VOICE

 

HE’S OFF!

DAN LOISELLE, the voice of Canadian horse racing, has announced he will retire from the announcer’s booth on May 31, 2015.His retirement coincides with the retirement of his popular wife, Wendy, who has been an integral part of Woodbine’s customer relations and, currently, corporate responsibility for almost 40 years.
His loyalty to the company and his proud promotion of it at every opportunity make him one of the rare few. Woodbine has benefited immeasurably from Danny’s 47 years of dedicated service. It would be difficult to argue that he hasn’t earned his retirement, however his presence will be missed by the entire racing community. Although, everyone who knows Danny knows full well that we will still be hearing from him, just in a different way!”

From his perch on the sixth floor, Loiselle has called home five Triple Crown champions including With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Peteski (1993) and Wando (2003.)

He has had hundreds of spine-tingling calls, calls that fans have repeated over the yeas. As he has said, he became part of racing’s family, he became what we know and remember about the great races and our own special moments in the game.

Everyone has a favourite Danny racecall, or saying (“Get on the phone and call you mammy, that’s 5 wins for Emile Ramsammy!”) and his clever, yet subtle puns always livened up the run-of the-mill races.

His stretch calls of big races could bring tears welling in your eyes or bring you to your feet. Or they could make you laugh and cheer (the opening quarter in …21 seconds?? he would say with shock and as a question).

Sometimes, it would be  a basic claiming or allowance race he would bring to life through the stretch, picking up a horse making a move from far back that charges past the field (“And here comes’ Crrrracker’s Folly!“)

We still have several weeks to enjoy his calls once the 2105 season starts and then hunt begins for his..well, he will be tough to replace.

Here is a nice story by Don Landry..
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/legendary-race-caller-dan-loiselle-announces-retirement-211911264.html

 

**SEND ME YOUR PHOTOS OF YOUR HORSES GETTING A WINTER BREAK! (OR RETIRING!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUIBASE NEWS –
Social Media’s Role in Racing News Discussed

A panel at an industry gathering on Tuesday, Dec. 9, largely agreed that track publicists could use social media to fill some of the news void created as papers and other sports publications reduce racing coverage.

Having track representatives carrying a bigger news load was one of the topics during a Tuesday afternoon panel at the Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming sponsored by the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program in Tucson, Ariz., titled, “Crisis Management in Racing: How Social Media Has Changed the Game.” The panel was presented by the Turf Publicists of America.

Panelist Dave Grening, New York correspondent for Daily Racing Form, said there is a need for more racing news coverage. He noted that there are only two reporters and one handicapper remaining in the Aqueduct Racetrack press box. He said if tracks are going to try to fill that news void, they can’t limit themselves to good news.

Grening said a lot of tracks are good at using social media to quickly get out good news, for example, information that a top horse is coming to race in one of their stakes. But if there’s bad news, say a change of plans by the connections of that top horse who’ll no longer be coming, that information is slow to get out.

“That’s where I think the racetracks fall short,” Grening said.

Thoroughbred owner Maggi Moss, who is outspoken on social media, said she uses Twitter as her primary source of racing news. She said she has learned which people she can trust on social media for such news as the number of reporters at tracks have dwindled.

“They all went away and we all became media,” Moss said. “The first thing I do in the morning is get on Twitter to learn what has happened in the world of racing. … It is the primary source.”

http://www.equibase.com/racingnews/article/View.cfm

 

WOODBINE – More from the last day of racing    (continued from last post)

Race 5 – last chance for some of the gritty, lower level claimers on the circuit, this group were non-winners of 3 and it was SLY ASPIOS, owned by Phil Gracey, who also trains, who battled on the pace and then edged clear to win for the first time in 2014. The Purge gelding is 3 for 21 in his career and it was the 8th win for the Gracey stable during the year. Steve Bahen, who gave Sly Aspios a lot of pats and hugs pre-race, is his regular rider. The gelding was also adding blinkers for the first time.

So, if you rode the “blinkers on” train for another race, then you came up with ROYAL INTRIGUE who won for the first time this year in this Ontario sired allowance for owner/trainer and breeder Joanna Iglar. It was the 10th start of the year for the Silent Name gelding who is out of the good local stakes winning mare Royal Dalliance. Ericka Smilovsky rode.
Race 7 – MAVIS ROAD, making her first start for trainer Mark Fournier, won for the first time in 2014 in this 6th outing, The Old Forester mare, bred by Mark Hughes, won this $11,500 claiming race under David Garcia. She is owned by C S Downs Stable.

Race 8 – a first level allowance race was won by PUGSLEY, making his first start off the claim for Ken Lee, Dennis Mitchell and partners and trainer Martin Drexler. The Mobil gelding was ridden by Gerry Olguin. Drexler had a solid season with 16 wins.

Race 9 a maiden allowance for Ontario sired gals at 5 furlongs was the second start for 1 to 5 shot FOR TRIXIE. This 3yo filly by Old Forester out of stakes winner Executrix, bred by Tucci Stables, ran a big race first time out but was green when 2nds. Emma-Jayne Wilson was merely a passenger on this gal as she won easily in this dash for trainer Nick Gonzalez.

Race 11 – a $32,000 claiming race at 6 furlongs wen to  ORO VERO, trained by Norm McKnight. It was the 3rd win in 9 races for the 5yo gelding by Cuvee. Justin Stein rode.

Race 12 – MEGA LENGTH (see photo) won this $12,500 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles (his 4th try at the distance) for Frank Cirillo and trainer Steven Chircop. The Langfuhr gelding was ridden by Eurico da Silva as Jesse Campbell had to book off due to a knee injury.
The last race of the year was fittingly won y Patrick Husbands, who guided REJOICEFUL to an easy win in this optional claiming event. Starting for $20,000 claiming, the Coronthian filly out of Etan’s Car was winning for the 2nd time in 7 races and she rider, owner (JOhn Oxley) and trainer, Mark Casse) were the title leaders at Woodbine for 2014.

 

STATS AND MORE STATS… FROM WOODBINE’S 133-DAY MEETING

JOHN OXLEY led all owners by purse earnings and also took the title for most wins, just edging FRANK DIGUILIO JR.

 

WOODBINE OWNERS – BY WINS

John C. Oxley                151    30    28    18    $2,236,167    20%    76    50%
Frank  Di Giulio, Jr.    112    27    19    14    $1,320,333    24%    60    54%
Bruno Schickedanz    140    27    21    15    $799,222    19%    63    45%
Bear Stables, Ltd.       135    23    25    14    $1,090,055    17%    62    46%
Sam-Son Farm               72    20    9    14    $1,652,338    28%    43    60%
Tucci Stables               100    20    14    17    $1,146,750    20%    51    51%
C. E. C. Farms                 72    18    12    9    $707,517    25%    39    54%
Chiefswood Stable    117    17    18    18    $927,205    15%    53    45%
Hill, Jim and Susan    86    15    8    9    $840,051    17%    32    37%
Buttigieg Tr Centre    100    14    14    12    $704,711    14%    40    40%
Stronach Stables    67    13    12    8    $611,413    19%    33    49%
Conquest Stables    33    12    8    4    $1,088,587    36%    24    73%
Colebrook Farms    127    12    11    15    $594,537    9%    38    30%
William SorokolitSr.    40    12    3    1    $506,123    30%    16    40%

 

Frank DiGuilio Jr (right) with trainer Robert Tiller – 27 wins this year for the owner

 

 

WOODBINE TRAINERS by top 3 finishes (percentage, minimum 10 starts)

Allen Desruisseaux    18    2    6    5    $82,667    11%    13    72%
Phillip Gracey    43    8    10    9    $394,784    19%    27    63%
Thomas O’Keefe    23    5    6    3    $178,829    22%    14    61%
Malcolm Pierce    105    30    13    18    $2,083,875    29%    61    58%
Donald C. MacRae    59    12    12    10    $356,999    20%    34    58%
Jamie Attard    47    10    6    10    $330,843    21%    26    55%
Mark E. Casse    474    93    83    76    $7,104,810    20%    252    53%
Mark R. Frostad    36    8    7    4    $411,789    22%    19    53%
David R. Bell    59    10    10    10    $547,007    17%    30    51%
Martin Drexler    81    16    11    14    $462,272    20%    41    51%
Gail Cox                         38    10    5    4    $495,799    26%    19    50%
Ian Howard    50    10    4    11    $432,511    20%    25    50%
Greg D. Cox    64    11    11    10    $422,566    17%    32    50%
Cary Brooks    16    4    3    1    $136,990    25%    8    50%
Jim Ensom    10    3    0    2    $66,825    30%    5    50%
Josie Carroll    123    25    23    13    $2,062,493    20%    61    50%

 

WOODBINE TRAINERS, by FAVOURITES (win percentage)

Attard Tino                   8     6     75%     2     25%     0     0%     100%     114%     $192,570     $24,071
Cox Gail                         8     5     63%     0     0%     1     13%     75%     66%     $216,657     $27,082
Bell David R                 7     4     57%     1     14%     1     14%     86%     59%     $133,837     $19,120
Bowden Thomas R     7     4     57%     2     29%     0     0%     86%     89%     $132,339     $18,906
Dipasquale Sam          27     13     48%     7     26%     2     7%     81%     29%     $277,238     $10,268
Gonzalez Nicholas     53     25     47%     7     13%     5     9%     70%     13%     $709,043     $13,378
Mattine John               17     8     47%     5     29%     0     0%     76%     11%     $207,354     $12,197
Brnjas Ashlee              13     6     46%     2     15%     0     0%     62%     -2%     $196,797     $15,138
Buttigieg Paul M     24     11     46%     1     4%     5     21%     71%     7%     $420,409     $17,517
Carroll Josie             33     15     45%     8     24%     3     9%     79%     15%     $750,477     $22,742

(thanks to EQUIBASE for these stats)

 

WOODBINE TRAINERS, by LONGSHOTS (win percentage)

Armata Vito                28     5     18%     0     0%     3     11%     29%     215%     $178,174     $6,363
McKnight Norman     34     6     18%     2     6%     5     15%     38%     104%     $194,148     $5,710
Sadler Ronald H         22     3     14%     0     0%     3     14%     27%     87%     $108,300     $4,923
Charalambous John     33     4     12%     3     9%     5     15%     36%     201%     $150,565     $4,563
Cox Greg D                      33     4     12%     3     9%     5     15%     36%     190%     $182,639     $5,535
Attard Kevin                47     5     11%     7     15%     3     6%     32%     92%     $273,135     $5,811
Cappuccitti Larry     28     3     11%     1     4%     4     14%     29%     21%     $72,003     $2,572
Ferris Preston             27     3     11%     2     7%     0     0%     19%     117%     $76,930     $2,849
Dipasquale Sam         41     4     10%     3     7%     2     5%     22%     19%     $122,746     $2,994
Hardy James Mort     39     4     10%     4     10%     3     8%     28%     43%     $106,524     $2,731
Huarte Frank              29     3     10%     0     0%     4     14%     24%     104%     $103,858     $3,581
Lynch Brian A             50     5     10%     4     8%     3     6%     24%     9%     $433,969     $8,679
Minshall Barbara J     52     5     10%     0     0%     5     10%     19%     32%     $240,078     $4,617

 

WOODBINE JOCKEYS by Top 3 finishes (percentage, minimum 10 starts)

Patrick Husbands    676    170    123    107    $9,677,399    25%    400    59%
Eurico Rosa Da Silva    701    144    108    100    $6,930,026    21%    352    50%
Luis Contreras    903    163    144    129    $7,787,616    18%    436    48%
Justin Stein    659    100    100    87    $5,137,517    15%    287    44%
Emma-Jayne Wilson    725    91    114    106    $4,806,416    13%    311    43%
Jesse M. Campbell    659    100    89    93    $4,782,869    15%    282    43%
Chantal S\ Kruse    227    29    39    20    $1,691,304    13%    88    39%
Alan Garcia    13    1    2    2    $116,951    8%    5    38%
Gerry Olguin    449    56    51    59    $2,415,877    12%    166    37%
Slade Callaghan    33    3    7    2    $168,953    9%    12    36%
Christopher Griffith    42    4    8    3    $174,882    10%    15    36%
Gary Boulanger    530    62    58    66    $3,158,275    12%    186    35%
David Moran    592    67    55    73    $3,181,844    11%    195    33%
Michelle Rainford    161    12    21    18    $646,870    7%    51    32%
Omar Moreno    337    27    33    46    $1,339,578    8%    106    31%
Helen Marie Vanek    23    1    3    3    $39,145    4%    7    30%

 

WOODBINE JOCKEYS, Favourites, win percentage (minimum. 10 mounts)

Campbell Jesse M     88     35     40%     15     17%     11     13%     69%     -3%     $1,008,026     $11,455
Da Silva Eurico Rosa     159     64     40%     31     19%     18     11%     71%     -3%     $2,320,054     $14,592
Husbands Patrick     241     95     39%     43     18%     32     13%     71%     -7%     $4,132,188     $17,146
Contreras Luis            215     82     38%     38     18%     25     12%     67%     -6%     $3,101,278     $14,425
Ryan Sheena                14     5     36%     1     7%     1     7%     50%     -4%     $125,042     $8,932
Moreno Omar             31     11     35%     5     16%     2     6%     58%     -4%     $347,307     $11,203
Garcia David                12     4     33%     2     17%     2     17%     67%     -16%     $104,586     $8,716
Griffith Christopher     6     2     33%     1     17%     0     0%     50%     -28%     $45,500     $7,583
Moran David               51     17     33%     12     24%     5     10%     67%     -12%     $475,592     $9,325
Olguin Gerry              43     14     33%     6     14%     7     16%     63%     -1%     $376,354     $8,752
Stein Justin                101     33     33%     18     18%     13     13%     63%     -11%     $1,125,730     $11,146
Boulanger Gary      56     17     30%     9     16%     11     20%     66%     -25%     $699,980     $12,500
McAleney James     10     3     30%     0     0%     2     20%     50%     -20%     $77,616     $7,762

 

WOODBINE STARTERS, HORSES, BY WINS

 

 

Calgary Cat              7    5    1    1    $315,000    71%    7    100%    112
Strut the Course    7    4    1    0    $322,903    57%    5    71%    110
Executive Allure    6    4    1    0    $266,441    67%    5    83%    98
Hillaby                       5    4    0    0    $244,071    80%    4    80%    109
Dancing Ashley       9    4    3    1    $213,547    44%    8    89%    102
Maythefourthbwithu    8    4    1    1    $182,452    50%    6    75%    93
Two Brews to Go    8    4    1    0    $109,528    50%    5    63%    88
Machito                    6    4    0    0    $100,495    67%    4    67%    96
Bear’s Pearl              9    4    1    0    $100,334    44%    5    56%    96
Saturdayatbernies    9    4    0    1    $86,649    44%    5    56%    102
Solina Bambolina    10    4    0    1    $70,050    40%    5    50%    93
Steel Dust Dancer    8    4    0    0    $69,345    50%    4    50%    101
Anfield Park    7    4    2    1    $64,762    57%    7    100%    83

 

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL RACES this weekend

from www.horse-races.net

The Longines Hong Kong International Races will be run this Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. As usual, horses from Europe, Asia, and Australia ship in for the four Group 1 races, billed as the Turf World Championships, with the HK$20 million (about US$2.6 million) Hong Kong Cup the highlight of the afternoon, contested at 2000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Conditions were excellent, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 60’s.

 

 

KEN RAMSAY TO SEND 4 TO BARBADOS FOR 2015- seeks 2nd win in Gold Cup

FROM Thoroughbred Daily News

” [Ken] Ramsey said next season’s international racing campaign will begin in March with an attempt at back-to-back wins in the Barbados Gold Cup. Major Marvel (Bernstein) scored last year carrying the red-and-white Ramsey colors; Gentlemen’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) will represent the stable at Garrison Savannah in 2015. ”

“We’re sending probably four horses down to Barbados, and I’ve got Frankie Dettori lined up to ride,” Ramsey said.

 

Stronach selling Stouffville Rd. farmland for $15.9 million
Bought properties in 2011 to grow horse feed
from – Stouffville Sun-Tribune
By Sandra Bolan

“It’s just a normal course of business,” said Mike Rogers, business manager for Adena Springs stallions, of the 260 acres of land on Stouffville Road recently put up for sale.

Adena Springs, which is owned by Frank Stronach, bought the agriculturally zoned land at 5061 and 4721 Stouffville Rd. in October 2011 for about $14 million. They were going to grow hay on it for their horses.

They are selling the properties together for $15.9 million. They are located on the south side of Stouffville Road between Hwy. 48 and McCowan Road.

“Logistically, it didn’t work the way we thought,” Rogers told The Sun-Tribune earlier this week, noting another one of their hay farms on Woodbine Avenue worked out better.

Hay never was grown on the land, according to Rogers. Instead, a farmer grew wheat grass on it.

http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5188256-stronach-selling-stouffville-rd-farmland-for-15-9-million/