What a day it was for trainer NORM MCKNIGHT, whose stable won 5 of the 14 races on the last day to win the trainer’s title with 99 wins. He ended a 10 year reign by Mark Casse. Here is a wild finish in race 7 with McKnight trainees REIMAGINED (in front) and LUNAR LIGHT (#1) finshing 1-2 – thank you to WILL WONG for this great image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning’s post title could be taken as ‘bow’ – wrap it up and put a bow on it – or ‘bow, take a bow horses, horsepeople, racetrack staff and fans.

WOODBINE ended the 133-day season on a very cold Sunday at about 7:45 p.m. as the 14th (!!) race came to the wire in a brilliant finish.

In some parts of the track for the last race, the screaming for the last race was deafening as Tucci Stables Yes Darlin tried to hold off Bear Stables’ Hurricane Bear. The latter managed to get up to win for trainer Mike DePaulo and jockey Raffie Hernandez.

$7.2 million wagered on the card was strong for the last day and huge fields of horses went off without a hitch all day (and evening) long.

One visitor to Woodbine, in with a ship-in horse from the US, was heard saying how well the horses looked on post parade for each and every race, commenting that they rated the appearance of the horses highly compared to US locales.

The 2 big stories of the final day of racing involved perennial leading trainer Mark Casse, whose stable is run by David Holmes and Kathryn Sullivan and the barn of Norm McKnight.

With a one- win lead over McKnight coming into the day, the Casse team was certainly in an unusual position at the Toronto track. It has dominated for 10 straight years, using the grounds as a a learning place for some of its young stars and having one well bred, talented horse after another.

McKnight and his stable of claiming horses raced from the spring to the final days, and many of his horses were consistently good all season, benefiting from frequent vacations.

He had more than half a dozen starters and won 5 races on the 14 race card, blowing past Casse for the trainer’s title.

Casse won the big race of the day as his team sent out the gorgeous Ontario bred colt LEAVEM IN MALIBU to the win the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes, leading all the way through 1 3/4 miles over the leading route horse of the meeting, Melmich.

Leavem in Malibu has had a tough run of things in his career since he was on the Queen’s Plate trail last summer. He missed an entire year of racing from August to this August, then was beaten some 29 lengths in the Durham Cup by Melmich in Sept.

He recently won an allowance race in impressive fashion and was on his best game on Sunday, winning nicely at 7 to 2,. Patrick Husbands rode the Bill Graham-bred son of Malibu Moon.

The 4yo colt’s dam, Leaveminthedust, is a half sister to the dam of young Ontario stallion RELOAD (Hard Spun), a half brother to top sire Philanthropist.

LEAVEM IN MALIBU (88 Beyer Figure in Valedictory win in 2:58 2/5) is owned by Conrad Farms, which had a big year in 2017 and Gary Barber. Barber had more than two dozen horses involved in the Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey Downs but most of his horses were okay.

Thank you to WILL WONG (www.mrwillwong.com) for super images from Woodbine all season long – this is LEAVEM IN MALIBU flying in the Valedictory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More bits from Sunday:

One of Thoroughbred racing’s newest owners in Ontario, PIANO BAR STABLE, won for the 2nd time in 2017 with its 3yo filly RED CABARNET, a daughter of the hot, young sire SIGNATURE RED (now standing at Adena Springs).

Trained by Ian Black, Red Cabarnet was one of 2 purchases at the local yearling sale 2 years ago by Piano Bar Stable, led by Jim Menzies. On Sunday, she won for the 2nd time in her career in a $39,000 allowance/optional claiming race and her earnings have gone well past $75,000.

This filly was one of 4 winners on the day by Eurico da Silva who walloped the jockey list with 203 wins on the season.

D’S BEN won a maiden allowance in race 3 for owner York Tech Racing of Carmen DiPaola and became the first winner for his sire D’s Wando, who raced for the DiPaola family.

Santino DiPaola was sending out the 2nd winner of his young career in D’s Ben who was ridden by Jeff Alderson.

Quietly, the stable of JIM ENSOM (1569389 Ontario Ltd) had a banner season with 20 wins from 51 starts (including Fort Erie) including a brave win by MIDNIGHT BREW in race 11 on Sunday. This Milwaukee Brew mare won this $61,000 allowance race for her  5th win of 2017. She was claimed by Ensom, whose horses are trained by Martin Drexler, for $10,000.

 

INTO THE SUNSET – the Woodbine season of 2017 has ended..we wait for April 21 2018! LISA HOCKING PHOTO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW OWNERS join racing in 2017

In addition to the previously-mentioned PIANO BAR STABLE, plenty of new owners and partnerships popped up in 2017.

LA AMICI STABLE, organized by Robert Marzilli, had its first year of ownership in 2017 and won a couple of races.

The groups of owners/friends put together by young trainer Tony Gattellero this year had a fantastic season, highlighted by a win by the filly CLICKITY CLACK in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

PIPERS RACING STABLE, a group of owners from the golf course of the same name, raced its first horse this year (Pipers Heath) and 2nd year owners JACK OF HEARTS Racing, Neal Mednick and Jim Aston, won the $500,000 Prince of Wales and $225,000 Coronation Futurity in a remarkable season.

(Visit https://www.youtube.com/user/TalkinHorsesTV/videos for tons of new owner features, tips on joining the business and more!)

 

QUEEN’S PLATE ON SATURDAY (June 30)  IN 2018

Concert on Friday night

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning and multiplatinum-selling country music superstar, Brad Paisley, will headline the 2018 Queen’s Plate Festival at Woodbine Racetrack. The three-day Festival will run from Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1.

Queen’s Plate Festival Passes will go on sale Friday, December 15 at www.woodbineracetrack.com – just in time to stuff stockings with the hottest ticket of the summer. Passes start at just $45, and will provide 3-day access to the grounds, which includes Friday night’s Brad Paisley concert, as well as an extensive offering of attractions on Saturday such as the beloved Hats & Horseshoes Party presented by Stella Artois and the main event, the jewel of Canadian horse racing – the running of the 159th Queen’s Plate.

Critically acclaimed country music star Brad Paisley will kick off the Queen’s Plate Festival on Friday, June 29. His electrifying talent has yielded three GRAMMY® Awards, two American Music® Awards, 14 Country Music Association® Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), 14 ACM Awards and 24 No. 1 world-renowned hits. LOVE AND WAR, Paisley’s newest album, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, marking his 9th consecutive studio album entry at the chart’s top position.

“The Queen’s Plate is one of the classic events on the Canadian sports calendar,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “With Brad Paisley, one of the great personalities and performers in music, kicking off our three-day Queen’s Plate festival, and our mix of food, fashion and horse racing, the weekend will be memorable for both long-time racing customers and potential new fans.”

Paisley fans can take their experience up a notch by purchasing a Paddock Party Festival Pass, providing exclusive access to the concert beer garden and pre-concert party with live-racing and entertainment held in Woodbine’s rustic and chic Old Standardbred Paddock.

The coveted $1 million running of the Queen’s Plate, previously held on Sunday, will take place on Saturday, June 30, drawing thousands of stylishly dressed spectators out to Woodbine Racetrack. This year’s event will once again have live music, spectacular fashion, gourmet food trucks and thrilling horse racing. A post-race concert will close out the day with artists to be announced in the new year.

The 2018 Queen’s Plate Festival will continue on Sunday, July 1 with free Canada Day celebrations and fun for the whole family.

Fans can visit @WoodbineTB for the latest updates on everything #QP18.

FESTIVAL PASSES & ACCESS

General Admission Festival Passes are forty-five dollars ($45) and provide access including general admission to the Brad Paisley concert, Queen’s Plate, Hats & Horseshoes Party presented by Stella Artois, and post-race concert. Passes will go on sale to the general public Friday, December 15 at 10AM.

Paddock Party Festival Passes are seventy-five dollars ($75) and provide all of the above, plus a concert pre-party with live-racing and entertainment, exclusive access to the beer garden for concert viewing, and admission to the Paddock Party for the Queen’s Plate.

Premium Festival Passes will be available for three-hundred and fifty dollars ($350) and provide the ultimate country music fan experience. Passes offer all the benefits of the Paddock Party Festival Pass, plus exclusive access to premium hospitality tents for both the Brad Paisley concert and the Queen’s Plate, including gourmet food and alcoholic beverages, valet parking, and grandstand seating on race day.

Grandstand Festival Passes range from forty-five to one hundred and twenty dollars ($45 – $120) and include general admission to the Brad Paisley concert, the pre-concert party, and a reserved grandstand seat for Queen’s Plate. Queen’s Plate grandstand seating is limited.

 

 

**STATISTICS PACK FOR WOODBINE 2017

Chiefswood Stable edged Stronach Stables by purse earnings at the meeting ($40,000 in front) ending a string of leaders in this category of Conquest Stable, Sam-Son, John Oxley, etc.

 

 

WOODBINE OWNERS BY EARNINGS

 

1              Chiefswood Stable          139         24           29           21           $1,691,137           17%       

2              Stronach Stables              123         17           28           22           $1,650,496           14%       

3              Bruno Schickedanz          277         69           49           32           $1,456,694           25%       

4              Sam-Son Farm   78           12           14           15           $966,042              15%       

5              Ivan Dalos           82           14           6              4              $812,263              17%       

6              Live Oak Plantation        36           8              6              5              $768,135              22%

7              Gary Barber        63           13           10           7              $672,893              21%       

8              Fitzhenry, Sean and Dorothy      22           10           5              1              $618,382              45%

9              Joey Gee Thoroughbreds             94           18           15           22           $615,126              19%

10           Chesney, Stephen and Hoffman, Cory S.                76           10           12           7              $573,883

 

WOODBINE OWNERS BY NUMBER OF WINS 

Ryan Kerbel’s stable made a lot of noise in 2017 with 22 wins and the barn’s trainer, Denyse McClachrie, had a career season.

 

 

Bruno Schickedanz          277         69           49           32           $1,456,694           25%       

Chiefswood Stable          139         24           29           21           $1,691,137           17%       

Ryan Shane Kerbel          89           22           8              6              $359,237              25%       

Joey Gee Thoroughbreds             94           18           15           22           $615,126              19%       

Stronach Stables              123         17           28           22           $1,650,496           14%       

Ivan Dalos           82           14           6              4              $812,263              17%       

Gary Barber        63           13           10           7              $672,893              21%       

1569389 Ontario, Inc.    41           13           8              4              $383,702              32%

Sam-Son Farm   78           12           14           15           $966,042              15%       

Dura Racing , M. J. Doyle  Ltd. 77           12           8              10           $443,034              16%       

Norseman Racing Stable              68           12           11           5              $373,269              18%       

Tucci Stables      97           12           13           12           $315,078  12%

 

 

TRAINERS BY WINS

 

                Norman McKnight           305         —             99           58           35           $2,109,036           32%       

                Mark E. Casse    508         —             96           85           71           $5,397,013           19%       

                Kevin Attard       301         —             43           55           41           $1,909,438           14%       

                Sid C. Attard       233         —             42           38           27           $1,484,225           18%       

                Martin Drexler  208         —             42           38           29           $1,192,076           20%       

                Michael P. De Paulo       324         —             38           44           41           $1,610,848           12%

                Robert P. Tiller 257         —             37           31           38           $2,012,833           14%

                Roger L. Attfield               185         —             36           25           24           $2,105,712           19%

                Denyse McClachrie         159         —             35           18           17           $737,395              22%

                Nicholas Gonzalez           266         —             31           46           38           $1,423,748           12%

                Josie Carroll       122         —             28           14           12           $1,483,182           23%       

                Catherine Day Phillips   94           —             24           19           8              $1,238,385           26%

                Michael J. Doyle               191         —             21           23           26           $901,233 11%

 

 

TRAINERS BY WIN PERCENTAGE (min. 10 starts)

 

Pos. by Purses                                Starts         1st                        2nd     3rd       Purses    Win % 

94           Bruce R. Smither              11           —             4              0              3              $100,097              36%

2              Norman McKnight           305         —             99           58           35           $2,109,036           32%       

40           Lorne Richards  39           —             12           5              5              $325,960              31

163         Mark Fournier  10           —             3              1              2              $32,602                 30%       

29           Chad C. Brown  11           —             3              1              4              $451,930              27%

52           Alexander P. Patykewich             37           —             10           2              2              $238,491              27%       

10           Catherine Day Phillips   94           —             24           19           8              $1,238,385           26%

8              Josie Carroll       122         —             28           14           12           $1,483,182           23%

122         Allen Desruisseaux         18           —             4              0              2              $59,300                 22%

16           Denyse McClachrie         159         —             35           18           17           $737,395              22%

25           Donald C. MacRae           65           —             14           15           9              $483,923              22%

34           Tony Michael Gattellaro               48           —             10           7              6              $393,730              21%

11           Martin Drexler  208         —             42           38           29           $1,192,076           20%

178         Gary Chudobiak               10           —             2              1              0              $22,609                 20%       

 

TRAINERS BY MONEY WON

 

1              Mark E. Casse    508         —             96           85           71           $5,397,013          

2              Norman McKnight           305         —             99           58           35           $2,109,036          

3              Roger L. Attfield               185         —             36           25           24           $2,105,712

4              Robert P. Tiller 257         —             37           31           38           $2,012,833

5              Kevin Attard       301         —             43           55           41           $1,909,438          

6              Michael P. De Paulo       324         —             38           44           41           $1,610,848          

7              Sid C. Attard       233         —             42           38           27           $1,484,225          

8              Josie Carroll       122         —             28           14           12           $1,483,182          

9              Nicholas Gonzalez           266         —             31           46           38           $1,423,748

10           Catherine Day Phillips   94           —             24           19           8              $1,238,385

 

 

HORSES BY WINS

 

                Pink Lloyd           8              8              0              0              $512,636

                Melmich              7              5              2              0              $313,755             

                Ikerrin Road (IRE)            10           5              1              0              $205,585             

                Eminent Force   8              5              1              1              $135,714

                Midnight Brew  10           5              1              2              $109,497

                Unseen Angels 11           5              2              2              $76,689                

                Thunder Point   11           5              0              1              $62,940