.”
Although the new entity that will be in charge of regulating all forms of horse racing in the province is aiming for as seamless a transition as possible, Major made it clear that the entire regulatory program will soon be up for an overhaul.
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/new-regulatory-era-dawns-in-ontario/
NYQUIST ARRIVES AT KEENELAND
Winner of Saturday’s $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, Reddam Racing’s undefeated champion Nyquist arrived at Keeneland around 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday to continue preparations for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Trained by Doug O’Neill, the champion 2-year-old male of 2015 and winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) here last fall extended his unbeaten streak to seven with Saturday’s victory at Gulfstream Park.
“We were very impressed with the way he did it,” said Jack Sisterson, assistant to O’Neill. “It was very humid and he handled it well. (Jockey) Mario (Gutierrez) gave him a great ride.”
Sisterson said Nyquist, who has earned $2,322,600, would return to the track Wednesday morning to continue his preparations for the $2 million Kentucky Derby on May 7.
“Doug chose to bring him here to enjoy the surroundings and also take advantage of the synthetic training track in case there is bad weather,” Sisterson said.
JOCKEY CLUB OF CANADA announces temporary Steward effective April 1, 2016
At The Jockey Club of Canada Board of Stewards Meeting held on Tuesday March 29, 2016 in the Sales Pavilion, Boardroom the Stewards approved replacing John Unger with Shawn Minshall effective April 1st, 2016. Shawn has willingly accepted this temporary position as John Unger will be resigning as Steward effective April 1st, 2016 to pursue in a new venture, and we wish him all the best. John Unger will carry on being a member of the Jockey Club of Canada.
The Jockey Club of Canada is honored to appoint Shawn Minshall temporarily to the Board of Stewards for 2016 replacing John Unger who is just short of serving his term under the Steward Rotation by-law implemented in 2006.
Shawn Minshall temporarily joins Chief Steward, Jeff Begg, and Stewards Mark Casse, Frank Di Giulio Jr., Nick Eaves, Geordie Hendrie, Robert Krembil, James Lawson, Charles Overland and Glenn Sikura on the Board of Stewards until the Annual Meeting in 2016. Shawn Minshall will require votes by the Jockey Club of Canada members to continue on as a Steward. This will be determined at our Annual Members meeting held on June 12, 2016.
