Coming up on Enews tomorrow – preview of big races in New York on a Breeders’ Cup Preview day! Canadian racing news and more!
THROWBACK THURSDAY
I took this photo leaning over the rail, my favourite spot at Woodbine, for the CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL in……hmmm. When was this? This horse had won the $200,000 International THE PREVIOUS YEAR when beat an amazon of a horse, a horse who was expected to win!
He came back the next year and was fourth.
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NORM MCKNIGHT AND EURICO DA SILVA DOMINATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
It took Norm McKnight virtually the entire 2017 season to pass Mark Casse by wins and take the Woodbine title, collecting a career best 99 wins.
It is not yet October and already McKnight is six wins up on Casse thanks to a 5-bagger on Wednesday night:
September 26 – Woodbine
Touch of Disney finished 1st by 1 length Race 2
Giant Storm finished 1st by a nose Race 3
Twitter Storm finished 1st by 1 1/2 lengths Race 5
Springdetti finished 1st by 1 length Race 6
Love That Lute finished 1st by 1 3/4 lengths Race 7
Halo Laelia finished 3rd beaten 6 1/2 lengths Race 8
The McKnight stable, which has also won several stakes races including the Grade 3 Seagram Cup and Presque Isle Mile with DECORATED SOLDIER is well on its way to going back 99 wins this year.
The top 2 trainers are miles in front of some other top barns and there is a 3-way tie for 3rd right now at 29 wins.
McKnight’s work with claims from Oaklawn is just one of the reasons he should be considered for his first Sovereign award for Champion Trainer.
Leading Trainers by Wins
Trainer No. starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win %
Norman McKnight 241 — 82 48 29 $2,248,387 34%
Mark E. Casse 374 — 76 55 54 $4,237,229 20%
Robert P. Tiller 149 — 29 19 23 $1,088,640 19%
Sid C. Attard 145 — 29 19 20 $1,048,640 20%
Jim Ensom 136 — 29 29 17 $785,743 21%
Kevin Attard 172 — 28 28 21 $1,140,269 16%
BREEDERS’ PROGRAMS AND CANADIAN SALES RESULTS IN SPECIAL DIGITAL ISSUE
Have you checked this out yet?
NEXT WEEK; THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER COMPETITIONS!
$100,000 in prizes for retired racehorses in training less than 10 months
Story on JOBBER BILL (Saffir – Healing Touch), an Ontario bred in the Makeover, just one of many from Canada
“For every American Pharoah and Justify, there are hundreds of lower-level horses who will not go on to made millions as breeding stallions. These horses have great value as show horses or recreational mounts; they just need a little bit of retraining to find their niche.”
-Kristen Bentley
Here are the ONTARIO/SASKATCHEWAN ENTRIES IN THE THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER:
https://tbmakeover.org/horse-entries
Horse Owner/rider Events Sire
Nexen Tashi Eaton ON Junior Freestyle Dressage Tizway
Frescobaldi Kathleen Lloyd ON Professional Dressage Girolamo
Mollydooker Jennifer Pejic ON Professional Dressage Competitive Trail Lonhro
Gunlock Amanda Blake ON Professional Field Hunters Show Jumper Bellamy Road
Rising Dough Sandi Braida ON Amateur Show Hunter Competitive Trail Peaks And Valleys
Coconut Roll Lauren Brooks ON Professional Show Jumper Eventing Victor’s Cry
Mike James Phillips ON Amateur Eventing Show Jumper Philanthropist
Point Load Katie Bondrager ON Professional Eventing Field Hunters Perfect Soul (IRE)
Larry’s Quest Ashley Minion ON Amateur Eventing Quest Sale
Cotton Sails Jennifer Pejic ON Professional Dressage Freestyle High Cotton
Koji Kondo Sarah Jurjevich ON Professional Show Hunter Victor’s Cry
Sun Vision Claudia Johnston ON Amateur Show Jumper Eventing Court Vision
Niigon’s Intrigue Claudia Johnston ON Amateur Show Hunter Show Jumper Niigon
I Deliver Melanie Michaels Ryan ON Professional Field Hunters Show Hunter Giant Gizmo
Sask – Midst of Chaos Colleen O’Hagan SK Amateur Field Hunters Eventing Rosetti (featured in current issue of Canadian Thoroughbred magazine)
Sask – Johann’s Warrior Jody Busch SK Professional Working Ranch Freestyle Majestic Warrior
CRACKING DOWN ON THE WHIP RULES
The AGCO Senior Steward Race Reports, available on the AGCO website and Woodbine website have been a super addition to racing in Ontario with plenty of information about steward decisions and more.
Recently the stewards have been busy with whip rulings (raising whip above shoulder or urging rules). The Natalma Stakes winner La Pelosa was ridden by Jamie Spencer who was issued a $3,000 fine(20%) of earnings and JOhn Velasquez was also fined ($200).
Last weekend, winner Differential was found to have a cut and welt following his grass win under Jerome Lermyte.
The rulings are below:
The Natalma Stakes – Observed Jockey Jamie Spencer aboard the winner #13 “La
Pelosa” and John Velasquez aboard the fifth place finisher #12 “Stillwater Cove” raise their hand
above the head while striking their mounts during the stretch run. They were requested to attend
the Stewards stand with Jockeys Guild representative Larry Attard to review the video. Mr.
Spencer was reminded of our urging rules yesterday and again today just prior to this race. He
said he is tall with long legs and his horse is small, did his best not to break the rules. Mr.
Velasquez was unable to attend the stand and we spoke with him over the phone. He relayed he
has never had an issue with us and will review the video. As per the rules a violation is a $200.00
minimum or twenty percent of the riders’ earnings in any race over $100,000.00. Mr. Velasquez
finished fifth and was issued a $200 monetary penalty and Mr. Spencer finished first and was
assessed a $3,000.00 penalty.
Film Reviews:
Review of Sunday, Sept. 23 second race involving Jockey Jerome Lermyte for misuse of the crop.
Following the race we had received a report and two photos from the Official Veterinarian of a
welt and cut on the right flank fold of Jerome’s mount #2 “Differential”. The Veterinarian examined
the horse at the test barn and verified the infraction. Mr. Lermyte was shown the two photos but
was of the opinion that he could not have caused that and it could have occurred in the starting
gate. We reviewed the stretch run and showed him where he was not reaching back with his
crop. He had his own photos and verified there was blood and welts but again refused to believe
he was the cause. This infraction demands a monetary penalty of $300.00 and a one day racing
suspension to be determined later.
