We hope your Holidays have been amazing! We know it’s been a while since we’ve updated you on William (Mr Will) and Princess (A Pic by Mrwill) but we were so happy over the Holidays to catch-up with them!
As many of you remember, MR WILL now is retired and transitioning into his next career as a Show Jumper! Brooke Sisson has overseen his development since leaving Woodbine Racetrack and has helped him find a new forever home in Port Hope. He will be moving from his temporary home in Lindsay this week to enjoy the rest of his winter. He seemed very happy and content in his retired life and with access to the backstretch having been closed to Media the past two years, I haven’t been able to visit him in quite some time. This was a sweet reunion, and my Mom was so happy to finally meet him! We hope to see him later this year at one of his shows! So happy for him.
His previous Owner Michelle Love gave me the honours of naming her new yearling filly by Reload and out of the mare Jungle Jewel. She was HIP #225 at the CTHS Yearling Sale this year! While I thought “You Were Meant for Me“, a massive hit in the mid-90s for Jewel, was a good choice too, Michelle went with another huge hit for her, “Foolish Games” the theme song from “Batman and Robin“. Fitting, since the Music Video for the song had horses in it. Love it! How exciting!
Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) has been in great spirits of late since moving into a new pen with racing veteran CUMMINGS ROAD at Emily Fisher‘s family farm. Also grouped with her are donkey and miniature ponies Freddie and Eddie Fisher! We can confirm she’s definitely the Queen over there after being a bit of a fish out of water with the other mares who have formed a strong bond over the years. Princess being the youngest mare, struggled a bit to connect with the others, but is living her best life now as Queen Bee.
Emily and her partner jockey Keveh Nicholls are expecting their first child in early March. So Excited for them!
Wishing you all a safe and amazing New Year!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
It’s been a minute since we’ve checked-in with MR. WILL and A PIC BY MRWILL (Princess). And we don’t know where Summer went!
MR. WILL has gradually improved since his first 2021 start where he had acted-up a bit at the gate and after a fifth and a fourth place finish subsequently, it was decided to give him a break back at home for a few weeks.
The rest has done him well and he’s already back in training at Woodbine, with a sharp workout!
He’s back and ready to go this Friday at Woodbine, Race 1 at 4:50 PM! We are so grateful that he has gotten to learn some valuable lessons with a master in Emma-Jayne Wilson. He will be transitioning under current #1 rider at Woodbine, Kazushi Kimura. We love Kimura’s energetic spirit and graciousness and not only we are huge fan, we are so honoured he’s giving MR WILL his vote of confidence in this race. As it is TIFF right now we aren’t sure if we will be able to make it, but we are wishing the best to KK and Mr Will!
Things are going well at the Love barn, with them scoring last weekend with HALF LIT. MR WILL’s promising half-brother BIG WILLOW also just has been retired and is eligible for a loving home. Details are below.
Fingers crossed all goes well Friday. Don’t forget to tune-in on HPITV!
We’ve missed our sweet Princess and hope to see her soon in the next couple weeks once things calm down a bit. She’s loving her life outdoors, putting on weight and soon her new barn which she’ll share with her new family, is almost fully built for the winter! Her Mom Emily Fisher sends us this amazing new pic of her below.
Emily will be competing with former veteran horse Cummings Road at the Retired Racehorse Project Mega-Makeover, for horses transitioning to a new career as jumpers, soon! More details on that here. And if you’re on the Woodbine backstretch, please see Emily to buy some Laura Secord chocolate towards her fundraising!
Follow Mr Will on Instagram here.
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(Photo credit: Emily Fisher/Michelle Love/Mr. Will Wong)
It’s been a minute since we’ve checked-in with our Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) and Prince William (MR WILL)! With this lockdown in effect, it’s definitely limited opportunities for us to see them in-person. But we’re thrilled we’ve entered Phase One of Ontario’s reopening, meaning racing’s back! We were so thrilled to be at Woodbine‘s opening day last week and even more excited about the stakes-filled action this weekend.
MR WILL couldn’t be any better and under the guidance of ’emmazing’ Emma-Jayne Wilson, he’s ready to fire. His focus right now really is finishing strong, as he showed some opportunities for improvement last season, coming close to the win a few times. Expect a very big run from him in his 2021 debut, which will take place race two this Sunday, June 19, 2021 at Woodbine. His Owner/Trainer Michelle Love tells us he’s extremely sharp and it’s been all about keeping him fit and not peaking too soon with the shifts in dates of the racing season. He was so ready to win in April!
Wish us luck!
Our dear Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) has been enjoying her first Spring living outdoors. We almost couldn’t believe our eyes when her Owner Emily Fisher posted this picture of her. She looks strong, healthy and check-out those dapples! Emily swears by Princess’ Purina Feed Program and we can totally see the results. So happy for her and was thrilled to get a moment to catch-up with her. She was so content grazing on grass, her girls nickering at her to come back in with them as they missed her while she was out hanging out with beanie and me.
A huge congrats goes also to Emily as she just got her certification to be an Assistant Trainer. Currently she is working in the barn of up-and-coming Trainer Cole Bennett.
Was so awesome seeing chickens at the Fishers‘ Farm! This one is fittingly-named Smoky!
And was so great catching-up with jockey Keveh Nicholls, who also is Emily’s partner, as he head off to ride Friday’s Woodbine card. As you might recall, we won a Sovereign Award in April and the photograph we took was of Nicholls winning on one of his regular mounts, Mambointheforest. Had to break-out the Award for a Photo Op as the Award is just as much his!
Thrilled our case numbers continue to trend downwards as the province continues to see its vaccination rates soar. Never thought we’d make it! Really hoping by the end of Summer we will be back at the races in-person again with you! Cocktails at Woodbine Club?
(Photo credit: Michelle Love/Emily Fisher)
As the province is under a stay-at-home order effective midnight tonight, we are saddened to hear that the 2021 Woodbine racing season will be delayed until at least early-mid May when the order is lifted. The season originally was to start next weekend.
We understand the community’s frustration as so much work has gone into getting ready for the start of the season and it feels with such uncertainty we are at the mercy of late-coming updates. We also feel the frustration of business owners and their employees, and how difficult it must be not knowing how to plan when things are so uncertain.
However, if this is what it will take to get through this pandemic safely, we are in full support as the positive COVID-19 cases in Ontario continue reaching highs.
That being said, we were so excited to see MR WILL make his four-year-old debut, but alas will have to wait just a little bit longer. He has never trained better than he has now. His Trainer and Co-Owner Michelle Love tells us he’s extremely sharp and after experiencing an abscess in his mouth a couple weeks ago which is now healed, he’s shown he’s all business. He delivered a powerful workout under leading rider Emma-Jayne Wilson last week which was impressive! So honoured he’s learning under her and we hear she was pleased with his work.
One of MR WILL‘s normal exercise riders Kristen Alderson is expecting her second child with Jeffrey Alderson and she gave him a final breeze couple weeks back. We wish her all the best and that she has a safe delivery. We thank her for everything and hope to see her back again one day soon – but not too soon!
A PIC BY MRWILL (Princess) is doing great and looks phenomenal. Her Mom Emily Fisher just gave her a fresh spring trim, ridding of her winter coat.
We went to visit Princess a couple weeks back with my Mom and beanie, and as always she loves her Rice Krispies. We got her a jumbo-sized Costco box to share with her girls!
A pic of Princess under Exercise Rider Miranda Trujen. Her first time under a rider in over a year. Look at her form!
We hope everyone’s keeping safe and well. We can’t wait to see you back at the races again, hopefully May!
(Photo credit: Michelle Love/Mr. Will Wong/Emily Fisher)
While 2020 left much to be desired, we look back and are grateful Prince (MR WILL) and Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) are happy and healthy at their homes. We were so happy to get to catch-up with them over the Holidays.
While there were limited spots to race near the end of the season and the 2020 meet at Woodbine Racetrack being curtailed, MR WILL never got his last chance to break his maiden. That being said, we’re so proud of how hard he tried all year, picking-up cheques for his owners Michelle Love, Big Willow Stables, Chris Atkinson and Justin Kleiber in four out of five starts. He was so close, placing second twice, almost taking it all.
We’re of the firm belief everything happens for a reason and we are looking forward to the 2021 meet where we are certain MR WILL will find his way to the Winner’s Circle. Hopefully our COVID numbers will be under control by then and we’ll be able to see you there!
William has recovered well from his surgery with Dr. Orlaith Cleary at Toronto Equine Hospital late November to repair a knee chip. This is a common procedure and he already has had his bandages removed and is on stall rest, getting the occasional hand-walk around the barn for activity. His appetite is definitely great, snooping around in everyone else’s feed tub!
Some snaps on a visit pre-Christmas with his godsister, beanie!
And there also have been two new additions to the family, Chickaletta and Hey Hey!
Always a joy catching-up with Princess who fully has adjusted with her pack of mares as an outdoor girl. So cool seeing her mom Emily‘s barn get built and it’s coming along nicely. Soon she will have her own stall indoors again! Love being her “human” and how protective she is of me when I visit with treats, blocking the other mares from me. That’s my girl!
Wishing you all a happy holiday! Can’t wait to see what 2021 will have in store for all of us!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Happy Halloween! It’s one of our favourite times of the year and we’re so happy to see MR WILL back in action this weekend at Woodbine Racetrack. This will be his fifth start and as we’ve seen from most of his races, he usually delivers a good effort.
Most recently October 2, 2020, he ran a game second as the favourite leading all the way only to get caught right before the wire. Twice in a row now he’s been hooked on the lead all the way. He’s stepping-up in class for this start and trying grass for the first time.
His last race:
A quick glance at his lineage, his sire Not Bourbon is full of turf leanings, tracing back to Northern Dancer and Sadler’s Wells. His great-great-granddam Willamar smashed a track record at Woodbine sprinting on the grass. MR WILL‘s built stocky and compact and should do great at five furlongs on the grass. If not, it’s worth a shot because opportunities to race on the grass are running out with the end of the season approaching!
Also, congrats to Chris Atkinson and Justin Kleiber who just recently bought shares in MR WILL. Welcome to the family, guys!
Trainer and part-Owner Michelle Love is confident he’s ready to run!
While we can’t visit the backstretch still, we Amazoned some of his favourites to him. Good luck, MR WILL!
MR WILL appears in race 6 at Woodbine, #8 at 3:44 PM ET Sunday, November 1, 2020.
On the Princess side of things, we’re told A PIC BY MRWILL is doing great, enjoying her time being a horse living outdoors. Her Mom Emily has been very busy of late winterizing her farm, so not so many pics to share right now! We also ensured she got her Halloween delivery! Miss her.
(Photo/video credit: Woodbine Entertainment Group/Mr. Will Wong)
It’s crunch time! With just a couple months left in the 2020 racing season at Woodbine, the opportunities to win are numbered and we found a gem of an opportunity for William (MR WILL)!
After a gruelling speed duel in his last race on September 13, 2020 at Woodbine, he hung-on to get fourth, bringing home a hard-earned paycheque. He battled through fractions of 22, 44.4, 57.4 pressured the entire way before giving way late.
See the race:
We’re thrilled to see MR WILL back at it in his fourth try Friday, October 2, 2020 at Woodbine, Race 1. He will be ready to fire!
In preparation for the race, he put in a sharp breeze the other day and he looks ready to go again!
Some Snaps from William‘s last race:
Don’t forget to tune-in and wager!
On the Princess (A Pic by Mrwill) front, we hear she’s doing quite well per her Mom Emily Fisher. As she’s lived indoors much of her life, getting used to the outdoors has taken a bit of time to get used to but she’s definitely begun to take a liking to it and she’s putting on a bit of weight again. Love it!
Congrats to Emily who recently acquired track veteran Cummings Road as an addition to Princess‘ family. The war horse won 11 races in his career and over $320k! We hope to pop by for a visit soon!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Emily Fisher)
He’s back! Just after the anniversary of his being purchased by Michelle Love at the CTHS Premier Yearling Sale in 2018, our William (MR WILL) is scheduled to make his third start ever at Woodbine Racetrack this Sunday, September 13, 2020, race 8, approximately 4:40 PM ET. Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) also went through that same sale in 2015!
We hope our friends all got what they wanted at this year’s sale. Can’t wait to see new talent at the track next year!
While William‘s last race was disappointing, it was not without reason. After a bit of bumping and being forced wide, he decided to pack it in after stepping-up a bit in class against tougher competition. The top-two finishers were well-meant, so we have absolutely no hard feelings about it. Mr Will returned to his barn full of fire and ready to attack, knowing he was capable of more. He also had a cut on his now-healed hock. Understandably, all these challenges combined made for a less than stellar effort.
Since then, he’s posted a couple breezes in the morning. A couple weeks ago, he went with a horse from Nicholas Gonzalez‘s barn who ran last Sunday in a tough Allowance race and lost narrowly in a multi-horse photo finish to get fourth, so that bodes well. He also did a little tune-up a few days back and Michelle tells us he galloped out strongly. Hoping this confidence transfers to the track in this next race as his first race was so solid and promising. He was meant to run last week although the race didn’t fill completely, so here’s his chance.
I was so happy to be able to see him in-person again in his last race. The last time I saw him was March. Rest assured, I came armed with goodies – he only loves Peppermints (trust me, he’s rejected fancy horsey biscuits from me) – and a stuffie for him. He may be growing-up quickly but he’s still my little boy. You can bet I’ll be there to show him my support!
Some snaps I got of him:
A huge congrats goes to Michelle, who notched her first stakes-placing Sunday in the $250k Simcoe Stakes with Took a Wrong Turn! The talented young man by sire Souper Speedy got third, confirming the potential she saw in him!
We also caught-up with Princess for the first time since the Pandemic started. So happy to see her adjusting to life at her new home with her Mom Emily Fisher. She is so lucky to live in such a beautiful space, with plenty of room to run. As she’s spent much of her life living indoors and recovering in a stall, this change has taken a bit of getting used to. For one, she’s very used to being socialized around people hence admittedly is a bit of a ‘loner’ when it comes to playing with her new sisters who have all gotten acquainted with one another over the years. She will get there and we can confirm, she still LOVES to eat, knowing exactly what ensues when she gets a visit from me! Have missed her so much. Best of luck to Emily and Lakeside Retreat as they embark on their Eventing career together.
Some snaps. And yes, she still does that adorable thing with her front legs when she eats.
Wish us luck! Thanks for all your continued interest and support!
We hope it isn’t long before you are able to be back at Woodbine too and also that you have fun enjoying the Queen’s Plate from home!
Don’t forget to follow Princess and William!
(Photo/video credit: Woodbine Entertainment Group/Mr. Will Wong)
We hope your long weekend is starting great! Amazing news! Our boy MR WILL is back and ready to rumble in his second race ever, Thursday, August 7, 2020, race 5 at Woodbine Racetrack! We’re so thrilled that we’ve been invited as a guest to watch him race amidst COVID-19 precautions.
In case you missed it, his debut on July 2, 2020 was aired nationally on TSN‘s RACING NIGHT LIVE and he ran a smashing race, pressuring the pace all the way, never backing down to finish a game second. The betting public let him get away at a big 15-1 odds, but we feel his odds will be much lower this time around based on that run under jockey David Moran.
Here is the race:
We couldn’t be happier and prouder of MR WILL. And if we were going to come second, we couldn’t be more pleased coming second to DOUBLE THE HEART from Team John Ross, who gifted me with the experience of our dear Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL). That one race earned him $7,110 paying back his original purchase price and more.
See how proud he was of himself after the race! He’s honestly just adorable! He loves to race!
MR WILL has taken a while to get to the races, but is proving well worth the wait. He is coming into this second race in amazing shape and his main obstacle is a step-up in class. He ran a very quick race the first time out garnering an 84 Speed Figure on Equibase, and looked like he has it in him to go a little bit further.
While he’s never been known to throw “bullet” workouts in the morning, he does just enough to get fit and doesn’t usually let his workmates pass him. Owner/Trainer Michelle Love is having a productive season so far and we’re hoping MR WILL notches her another win to reward her for her excellent work!
In preparation for the race, he’s put-in a solid workout and is as sharp as ever!
Here are the entries. Among others we’ll be squaring-off with Mark Casse trainee PRICELESS WILL! What a coincidence! He is pegged at 6-1, the fourth choice.
Good luck to all other entrants!
We hope you’ll tune-in on the HPI channel. Unfortunately our race is just right before the start of TSN RACING NIGHT LIVE and you won’t be able to see him on TSN this time.
A very special thanks to Erica of Security at Woodbine Racetrack, who knew how much a photo of MR WILL on his big day with his Caretaker Jayne meant to me!
Wish us luck! Hope you make some money! We’ll be extra careful following some strict COVID-19 safety guidelines in order to enjoy the race. But we’ll take lots of pics!
Meanwhile on the Princess front, she’s been loving life with her family at her newly-renovated home with her Mama Emily Fisher. Outdoor life doesn’t look like it’s been too tough a transition for her. She’s never been happier! Gotta love how she still lifts one leg up while enjoying something yummy! Love it!
Everyone continue to stay safe, we have a ways to go!
(Photo/video credit: Michelle Love/Woodbine Entertainment/Emily Fisher/Erica Daniela)
After a long journey here, we’re thrilled to announce Mr Will will make his debut at the races very soon! The race goes off Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Woodbine Racetrack, Race 8 at 7:15 PM ET. If you have the HPI Channel, please remember to tune in and put in a wager on the HPI app! The race also will be on TSN Racing Night Live before a national audience! If you’re in the US, watch and wager with TVG!
After multiple setbacks which prevented him from making his start last season, our boy has been training very well and Owner/Trainer Michelle Love was very impressed with his final tune-up which saw him out-work his workmates, feeling great after. While the race is late in the day, we think they’ll be great together! We’re not expecting perfection, but this start should give him the foundation to build on as he looks to have speed and talent.
Aboard Mr Will for this start is David Moran, who is riding amazingly-well thus far this season including a stakes win on wondermare Jean Elizabeth who notched her eighth straight stakes win last weekend, at Woodbine.
Also, a huge congrats to Michelle and Team who notched their first score this season today at Woodbine with Ezme’sgirl! Nikki Alderson who has been instrumental getting Mr Will in-shape in the mornings also got her first win ever at Woodbine!
We see also A Pic by Mrwill‘s former Trainer and Owner John Ross also is in the race with Double the Heart. Good luck to him and all entrants!
We’re gutted COVID-19 restrictions won’t allow us to be there but we will be cheering from home! We hope you’ll join us! We appreciate your support!
Hey @mrwillthehorse you are going to be on national television when you debut next Thursday @Misses_Love666 @mrwillw!
— Jeff Bratt (@WoodbineBratt) June 26, 2020
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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