#HORSERACING: 2015 RACING SEASON PREVIEW | “OFF TO THE RACES” SELFIE CONTEST!

Thanks to the Triple Crown-winning accomplishments of AMERICAN PHAROAH, the Public’s interest in Horse Racing has been piqued once again.  Many of us here in Toronto have front-of-the-line access to some of the World’s best at Woodbine Racetrack – just minutes from the Toronto Pearson International Airport – and don’t even know it!

For years now I’ve been singing the praises of the Sport.  I grew-up with it and still love v. much to this day as an Ambassador. It is a great part of our Canadian heritage and something that generates a great  amount of revenue for our Province every year. I’ve hosted events on major Race Days for Newbies and the response always is unanimous  – Horse Racing is exhilarating and fun!

You’ll be thrilled about an amazing opportunity to win a $1,000 Woodbine Gift Card! All you have to do is attend the races at Woodbine at some point in the 2015 Racing Season and post a Selfie on Twitter using the Hashtag #OfftotheRaces to qualify!  How easy! And you didn’t even have to place a bet!  Your Selfie literally could win you a cool grand. Get creative!

THE QUEEN’S PLATE

Canada’s most prestigious and North America’s most historic horse race, the Queen’s Plate, is coming next month and we’re thrilled at what is shaping-up to be the strongest field in quite some time, after witnessing some of our own Canadian-breds do great things south of the border this winter!

Who will be this year’s Queen’s Plate Champ?  Will it be a rapidly-improving Shaman Ghost? Or could it be Conquest Curlinate who stood a real chance at thwarting American Pharoah‘s Triple Crown bid?  Will last year’s two-year-old Champion Conquest Typhoon be ready after some setbacks? Could it be Danish Dynaformer from the barn of Hall of Fame Trainer Roger Attfield who won the official prep race, the Plate Trial? Or how about the promising Ami’s Flatter from the barn of Josie Carroll, the first-ever female Trainer to win the Queen’s Plate? What if it were a filly to win again against the boys in talented Academic?

Some major Race Days this Season at Woodbine Racetrack include:

Sunday, June 14th, the $500k Budweiser Woodbine Oaks and $150k Plate Trial

The Woodbine Oaks is restricted for Canadian-bred Fillies and is the Country’s most important race for the division. Greats like Dance Smartly and Lexie Lou (in 2014) won this Race en route to doing amazing things in the U.S., including both being named Canadian Horse of the Year.

The Plate Trial is considered a key Prep Race for the Queen’s Plate and often determines who will be the Favourite in the Queen’s Plate.  Big Red Mike, Eye of the Leopard,  Alydeed, Izvestia and With Approval are among winners of this race who went on to win the Plate.

Sunday, July 5th, the 156th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate

The Queen’s Plate is the Country’s top race for three-year-olds, the Canadian equivalent to America’s Kentucky Derby.  Various members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II have attended the prestigious affair.

The event is highlighted by the Hats & Horseshoes Party –  which all are invited to – sees guests at Woodbine dressing-up in their best attire and hats to celebrate the important race with cocktails, food, entertainment, music and fashion.

Sunday, September 13th, the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile

One of Woodbine‘s marquee fixtures, which traditionally has drawn some of the World’s finest talent as a Grade I race.  The one-mile event on the grass has attracted the likes of Rahy’s Attorney, Shakespeare, Leroidesanimaux, Court Vision and two-time North American Horse of the Year, Wise Dan who won the race twice in 2012 and 2013.

Sunday, October 18th, the $1 million Pattison Canadian International

Most famously known as the race in which legendary Secretariat capped-off his remarkable career, the Pattison Canadian International every year attracts a field rich and deep in quality as the lush turf course Woodbine is known for.  Singspiel, Sky Classic, Chief Bearheart, Infamy, All Along, Majesty’s Prince and three-time Winner, Joshua Tree are among some of the more famous winners of the Grade I race.

Sunday, October 24, the Breeders’ Crown

While most of the races we’ve named thus far are for Thoroughbred horses, Woodbine also is known for its world-class Harness Racing (you know… where horses race in Buggies?).  The Breeders’s Crown is known as a championship night of racing, with purses totaling the millions, seeing Standardbred horses across twelve different divisions compete for titles.  We’re extremely lucky to see the night hosted at Woodbine this year, with the Breeders’ Crown touring different tracks across North America annually.

 

Stay tuned for our coverage leading-up to the Plate in coming weeks. We’re extremely stoked to be covering some of this year’s Candidates and we’ll be sure to have you Queen’s Plate-ready in-time for that first Sunday in July!

 More info on the Queen’s Plate here.

For more information on Woodbine Entertainment, visit here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack.