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!

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Wishing you all a safe and amazing New Year!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

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True to tradition, we present to you our A YEAR IN HORSES 2021 Review! While the season at Woodbine Racetrack started a bit later this year due to Covid-19 delays, it still proved to be an action-packed abbreviated season. There was no shortage of excitement.

The Community wrote the story. I was simply there.

While 2021 turned out to be a season without any one definitive standout star, what we did witness was some of Woodbine‘s greatest go on to retain their form of previous seasons, proving exactly why they are fan favourites. The greats had a chance to share the spotlight.

Will Horse of the Year go to now-retired legend PINK LLOYD whom at age 9 proved he still is the best sprinter in Canada? Or will the honours go to Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, the one-eyed MIGHTY YEART who notched wins north and south of the Border, winning two key stake races in his division locally, the Dominion Day and the Autumn. Or perhaps the hard-trying three-year-old filly MUNNYFOR RO will spring a surprise and win the hearts of Sovereign Award voters with her Woodbine Oaks, Wonder Where and Ontario Damsel scores both turf and Tapeta? Let’s not forget TOWN CRUISE‘s epic wire-to-wire score in the $1-million Woodbine Mile against international-quality competition! So many great moments, even if it genuinely is a coin toss this year who might be named top horse in the country!

This was Kazushi Kimura‘s year to shine, running away with the most amount of wins for a jockey at Woodbine, ahead of last year’s leading rider Rafael Hernandez, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Justin Stein. Hard to believe he was only an apprentice a few years back! And of course Mark Casse dominated trainer standings this year with his top caliber stock and hardworking Toronto team.

I have always pushed for an inclusive representation of the sport and have compiled some of my top memories from 2021 in this Video Review, set to Ed Sheeran‘s “Bad Habits“, in my opinion one of the best songs this year. No bad habits here, we love spreading the joy Canadian Horse Racing brings us!

The 2022 racing season begins at Woodbine on April 16, 2022. The Queen’s Plate retains its later date, slotted for August 21, 2022. We cannot wait! We hope everyone has an amazing Holiday and some well-deserved relaxation after what was an intense meet!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The 130th running of the BREEDERS’ STAKES took place over a yielding turf course yesterday at Woodbine Racetrack. The third and final jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown of Horse Racing was won by BRITISH ROYALTY, capping-off a huge weekend for Owner Bruce Lunsford. The notable Politician, Lawyer and Businessman based out of Kentucky, also won the Grade I Woodward at Belmont with Art Collector Saturday.

The son of English Channel (who also sired top turf horse CHANNEL MAKER who win the race in 2017), shook clear of the field to win by four lengths under Patrick Husbands. Final time was 2:34 for the 1 1/2 mile race. He is trained by Barbara Minshall, who temporarily lost the gelding when he was placed in a claiming race for $40k to build-up his confidence back on July 11, 2021 at Woodbine. Claimed right back in his next race by Minshall and Lunsford, the investment proved well worth it and he also rewarded his backers with $51.20 on a $2 bet, boosting his own bankroll to $250k.

Finishing second was Queen’s Plate runner-up RIPTIDE ROCK for Stronach Stables and third was COLLECTIVE FORCE for Chiefswood Stables.

Some Snaps of the BRITISH ROYALTY:

The supporting stakes feature on Sunday’s card was the Grade III $150k Ontario Fashion Stakes, won by that hard-trying homebred mare AMALFI COAST for Terra Racing and Team Kevin Attard, under jockey Justin Stein.

Attard combined with Stein this weekend also to take Saturday’s feature, the final jewel in Canada’s Triple Tiara, the $250k Wonder Where Stakes, with three-year-old filly division leader MUNNYFOR RO, who also took the Woodbine Oaks.

Toronto Raptors Head Coach Nick Nurse even came out for a day of racing at Woodbine Club. See his chat here!

The E.P. Taylor (Grade I) and Nearctic Stakes (Grade II), the season’s final marquee stakes, will be contested October 17, 2021.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Woodbine‘s TURF RACING FESTIVALtook place this past weekend with two action-packed cards including four marquee Grade I races of the 2021 meet, the $600k Pattison Canadian International, the $400k Summer Stakes, the $400k Natalma Stakes and the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile. The former, traditionally contested in October, gets pushed-early to coincide with the Festival.

Wagering was healthy this past weekend, totalling a stellar $26 million. Winners of the Summer, Natalma and Woodbine Mile earn a berth in the Breeders’ Cup November 5&6 at Del Mar in California.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Saturday went to local six-year-old gelding TOWN CRUISE, who is bred, owned and trained by Brandon Greer. As the lone speed in the race, he went wire to wire accelerating from moderator to quick fractions under Daisuke Fukumoto, winning by 2 1/4 lengths and paying $19.30 on a $2 wager. The victory was all the more impressive considering that traditionally the race is won by horses and jockeys shipping-in, proof and celebration of the consistently-improving talent of the local contingent. The final time for the one-mile race was 1:35.1. The victory earned him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup with the race being a Win-and-You’re-In qualifier. Second was Space Traveller and Raging Bull was third.

Winning the $600k Pattison Canadian International was well-travelled seven-year-old gelding WALTON STREET, scoring by a widening 5 3/4 lengths under legendary rider Frankie Dettori. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charles Appleby. Charismatic Dettori even did a signature flying dismount off the horse in the Winner’s Circle.

Being the consummate professional, Dettori was seen walking around upon arrival Saturday and studying the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, and cheers could be heard from the grandstand for the icon.

Earlier on the Saturday card, the $250k Grade II Canadian Stakes went to American invader LA DRAGONTEA. The four-year-old filly owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen, is trained by Christophe Clement. Top American rider Joel Rosario piloted the win on the favourite, who paid $4.40 for the win.

The Natalma Stakes for two-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf, went on Sunday to regally-bred WILD BEAUTY, a daughter of Frankel, once again for the combination of Godolphin, Appleby and Dettori. Winning by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:36.08, she went off as the race favourite, paying $4.90 on a $2 bet.

ALBAHR, a two-year-old gelding by Dubawi also would score for the aforementioned Trio in the Summer Stakes, winning also by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:35.7. He was the prohibitive favourite, returning $3.30 to his backers.

Two other stakes went off on the Sunday undercard including both the $150k Ontario Racing and Woodbine Care Stakes. The former went to Mark Casse trainee DIAMOND CITY, under Emma-Jayne Wilson and the latter went to Christophe Clement trainee DERRYMANE under Joel Rosario.

The amazing EURICO ROSA DA SILVA returned back to Woodbine on Sunday to receive his Avelino Gomez Award. The honour is to recognize outstanding achievements by a jockey.

The weekend was star-studded on an equine and human scale. Renowned Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay graced us with his presence, supporting his filly PIZZA BIANCA in the Natalma Stakes in which she finished a game second.

The next Grade I stake of the meet is the E.P. Taylor Stakes on October 17, 2021 for fillies and mares on the turf at 1 1/4 miles and a purse of $600k. The third jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes goes on October 3, 2021 for $400k at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

(Photo credit: 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!

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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.

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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)

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The 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred Racing season got an advanced kickoff yesterday with news of Ontario entering Phase One of its reopening plan at the top of the week. While the season originally was set to start back in April and then tentatively pushed to next weekend, the racing community had been waiting with bated breath for an illusive green light from the province. Finally, with great patience and hard work, the community at Woodbine came ready to run, breaking strong and clean from the gate. While there had been many pleas from the industry to the province to be able to proceed with the season sooner on the qualification of it being an “outdoor activity” – which Horse Racing undeniably is – it hadn’t been weighted evenly with other outdoor activities that were permitted to take place back in May. Those days now are behind us and fans and horsepeople alike were delighted with an opening weekend jampacked with races and filled with eager entrants.

Despite Woodbine being able to go ahead with its lucrative season which among many new changes, sees the return of the Grade I Canadian International bumped-up from October to September, the facility still continues to prioritize safety first. Many of the safety measures implemented in the 2020 racing season still are in place like a Covid-19 questionnaire, a mandatory temperature check upon arrival and mask requirement. While select Media like myself have the great privilege of visiting the Press Box and photographing in certain areas of the track, fans and Owners alike still are waiting for clearance to be able to enjoy the races again. Hoping we soon will be there as Ontarians continues to put their best foot forward getting our vaccination rates up and our Covid-19 cases low.

It was an action-packed card yesterday with 11 races and a record opening day betting handle of $6.9 million. The betting public here and aboard continue to set their sights on Woodbine Racetrack for its showstopping racing, just as they increasingly began to take note last season.

Despite there being no stakes races on the card, Trainer Bob Tiller had a great day with two bookend scores, including the season opener with FIVE DAYS IN MAY, ridden by Daisuke Fukumoto. He nabbed another with Skye Chernetz on SIMPLE SOUVENIR, closing-out the card.

Trainer Bill Tharrenos who wintered in Florida, also took two races on the card with HIDDEN IDENTITY under Emma-Jayne Wilson and DIVINE MARTHA, ridden by Ademar Santos. The win was Santos‘ triumphant return to Canada after riding in Florida last season amidst border restrictions and uncertainties. Tharrenos tells me regrettably he came back to Canada prematurely after some success down south, in anticipation of the season here beginning sooner. This surely must be a common sentiment for other Horsepeople here who were in the U.S. this winter, where racing has been allowed to continue with less restrictions.

2020’s Sovereign Award-winning Champion Jockey Rafael Hernandez won a rich Maiden Special Weight race aboard promising Roger Attfield Trainee SPEIGHTSTOWN SHIRL, a Charles Fipke-bred and owned daughter of Breeders’ Cup winner Perfect Shirl. After falling off his mount in the 11th race, we are happy to hear he is fine, able to walk-off on his own strength. Wishing for a quick recovery!

A fitting Rainbow Selfie for Pride Month with Steve Owens Trainee JUXTAPOSE, who won under Patrick Husbands earlier on the card. How’s that for juxtaposition?

Other familiar faces around Woodbine we were so happy to see!

Looking forward to the stakes action returning at Woodbine with some super-speedy fillies and mares in the Star Shoot and Whimsical Stakes next weekend!

The 2021 Stakes Schedule at Woodbine is available to view here. The Queen’s Plate will take place August 22, 2021 this year.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

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)

Seven-time champion jockey Eurico da Silva arrived in Canada in the early 2000s after travelling the world riding among the best in Brazil, Singapore, Macau and more. Known for his larger than life personality and positive spirit, nobody would ever have known he was battling same dark demons that stemmed from his childhood, threatening to destroy everything he had built.

da Silva‘s Memoir RIDING FOR FREEDOM released late 2020, already is nominated for a Sovereign Award, winning raves on the internet. Not only is it shocking and disturbing, it also is inspirational and uplifting in chronicling his will to survive. The Book is available now on Amazon here.

We had the pleasure of chatting with da Silva about the book and our own troubled relationships with our fathers. This and more, below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Through crowdsourced footage, Life in a Day 2020 shows what people in 192 countries were doing on July 25, 2020.

Impressively, Director Kevin MacDonald manages to find a narrative with this random video footage. We begin with the miracle of life, some happening in hospitals and others at home. MacDonald switches from here to start of the beginning of people’s day. And we end with the world going back to sleep. 

Through the narrative we see people coping with the impacts of the pandemic. We hear from doctors and people who are ill, with transition shots of empty streets all over the world. MacDonald includes the things we were able to experience at home. People trying new recipes and finding safe ways to exercise. We see the importance of love from family, spouses and pets to help us get through that summer. 

Some of the highlights from the footage is hearing from people who marched and peacefully protested for George Floyd. Additionally, the message about the effects of climate change. As we stayed home, we saw wildlife and nature try to recoup. He edits this with footage of the negative effects some countries experienced due to climate change. If you look carefully, around the one-hour mark you will see Toronto jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson among those featured.

Life in a Day 2020 shows us a that in one of the most isolated times we are all connected in more ways than we think.

Life in a Day 2020 screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: February 1 at 6 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): February 3 at 10 AM (EST)

Few have made a bigger impact in Canadian Horse Racing than Sam-Son Farm. The thoroughbred racing outfit originated in the ’60s under Ernie Samuel‘s vision and has carried-on to this day, with operations based in both Milton, Ontario and Ocala, Florida. Through and through, they truly are the embodiment of a Canadian success story.

Much of my childhood was spent admiring their greats, who conquered the world on the international racing stage dominating both north and south of the border. Champions Dance Smartly, Wilderness Song, Sky Classic, Ruling Angel, Regal Classic and more were my idols. And their legacies live on in their offspring today and some have stakes races named after them, paying tribute to their historic achievements and contributions.

With news surfacing last fall of their plans to begin a phased exit from the industry, I have struggled a bit processing this. One of the reasons I love Horse Racing so much, no longer will be. Surely I can’t be alone in this feeling.

Seeing 21 of their mares sell for a total $6.7 million at last week’s  January Horses of All Ages sale at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky marks the start of the end of an era. And this makes it all seem real. I’m thankful that a few of these mares were purchased by Canadian connections and am hopeful some of those bloodlines will remain within our country. Sam-Son Farm‘s bloodlines have given Canadian racing prestige and honour.

We can still expect to see their beautifully-bred horses whom either are in-training or just beginning training, at the races at least for the next bit ahead. This still gives us something to look forward to. However, the reality that we might not see those famous red and gold silks ever again at the races in a couple years, is bittersweet.

Sending our support and appreciation to all those connected with Sam-Son Farm, along with the Balaz and Samuel families in their next ventures. We are thankful for all the memories as these will live with us forever.

We present a compilation of Sam-Son Farm moments from the past decade. We even had a snap from our 110 film camera as a kid back in 1991 when Dance Smartly won the Triple Crown in Canada, and wish we had a digital camera with us in the many glory years that followed!

Thank you Sally & Malcolm Pierce, the Motion family, Janeen Lalsingh, Linda Davis, Gail Cox, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Eurico Rosa Da Silva whom are attached closely to the Sam-Son legacy, for sharing their memories with us.

There will never be another like them. Thank you, Sam-Son Farm.

Red and gold forever.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)