Down The Stretch Podcast

There were 4 Stakes races at Woodbine Saturday and 4 wins for Eswan Flores. We've got 5 Grand Circuit races from Mohawk and a Camluck Classic at Western Fair that needed a disqualification to determine a winner. Big thrill for us as we got jockey Umberto Rispoli to chat about his amazing and controversial win on Journalism in the Preakness. We talk with Paul Souter, the next winner of the Avelino Gomez Award and we take in Opening Day at Fort Erie - trust us - jockey Jeffrey Alderson will enjoy our coverage. So will Brian Bell – the veteran quarter horse jockey had a big day at Ajax Downs.

Jockey Ryan Munger had a break out day at Woodbine. We have 3 nice OSS Stakes from Mohawk - Chantilly romped at 1-9, but when Crack Shot at 1-9 didn't hit the board, we had some interesting prices. John Bianco sent out a winner at a mile and a quarter at Aqueduct and we were really impressed with the time of Bourbon Day. On May 18, Trainer Dale Desruisseaux had what we think was his best day ever at Woodbine and it got even better, because he got to talk about it in this podcast. Colleen Dalos is with us this week, telling us why her dad Ivan is a perfect fit for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and remembering some of the great horses produced by Tall Oaks Farm. Writer Dave McKenna used to cover racing at Pimlico when that track mattered in the 1990s; now he tells us what a disgusting dump the track turned into, before it closed down. And on the 3rd day of quarter horse racing at Ajax Downs, it was good to be J Botello or Ismael Mosqueira.

We feature the Ruling Angel and the King Corrie Stakes from Woodbine. There were fireworks and SBOA finals from Mohawk Saturday, including the 2025 debut of horse of the year Chantilly. Pimlico Racetrack may be falling apart, but that was a pretty good Preakness on Saturday. Veteran Brian Bell was back on horses at Ajax Downs and had a good Wednesday afternoon. We have a great interview with Katie Davis, the mom of 3-year-old Riley; appropriately, she won 2 races on Mothers' Day at Aqueduct. In the bad beat department, Jim McKenny thought he was home free when the 10-1 shot he bet at Horseshoe, Indianapolis opened up 3 lengths in the stretch, then ejected jockey Luis Contreras from the saddle, and how does a horse pay $236 to win at Gulfstream? We'll tell you how.

On the 5th card of racing at Woodbine, Pietro Moran inched ahead in the jockeys' race, Fraser Aebly went inside twice, and apprentice Xarel Forde scored his first win...sort of. We have a feature on Kentucky Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado, who defied odds simply by being on Sovereignty on the first Saturday in May. Rick Zeron, who is 68, steered a trotter to a win at Mohawk and Garrett Rooney crashed through the $10,000,000 barrier at Hiawatha. Jennifer Stein talks with us about how she helps jockeys stay mentally and physically fit. We have every race from a very successful opening day at Ajax Downs. Chantal Sutherland is back on race horses; she rode a pair at Monmouth Saturday and how did Conan O'Brien get in this podcast?

This podcast includes the 151st Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and victories at Churchill Downs by Sovereign Award winning Nitrogen as well as Down The Stretch Owner of the Month, John Bianco. Horse of the Year, Patches O'Houlihan returned in record-setting style in the Thorncliffe Stakes and it was Earhart soaring past her rivals in the Whimsical. Drivers Bob McClure, James MacDonald and Jody Jamieson each won 3 times Saturday night at Mohawk and each took down a Graduate Series Final. Jockey Pietro Moran weighs his chances at winning the next Sovereign Award as Outstanding Apprentice and ubiquitous owner, Bruno Schickedanz explains how he tends to be ignored in the voting even though no one wins more than he does. And Ajax Downs' Melanie Ferguson tells us what to expect this year at the Quarter Horse races and just what breed of dog will be competing as well.

We have full coverage of the Sovereign Awards, featuring Kevin Attard's great night, Emma-Jayne Wilson, Roger Attfield and Groom of the Year, Victor James. Two days later, it was Opening Day at Woodbine. Good thing we interviewed the new rider, Brooke Bays. Also, Pietro Moran and Michael Copeland and the first Stakes of the year, the Star Shoot. We created an award – it has no trophy and no cash value, but the MWBACITUSBODAW (Most wins by a Canadian in the U.S. by a Canadian before Opening Day at Woodbine) came down to a battle among Marty Drexler, Micah Husbands and Bruno Schickedanz. Austin Sorrie was not sorry about breaking through the $10,000,000 mark in purse earnings and Dave Palone won 9 races last Wednesday at the Meadows, but how good was he the next day? And Garnet Barnsdale tells us why he got to inform the latest harness racing entities that they are about to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

This week, we feature jockey Micah Husbands - his great week at Gulfstream and how he is doubly related to Patrick Husbands. One of our favourite guys, Gary Smith, the former colourful NHL goalie, had a huge score at Santa Anita. He tells us why he bet the 12-1 shot and how much he won. On April 24, it's the 50th Sovereign Awards. Trainer Blaine Wright has two great horses nominated. No other horse in any category has won as many races as either of Wright's nominees, but he knows his chances of getting a trophy are very slim. Just a few days after Brett MacDonald drove to his 2,000th win, we have his dad, Ronald MacDonald serving up his 1,000th training win (not sure if he had fries with that). A horse named Fleetwood Mac raced at Mohawk, so we went retro for some classic tunes. And have you ever seen a 10-race card at Mohawk that produced winners for 10 different drivers? Neither have we, but it came oh so close to happening Thursday night.

We have Canadians winning at US tracks - Micah Husbands, Jim and Susan Hill and Roger Attfield. Two Kentucky Derby preps; the Blue Grass and the Lexington Stakes, both from Keeneland. Driver Doug McNair had a brilliant Friday night at Mohawk - 4 straight wins, one of which was numerically very special for trainer Dave Menary. We've got 69-year-old Doug Brown still bringing in a winner and how much you would have made if you'd bet him. Mark Casse has horses nominated in all 10 racing categories at the upcoming Sovereigns and he's got a shot at winning as best trainer for the 17th time. We break down every one of his chances. Harness driver Brett Macdonald tells us why he had to go with Saulsbrook Victor to the Oak Grove track in Kentucky to win for the 2000th time. And if you like goofy race calls, we've got two – Jeff Zidek describing a race at the Meadows when a pair of geese refused to abandon their sit-in at the head of the stretch and Dave Rodman at Laurel with a pair of tongue twisters in the stretch.

This podcast takes you all around the world – to Gulfstream for wins by Rafael Hernandez, Marty Drexler and Micah Husbands. Then to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the UAE Derby, and a surprising appearance in the $2 million Golden Shaheen by jockey Chantal Sutherland. Also, Kentucky Derby Preps from Aqueduct and Santa Anita and correspondent Ric Chapman tells us how Moira did in a $4 million race down under. The Sovereign Awards are less than 3 weeks away, so we have trainer Bob Tiller musing about Patches O'Houlihan, a lock for the Male Sprinter Trophy, but does he have a shot to be Horse of the Year? James MacDonald did it again – he won 5 on the same night at Mohawk. Jessica Hallett describes the t-shirt she made, with all the proceeds going to the family of Hunter Myers. Horse owner John Bianco pulled off one of the great claims in recent years and he talks about Air Combat and a few other good ones. And huge bombs, one at Aqueduct to kick off the baseball season and another at Mohawk that came close to causing a Longshot Panic.

We have an emotional, yet uplifting interview with Kelly Myers, the mother of harness driver Hunter who died after a spill; even during the worst time of her life, she talks about the good that has come out of Hunter Myers' life and career. The great Roger Attfield talks about his special Sovereign award, his long-time relationship with Emma-Jayne Wilson and some of the super horses he's trained. Marty Drexler keeps cashing at Gulfstream. Norm McKnight found the winners' circle at Oaklawn, and check out what Sofia Vives did in her first career race at Gulfstream. Woodbine's Bill Ford breaks down the track's fresh 2-year deal with the HBPA, and 5 weeks from the Kentucky Derby we have the Fukuryu Stakes from Japan, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.

Emma-Jayne Wilson updates us on her rehab, her intention to ride again, her reaction about the special Sovereign Award she is getting, and what she thinks when Down The Stretch called her Canada's greatest female athlete of the millennium. We've got more Canadians extracting Trump dollars in the U.S. - Steve Owens at Tampa Bay, Marty Drexler and Bruno Schickedanz at Gulfstream and Mike De Paulo sending out his 1000th training win. Former trainer, Art Silvera reminisces about a horse called Peterthegross and he tells us why he is now the agent for jockey Omar Moreno, who talks about his new interest in driving standardbreds. We've got Kentucky Derby preps from Turfway Park and the fair Grounds. And there were only 10 slots drawn for the Mohawk Million – how much did Kyle and Bruce Northover defy the math to get 2 of them?

We've got a winner at Gulfstream from Nick Gonzalez and 2 from Marty Drexler, one of which paid off at 16-1. Two reasons to be at Colonial Downs – Woodbine trainer, Justin Nixon won a $150,000 race and 89-year-old D Wayne Lukas sent out the winner of the Virginia Derby. Harness driver Doug McNair talks with us about being invited to the Elitloppet in Sweden with the terrific trotter, Logan Park. Thoroughbred trainer, Nico Lafond tells about his side hustle – as a stuntman in major film productions. Can the filly, Chantilly do what no filly has ever done – win the North America Cup? Her trainer, Nick Gallucci tells us what he thinks. We've got a finish at Gulfstream in which each of the first 2 horses went off at more than 50-1, and horse woman, Jessica Hallett overheard a guy bragging when he should have known better.

March is Women's History Month and Saturday was International Women's Day; appropriately, this podcast has a healthy amount of female content: races at Mohawk and the Meadowlands in which all the drivers were women. Melissa Keith is North America's only full-time harness race announcer. She was invited to the Meadowlands to call several races and she tells us how that happened. Melanie Giddings is a Canadian trainer winning races at Gulfstream. We asked her if she is any relation to the legendary Harry Giddings who won a record 8 Queen's Plates. Giddings also opens up about the worst moment a horse person can experience. One of our favourite jockeys Katie Davis won a Stakes race on International Women's Day at Aqueduct. We have Kentucky Derby preps from Dundalk in Ireland and Tampa Bay Downs We go to Gulfstream for another win by Marty Drexler Do you like long shots? How would you feel if you hit a horse that paid $200 to win? Her name is Kalico Seelster and she stressed out the tote board last Friday night at Mohawk. And what's your favourite horse racing movie? We feature a few that we have enjoyed.

As usual, multiple racetracks, lots of Cancon and compelling people; Bill Tharrenos, Leo Salles, Marty Drexler and Melanie Giddings in the Gulfstream winners' circle. Kentucky Derby preps from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita. Harness driver James MacDonald hit the 4000-win plateau, won 4 wins on Monday night, but it was all about what happened when he ‘rolled up the rim.' Brittany Kennedy is a trainer, owner and driver - we talk with her about a great night at the Western Fair Awards Banquet and what it's like to drive against Natasha Day. And the multi-talented Jessica Hallett tells us about an emotional visit to the industrial zone that used to be her favourite racetrack - Pompano Park.

The Down The Stretch Podcast has been named a finalist in the Sovereign Award Broadcast category. Another nominee, Jennifer Morrison assesses several of the eligible finalists with Peter Gross. We have wins in the U.S. from Bill Tharrenos, Marty Drexler, Bruno Schickedanz and Josie Carroll. Kentucky Derby Preps from Turfway, Tokyo and Oaklawn Park. Longtime horseman and agent Leroy Trotman talks about Black History Month. Lucas House is just 13, but he's a winning owner at Western Fair. Lucas tells us what he says to dad, Lorne about steering the horse he owns. We go to Laurel Park for a monster of an exactor and to Gulfstream for a horse that not only won, but taunted rivals all the way to the finish line.

Trainer Bill Tharrenos finally broke through at Gulfstream and so did apprentice rider, Rachel Slevinsky. We have the Risen Star from the Fair Grounds as the Kentucky Derby hopefuls stake their credentials. Trainer Nick Galluci expands on Chantilly, the Canadian Harness Horse of the Year and her owner, George Millar tells us how a great horse inspires him, even after serious surgery. And if 85-year-old Don McKirgan keeps winning in the sulky, we'll keep putting him in our podcast.

In this episode, complete coverage of the Obrien Awards featuring Chantilly, James MacDonald, Doug McNair and George Millar. We found Canadians winning at Oaklawn and a smart looking winner of the Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay. The story of Johnstown Jet defies logic. He won last week at Mohawk for Kyle Bossence, but before that, he was an Amish buggy horse for 6 years. Trainer Carmen Auciello talks with us about the most excellent Points North, the latest horse to hit the million-dollar mark. Do you remember Randy Exelby's NHL goaltending career – all 63 minutes of it? Exelby's horse ownership is much more substantial. We've got a couple of race callers who got fooled in deep stretch, and songs created by artificial intelligence about your favorite horse racing personalities.

We've got Marty Drexler and Sahin Civaci adding to their totals in the U.S. There were Kentucky Derby preps in New York and California - favorites won each of those, but did you see all the longshots at Mohawk last Thursday? We did. We've got some make-up audio with Doug McNair after we stiffed him last week when he won 6 at Mohawk. Joe Santos of Acera talks about insuring your racehorse. We've got Chevy Chase in this podcast and artificial intelligence could never replace Garnet Barnsdale, but apparently A. I. can sing about him.

In this very busy episode: + Moira wins an Eclipse Award; Donato Lanni accepts + Wins in the U.S. by Sahin Civaci, Sofia Vives and Steve Owens + The $3 Million Pegasus Invitational from Gulfstream + The $1 Million Southwest Stakes from Oaklawn + Marty Drexler talks about his great start at Gulfstream + Trainer Tony Beaton tells us which of his horses he thinks deserves the O'Brien + Groom Natasha Steacy is excited and grateful to be nominated for an O'Brien + Did you see how Ryan Munger and his wife swept the double in South Africa? + And did you know that Garnet Barnsdale has a new gig?

When was the last time a Canadian jockey did this? – Sahin Civaci won 7 races over a 3-day span at Aqueduct. We also have jockey Sofia Vives, owner Bruno Schickedanz and trainer Marty Drexler. Time to start looking at prep races for the Kentucky Derby and you should observe what Disco Time had to do to win the Lecomte at the Fair Grounds. This podcast bows to driver Trevor Henry who crushed it at Mohawk with 5 wins Monday night. Trainer Nick Gallucci joins us to help answer the question – can a 2-year-old filly be named Horse of the Year in the upcoming O'Brien Awards? And a race result at the Meadowlands that had never happened before.

Something for Donald Trump to address – Canadians taking U.S. money: a pair of wins for Marty Drexler at Gulfstream and a winners circle pic for Sahin Civaci at Aqueduct. Harness driver, Billy Davis explains why it took 17 years for him to decide to drive full-time at Mohawk. James MacDonald looks back at his spectacular year and looks forward to his honeymoon in Hawaii. We ‘sample' Free Rein, Woodbine's documentary on the people and horses in thoroughbred racing. Producer Alanna Nolan describes what they're trying to do. Will Moira win the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Lady on the Turf? Host Peter Gross and Moira's exercise rider, Korina McLean assess her chances. And when a 60-1 bomb won at Gulfstream, announcer Pete Aiello nailed it, which is why we're running his stretch call.

Familiar faces from Woodbine were winning in the U.S. - Kazushi Kimura rode a Tall Oaks Farm-bred filly to a huge upset in a Stakes race at huge odds at Santa Anita. We've got wins at Aqueduct from Sofia Vives and Sahin Civaci. Marty Drexler and Bruno Schickedanz scored at Gulfstream. We don't know the creeps who let War Envoy, a Breeders' Cup horse end up starving, emaciated and knee high in mud, but we do have Olivia Dixon of the Kentucky Humane Society to tell us how the horse was rescued. Katie Larsen runs Southern Belle Thoroughbreds. In 2024, she found homes for 200 retired thoroughbreds, but suffered a terrible accident that has her on crutches. We go to Mohawk Park for the last race of 2024 and the first of this year, and we have another one of those amazing nights at the track from James MacDonald. Bern Tobin tells us about the incredible Get Around Town, now retired after racing 459 times and how did we manage to get the Beach Boys in this one?

In this special year ender, we look at the great and not so great moments in horse racing in 2024. Along the way, we enjoy the great work of Moira, Caitlinhergrtness, Velocitor, Roscar, Mystik Dan, Seize the Grey, Dornoch, Julie Walker, Sofia Vives, Rafael Hernandez, Patrick Husbands, Doug McNair, Jody Jamieson, James MacDonald, Pietro and David Moran, Nijinsky, Emma-Jayne Wilson, Justin Stein, Josie Carroll, Mark Casse, Kevin Attard, Scott Zeron, and Bill Megens.

In this very special episode, we have edited together the funniest, weirdest, wackiest and most wonderful moments in horse racing from 2024. Sit back and enjoy: + The bad beats - A sulky explodes in deep stretch; a leading horse jumps the fence just before the wire + Shamrock wins on March 17, Count Dracula wins on Halloween and Saturday wins on Thursday + How mature are we that we loved it when Nobals won? + Appearances by Belichick, Lucille Ball, Rosa Parks, Nyquist, Koufax and a happy horse named Ha Ha Ha + Frank Mirahmadi on the Price is Right + A sample of the wonderful race calls of Larry Lederman + When a deer tried to beat the thoroughbreds + Darryl Ezra on cheeky horse names - Horizontal Helen, Tiny Tinker, Abolish It and Toilet Paper + James MacDonald proving he is much better as a harness driver than a race caller + The horse players' anthem performed at Mohawk + Santa Claus defeating The Grinch in Charlottetown.

From the final day of racing at Woodbine, we check out the Steady Growth Stakes and the individuals who dazzled in 2024. On Saturday, the La Prevoyante Stakes came down to a very close photo between a heavy favourite and the longest shot. We celebrate the career of Justin Stein, who has quit riding to become a steward. Ron Sadler's Northern Ruby, a 10-year-old, ran for the last time and finished her career in the winners' circle. Another extraordinary milestone for driver James MacDonald, but he's got a long way to go to match what 84-yearold Don McKirgan did last week. Western Fair's Drivers Challenge means a lot of children will get toys this year. We've got a race from England in which brothers James and Sean Bowen dead-heated and perhaps the most important horse race of the year took place in Charlottetown when The Grinch went up against Santa Claus.

The Valedictory Stakes at 1 ½ miles was the feature at Woodbine; what kind of a price could you get on a horse ridden by the leading jockey and sent out by the leading trainer? From Paris to New Jersey in a matter of hours – Doug McNair talks about 2 dramatically different harness racing experiences. Jonathan Drury and Tyler Borth broke through the same plateau this week, and Western Fair Raceway's Amy O'Toole helps promote the Toys for Tots drive. And how much grief did jockey Paco Lopez heap on himself for hitting a horse in the face – after he had won the race? Jonathan Stettin and Ken McPeek elaborate.

The Princess Elizabeth Stakes and Coronation Futurity at Woodbine were each worth $250,000. We talk with Jennifer Stein who brings us up to speed on her husband Justin, who was badly injured in a 5-horse spill. There was an amazing debut win by a horse named Little Red Domi. Mark Romeo of Terra Racing Stable tells us no one was as surprised as he was with this 2-year-old's first race. Driver Doug McNair was hoping for a better outcome at an International Drivers' competition in France on Friday. Eleven years ago, it all went south, and this year...it wasn't much better. Why would Highfield Stock Farm in Alberta purchase a high-quality stallion named Tapiture? We find out from Jennifer Buck. Harness driver Austin Sorrie had a huge night at Western Fair that included his 1000th win. And we ask the question - what happens more...a natural hattrick in hockey or in horse racing? And that will bring us to Fraser Aebly, who had a sensational week.

We take the good with the bad this week – 5 horses down and 3 jockeys to the hospital after the first race Thursday at Woodbine. The good refers to Sahin Civaci, who won the Shady Well Stakes on Saturday and it was one of his 6 wins on the card. Another jockey, Austin Adams has been piling up the wins and taking advantage of being the go-to apprentice. Driver Mark MacDonald talks to us about the challenge of leaving the New York circuit and coming to Mohawk where he just might funnel some wins away from his brother James. Have you ever seen a horse pay over $400 to place? It happened at the Meadows and we'll tell you why. And those of us who feel strongly about racial equality had to be cheering when Rosa Parks took the lead at Del Mar and refused to give it up.

Saturday was an amazing day at Woodbine. The longest shot, Wicked Django won the Autumn Stakesat 24-1. A horse called Nobals won the Kennedy Road Stakes and needed huge cahones to get past Patches O'Houlihan. Earlier in the card, Sahin Civaci won 3 races as he has virtually clinched the riders' title at Woodbine. The 12th race was a mandatory Super Hi-5 payout. The winner was 79-1, and when no one correctly bet the first 5 horses, the payout for 4 was spectacular. Emma-Jayne Wilson joins us on the phone to talk about the terrible accident she sustained in October. Wilson, 43, vows she will ride again. Woodbine's Bill Ford explains the abundance of caution that the track employed, cancelling races after 3 horses died on November 9. At Chelmsford Race Course in England, how close did jockeys and horses come to catastrophe when the starting gate could not be moved off the track? And 71-year-old Keith Ballard, Australia's oldest jockey, wrote a Hollywood ending to his 55-year career.

A dreadful day at Woodbine – 2 horses died and a Stakes race was cancelled. Kevin Attard talks about Moira, her win in the Breeders Cup, his stretch run exuberance, and the emotion of selling her 2 days later. Also, Korina McLean, the woman who has ridden Moira more than any jockey - she was also at Del Mar to witness the great mare's spectacular win. There was a monster upset in the $10 million Melbourne Cup in Australia, and a great back story for the winning jockey Robbie Dolan, who dazzled tv viewers on the Australian version of The Voice. The Ontario-bred pacer, Southwind Amazon is now the winningest standardbred of all time. This episode has Tony Randall and Jack Klugman from a classic horse racing episode of The Odd Couple and continuing a sitcom theme – Lucille Ball winning at Aqueduct.

Of course, we lead this week with Moira's great win in the Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf. Comments from Donato Lanni and Kevin Attard. Rik Chapman called in from Sydney, Australia on the Golden Eagle Stakes and the Melbourne Cup. Trainer Angus Buntain talks about 8 great days in his career. We have an amazing result for an Ontario-bred pacer named Southwind Amazon, a 14-year-old who has now won 137 times. Did you see that Count Dracula won at Churchill Downs on Halloween? From the final day of racing at Ajax Downs, we give props to Cassandra Jeschke, Rachel Isaacs, Brian Bell, Diego Benitez, Jason Pascoe and James Bogar. And visa vis the Presidential race in the U.S., we tell you why a horse race is better than an election.

This week we have a complete breakdown of Canadian interests at the Breeders Crown., featuring James MacDonald and Scott Zeron at the Meadowlands and from Woodbine, a first for Leo Salles, Saul McHugh and Robyn Brohman. The Tour de Fort ended the racing season at Fort Erie and many of the horses wanted out much earlier. Is Fraser Aebly a likely candidate for apprentice jockey of the year? He says he's not thinking of it, but we are. Driver Doug McNair tells us that his November appearance at an international race in Paris next month will be a return to the scene of the crime. We had 5-win nights last week for both Travis and Trevor Henry and Rik Chapman called in from Australia voicing a stunning and unlikely win in the Cox Plate.

This podcast covers all 3 genres of horse racing in Ontario and beyond. We have the Ontario Derby Stakes from Woodbine and a nice chat with veteran jockey Eswan Flores who recently scored his first Stakes win of the year. It was Breeders Crown elimination weekend at the Meadowlands and we tell you how Canadians did and how a couple horses blew up the tote board. At Western Fair last week, Sugar Doyle, Ghislain Paquet, Melissa Keith and even...James MacDonald called races. You can decide who did it best...and worst. How much legal trouble did Jody Jamieson get into? The law firm of Hopple, Hopple, Hopple and Fetlock represent the trotter Paquet who was hurt by Jamieson's post-race comments. The quarter horse season at Ajax Downs is nearing its finish line. Did Diego Benitez wrap up the jockeys' title by winning 3 times on the 3rd last card? And a bizarre finish at Keeneland as the jockey on a 13-1 shot thought the race finished at the 16th pole. It didn't and a lot of pick-5 bettors were badly burned.

A horse racing podcast should have horse races and this one does! We have all 8 OSS Gold Super Finals from Mohawk Saturday night. We have Sahin Civaci winning 5 times at Woodbine and Fraser Aebly sweeping both Stakes races on Saturday. Driver Doug McNair had a 6-win night at Mohawk Friday and we tell you why former jockey, Francine Villeneuve had maybe her best day of the year at Woodbine. Have you ever watched Unfiltered, the horse racing doc produced by Ontario racing Management? We sample several minutes of the latest episode that looks at the rivalry between trainers Mark Casse and Kevin Attard. We have all 7 races from the Wednesday card at Ajax Downs, and 15-year-old Alexandra Homorcean scored 1st place in the Bill Galvin Alliance Youth Literary Derby and she thrills us with a rendition of her award winning harness racing poem.

There were 4 Graded Stakes races - all on the grass – at Woodbine Saturday. Patches O'Houlihan won the Nearctic, so we're touting him as the Sovereign Award winner as the next Canadian Horse of the Year. Owner Frank Di Giulio and trainer Bob Teller disagreed about Patches being in the race. Last Thursday, the final leg of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series was run, and the overall champion was a horse that didn't win a single leg. Jockey Jose Campos is from Mexico and he tell us what it was like winning the Prince of Wales in Fort Erie. Harness horse owner Dave Byron talks about buying a filly for $3,000 then winning the $75,000 Grass Roots Final at Mohawk We have 7 races from Ajax Downs this week as we try and figure out who the leading jockey and trainer will be and Garnet Barnsdale turned 60 last week, so instead of co-producing this podcast, he went to Las Vegas; we do get to participate vicariously as he sends us his breakdown of a day in Sin City

The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes assured we would have 3 different winners in the Triple Crown. A night of Stakes racing at Mohawk and we focus on the great work of Louis-Philippe Roy and Doug McNair. What's the profit situation in horse racing books? We find out from Perry Lefko, Jennifer Morrison and Curtis Stock. This podcast also features 7 race calls from Ajax Downs and on Military Appreciation Day at Woodbine, did the special guests get a huge tip?

It was the most lucrative night of harness racing this year at Mohawk and we have the Metro Pace, the Mohawk Million, the Canadian Trotting Classic, the Elegant Image and the She's A Great Lady. Let's just say it was a great night for Dexter Dunn and Captain Treacherous. At Woodbine, Jose Campos added another Stakes win to his Prince of Wales triumph, winning the Zadracarta with Owen's Tour Guide. We document Canadian outcomes in the Little Brown Jug and the Jugette at the Delaware fair Grounds. Harold Ladouceur speaks with Down The Stretch about becoming the first indigenous trainer to win a Canadian Triple Crown race and Ken Albu reveals he was one of the very few to bet on Gambler's Pose, the horse he trains that produced the largest win price in North America this year. And a great moment at the Shenandoah Fair race course in Virginia as 95-year-old trainer, William Fletcher sent out his first winner in 4 years.

We have a 6-pack of Stakes races from Woodbine; the 4 Breeders' Cup Win and You're In turf races and two others – David Moran's emotional win in the Ontario Matron Stakes and Sofia Vives delivering the white hot, Patches O'Houlihan in the Vigil. Then we're off to Mohawk for the Milton Stakes and eliminations for the Metro Pace and the Canadian Trotting Classic. John Burness of Colebrook Farms revealing that Simply In Front's win in the Music City Stakes was the first time he had ever had a horse in a $2 million race. At Fort Erie, Vitality won the Prince of Wales Stakes making Harold Ladouceur the first Indigenous person to win a Triple Crown race in Canada. As usual, we cover the card of racing from Ajax Downs, but not as usual, when a heavy favourite self-destructed at Pocono, the show prices went nuts. And how many bettors wondered where their money went when a 1-5 shot lost the Wonder Where Stakes?

A busy week in horse racing is reflected in episode 241. We have the Niagara Stakes from Woodbine as apprentice jockey Pietro Moran continues to pile up the wins. Mohawk had 6 Grand Circuit races Saturday night and earlier that day, Colebrook Farms' Simply in Front won a $2 million race in Kentucky. The Saratoga meet ended on Labour Day, but not before 89-year-old D Wayne Lukas gave himself a birthday present and Flavien Prat put a cherry on his record-breaking exploits. Jockey Amanda Vandermeersch tells us what it was like winning the Puss N Boots Cup at Fort Erie, then jumping into the infield pond. And the Fort's race caller, Doug McPherson handicaps the upcoming Prince of Wales Stakes. Host Peter Gross got fed at Woodbine when the new Homestretch Bar and Suites was debuted and just to confuse you, we document how it was Saturday on Thursday.

Lots of Taylor Swift in this podcast – her main squeeze, Travis Kelce bought into a share of Swift Delivery who went off as the favourite in the Toronto Cup. Scott Zeron is not quite as famous as Taylor Swift, but he produced two huge hits at Mohawk, winning the Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot on the same night. Trainer Kevin Attard talks about his King's Plate winning filly, Caitlinhergrtness and one of her owners, Elliot Walden of Winstar Farm, tells us why the filly won't run in the Prince of Wales and how she was named after basketball star, Caitlin Clark. Teenage jockey Pietro Moran had a mixed bag Friday at Woodbine – 3 straight wins, then a DQ. Very similar to the 2-win, 1-DQ afternoon by Rachel Isaacs at Ajax Downs. And the cheesiest of stories – how a screwup at Mohawk resulted in a horse winning a race and paying... nothing to win.

The first King's Plate ever to be run on a Friday and for Kevin Attard and Rafael Hernandez, it was worth waiting for as the only filly in the race knocked off the boys. We have several other Stakes races from Woodbine and the mid-summer classic, the Travers from Saratoga, which was almost won by another filly. Harness driver Jordan Stratton may be American, but he tells us how he helped write two very big Canadian stories. Ajax Downs had 6 races last week and we have the call of each one, and 10 year-old Clara Smith shows us why she has a Stakes level talent when it comes to writing about race horses.

It had never happened before. The King's Plate got rained out! Woodbine CEO, Mike Copeland announces when it will be run. Kevin Attard says Woodbine made the right decision. Attard is also in this podcast talking about his great mare, Moira winning the $500,000 Beverly D Stakes in Virginia. Trainer Blake MacIntosh gets our props for crashing over the $20 million mark with a horse named Mamba. The classy pacer, Nijinsky returned to Mohawk and bossed a field around. Jockey Diego Benitez was the star last week at Ajax Downs, winning 3 races, including the feature. Garnet Barnsale gives us the Gold Cup and Saucer race from Charlottetown. And just how sensational was Yannick Gingras' Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philly? The great Blues singer/guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mambo Number 5 performer, Lou Bega help this podcast along.