#HORSERACING: MY 2015 WOODBINE RACING SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

It’s been absolutely a stellar 2015 racing season at Woodbine Racetrack and even though we’ve still got a month to go before the curtain drops for the Thoroughbreds, both the 24-hour Casino and Standardbreds still are going into the New Year! Details and schedule here!

We’ve been there every step of the way this racing season.  The build-up to the Woodbine Oaks, won by likely champion three-year-old filly Academic.  We were there for the thrill and fashion of North America’s most historic race, the Queen’s Plate, won by Shaman Ghost.  We ventured even to Fort Erie in our first visit there ever for the Prince of Wales Stakes, upset by Breaking Lucky. Although there was no Triple Crown winner in Canada this year, we still witnessed the third leg being won decisively on the grass  by Danish Dynaformer.  Despite the TIFF ’15 madness, we would not miss seeing  Irish-invader Mondialiste get it done in the Woodbine Mile.  And who could forget Cannock Chase‘s thrilling stretch run to take the Pattison Canadian International? We even revisited Standardbred Racing as Woodbine hosted the 2015 Breeders Crown on a thrilling night of championship races!

2015 has been a highly-competitive year in all respective divisions and it truly is one of the most   wide-open matches for thoroughbred Horse of the Year in recent memory.  This however is a true testament to the quality of horses racing at Woodbine and that there’s a slice of the pie for everyone.

 

Academic winning the $500k Woodbine Oaks under Justin Stein

Academic had our jaws dropping in the #WoodbineOaks today! Flying over that finish line! #Horse #Racetrack #Thoroughbred #Woodbine #HorseRacing #GetintheGame #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 14, 2015 at 3:56pm PDT

 

Mr. Will + Academic

With Woodbine Oaks Winner, #Academic. I always root for the filly. Thanks @reddogcw for this pic. #QueensPlate #QP15 #HorseRacing A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 5, 2015 at 4:32pm PDT

Shaman Ghost winning the $1-million Queen’s Plate under Rafael Hernandez

#RafaelHernandez brining #ShamanGhost home in the #QueensPlate. #HorseRacing #QP15 #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 5, 2015 at 5:39pm PDT

 

 

Frank Stronach leading Shaman Ghost into the Winner’s Circle after their Queen’s Plate victory!

Privileged to get the best seats in the house at @woodbineracing. Don’t believe another #QueensPlate has come and gone so quickly. Seen here is #FrankStronach leading #ShamanGhost into the Winner’s Circle as #RafaelHernandez throws them flower petals into the air, from the Winner’s blanket. I love this Sport so much and it always will be a part of me. #QP15 #QueensPlate #HorseRacing #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 5, 2015 at 5:45pm PDT

Mr. Will + Shaman Ghost

#ShamanGhost just made the #QueensPlate a whole lot more interesting with an upset in today’s Marine Stakes at @woodbineracing. #QP15 #Woodbine #Horse #HorseRacing #Racetrack #GetintheGame #FrankStronach #AdenaSprings #RafaelHernandez #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 16, 2015 at 3:39pm PDT

   

Breaking Lucky wins the $500k Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, under Jim McAleney

Congrats to #BreakingLucky, Gunpowder Farms, Team Reade Baker and Jimmy McAleney on their stunning upset in #Wales80 at @FortErieRacing, the 2nd jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown! #HorseRacing #FortErie #GetintheGame #Horse #Jockey #Racetrack #PrinceofWales #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 28, 2015 at 6:01pm PDT

Danish Dynaformer romps in the $500k Breeders’ Stakes under Patrick Husbands

Such a joyous day #OfftotheRaces celebrating the $500k #BreedersStakes, won by a deserving #DANISHDYNAFORMER, #PatrickHusbands and our friends at Team #RogerAttfield. They had ice buckets and tons of cool water ready for him in this scorching heat! #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame #HorseRacing A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 16, 2015 at 9:23pm PDT

With adorable Danish Dynaformer and his favourite teddy

With the official favourite for tomorrow’s #QueensPlate, #DanishDynaformer… and his teddy bear! #QP15

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 4, 2015 at 11:36am PDT

I loved spending Breeders’ Stakes day with one of my favourite Readers @CupcakeDawnie whom true to her name brought me some amazing homemade cupcakes!

Lunch at @woodbineracing with one of my fave Willionaire$ @cupcakedawnie #BreedersStakes day! She made me yummy Cupcakes!! #OfftotheRaces #BetWoodbine

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 16, 2015 at 11:34am PDT

 

Such an honour to meet the Speed Queen herself, Ageless, who smashed yet another course record on the turf at Woodbine in the Royal North Stakes. We’re bummed she won’t make it to the Breeders’ Cup, but are happy she’s doing well and getting the queen treatment she deserves.

Good afternoon from the brilliantly-fast #Ageless and I! She’s up later today in the Royal North! #BetWoodbine #Horse #Mare #Filly #Thoroughbred #Woodbine #Racetrack #GetintheGame #Racetrack A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 26, 2015 at 10:39am PDT

Brooklynsway is one of my favourite girls on the track and she always gives it her all on her best day. So overjoyed getting to meet her and give her some Scotch Mints. I don’t bet big, but she was responsible for a couple of my biggest wins in 2015!

So honoured to meet this v. talented young lady finally after her win in the $250k Bison City Stakes! Huge fan. She’s won 3 races, all stakes, and close to $500k already in just a year! #Brooklynsway #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame #Woodbine #OfftotheRaces #Horse #Filly #HorseRacing #Racetrack

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 18, 2015 at 5:37pm PDT

 

Another one of our favourite girls Caren, who is just a two-year-old, but tough as nails. Her family at the Mike DePaulo barn and even her owners agree she’s nasty, but was just a perfect angel when I went by to visit her in the summer. They all are gonna nod their heads reading this.

Up $200 thanks to this bad little B! CAREN is a Queen. Congrats to Team DePaulo and @JockeyJesse! #BetWoodbine #HorseRacing #GetintheGame #Woodbine #Racetrack #OfftotheRaces cc: @josiedepaulo @melidar08 @depaulojoseph @michellearmata A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 12, 2015 at 12:12pm PDT

Although that huge 2015 comeback never happened for our heroine and 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou, we’re glad she’s safe and sound at the farm. Was a highlight of our year getting a kiss from her.

Kisses from #LexieLou! Who knew the Queen of Canadian Racing was such a sweetheart?! @woodbineracing #OfftotheRaces #GetintheGame #Horses #HorseRacing #Horse #Filly #BetWoodbine #Racetrack

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 7, 2015 at 6:27am PDT

 

 

What a joy it was seeing my sweetheart “Mimi” (Don’t Leave Me) score in the Ontario Colleen Stakes under Eurico Da Silva. I even got to meet her amazing owner, THE Josephine Abercrombie! I always try to bring her an apple when she’s around. It has to be Royal Gala though. You don’t wanna see what happens when it’s not.

So proud of my friends at Team Malcolm Pierce on their huge win with #DontLeaveMe aka “Mimi” today in the Ontario Colleen Stakes at @woodbineracing. An honour getting to celebrate with THE lovely and vivacious #JosephineAbercrombie, Mimi’s owner, who flew in for the occasion! Some extra Royal Gala Apples for Mimi tomorrow! #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame #OfftotheRaces #Woodbine #Filly #HorseRacing #Abercrombie #nikond3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 22, 2015 at 3:19pm PDT

Although he had scratched from the $1-million Woodbine Mile, I got to catch-up quickly with hometown hero Grand Arch who soon after would go on to win the $1-million Shadwell Mile at Keeneland! He is amazing and rather handsome, wouldn’t you agree?

So proud of @woodbineracing’s #GrandArch who won huge at #Keeneland in the $1-million Grade 1 Shadwell Mile! #HorseRacing #Horse #Racetrack #GetintheGame #ShadwellMile #Woodbine #BreedersCup

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 3, 2015 at 2:57pm PDT

     

That time we went to our friend Linda‘s (@ldavis2229) BBQ and champion jockey Patrick Husbands shows up and gives Billy some jockey advice… NBD… 

Billy getting jockey lessons from Uncle Patrick. A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 18, 2015 at 5:21pm PDT

That time we met miniature pony, Pepper… it was the greatest!

With Pepper, the miniature pony. #OfftotheRaces #Horse #Pony #MiniaturePony #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 14, 2015 at 2:39pm PDT

Our little friend Gator is a Florida rescue cat adopted by our friend Sarah Ritchie, an assistant to Trainer Mark Frostad. He quickly has made a name on the backstretch at Woodbine and even has his own Twitter account: @gatorkitten.

Celebrating #InternationalCatDay with @GatorKitten! A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT

 

So we went to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park this summer and took-over Woodbine‘s Social Media for a day… The Selfie with Triple Crown champ AMERICAN PHAROAH was just the icing on the cake! Thanks Julie (@reddogcw) for the Snap!

  No big deal. Just an #AmericanPharoah Selfie on #Haskell2015 Day!   A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 2, 2015 at 4:28pm PDT

 

So I got to present the winner’s trophy to Hall of Fame inductee Roger Attfield and local newcomer Alan Garcia after the Nijinsky Stakes… again NBD…

Presenting the trophy to the winners of the Grade II Nijinsky Stakes, Hall of Famer #RogerAttfield + jockey #AlanGarcia for #AreYouKiddingMe! Phenomenal race! (Photo credit: @kaytrd for @woodbineracing) #BetWoodbine #OfftotheRaces #Woodbine #Racetrack #HorseRacing #GetintheGame #Horse #Thoroughbred A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 19, 2015 at 2:24pm PDT

It’s not every day we get to see a Breeders’ Cup champion at Woodbine. Even though Bobby’s Kitten had an off-day in the Play the King Stakes, we’re still thrilled we got to see him up-close.

 

In #HorseRacing you can look at past performances, pedigree, stats and speed figures all you want in picking a winner, but often it’s about who’s 100% that moment and how lucky they are. That’s why it is important to look at a horse’s pre-race appearance before you place a bet. Not sure who told Joel Rosario to go guns blazing in a speed duel with the super-wound-up #BreedersCup champ #BobbysKitten, but yeah… Still a joy getting to see a horse of this caliber race at #Woodbine. We all have our off days and he’s definitely still a king in my books! #OfftotheRaces #HorseRacing #GetintheGame #BetWoodbine #Handicapping #Colt #Horse #SamsungGalaxyS6

 

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 23, 2015 at 3:57pm PDT

 

With Irish-bred $1-million Woodbine Mile winner Mondialiste and rider Fergal Lynch

Thrilling action at @woodbineracing in the #WOMile! Congrats to the connections of MONDIALISTE! #OfftotheRaces #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame #HorseRacing #WoodbineMile #FergalLynch #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 13, 2015 at 3:23pm PDT

 

This one Bartender at Woodbine knows me too well… It was a dream having this many Maraschino Cherries in my Singapore Sling!  Almost died of deliciousness…

 

Now that’s a #fruitydrink. #OfftotheRaces #BetWoodbine

 

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 27, 2015 at 2:02pm PDT

2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up with the Birds being his lovable self before his valiant first runner-up finish in the $1-million Pattison Canadian International

2013 Horse of the Year Up With the Birds on his chances in today’s #WOIntl! #OfftotheRaces #GetintheGame #BetWoodbine A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 18, 2015 at 10:09am PDT

 

 

Curvy wins the $500k E.P. Taylor Stakes on Woodbine International Day under megastar Ryan Moore

Smashing performance by CURVY under Ryan Moore to win the $500k EP Taylor Stakes! #BetWoodbine #OfftotheRaces #GetintheGame #HorseRacing #WOIntl #NikonD3300 #wu1a #55200mm A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 18, 2015 at 2:16pm PDT

 

 

Irish-bred Cannock Chase takes the $1-million Pattison Canadian International, again under Ryan Moore!

  Phenomenal day at the #WOIntl. A Canuck didn’t win, but a ‘Cannock’ did! Congrats to CANNOCK CHASE who won valiantly under Ryan Moore. So proud of our UP WITH THE BIRDS who ran a phenomenal second, representing Canada so well! #GetintheGame #HorseRacing #OfftotheRaces #BetWoodbine #BetWoodbine #NikonD3300 #wu1a #55200mm   A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 18, 2015 at 4:48pm PDT

With five-time winning driver on 2015 Breeders Crown night, Dave Miller!

#OfftotheRaces! This literally is how dirty they get in #HarnessRacing! Major fun tonight at #Crown15! Here I am with five-time winning driver tonight #DaveMiller. KING. #BreedersCrown A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 24, 2015 at 8:18pm PDT

Sending-off beloved Woodbineannouncer Dan Loiselle on his retirement was bittersweet, but am so happy for him and know he’s never far away…

So honoured to call this man a Friend. Sad to be sending off The Voice of @woodbineracing, #DanLoiselle today. The joys he has given us racing fans are uncountable. Wishing him a well-deserved and happy retirement! #Woodbine #Racetrack #HorseRacing #GetintheGame A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 31, 2015 at 10:52am PDT

In addition to being a huge supporter of the sport, we are equally concerned with horses going to loving homes after their time on the track. Organizations like LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society aim to do just that and we are always sure to give a bit of money every year and donate some auction items. It was so much fun attending their annual Fundraiser this year and seeing jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson as Wonder Woman. Trainer Mark Frostad as Elvis …we have no words!!

Fun catching the tail-end at the @LongrunTB Gala last night, raising money for the dignified retirements of racehorses. Loved the Hollywood theme this year! #Woodbine #Racetrack #Fundraising #Horses #HorseRacing #GetintheGame #OTTB #ADOPTAHORSE #LongRun #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 26, 2015 at 7:16am PDT

 

Umm… and did we mention that there is a yearling filly named after me?  Look out in 2016 for a filly named A PIC BY MRWILL (Kentucky Bear – Princess G, by Cee’s Tizzy).  She is owned by John Ross (the man who brought us Lexie Lou and Brooklynsway!!!) & Cathy Wong!  Yes, this is real life!

Is this a dream?! Incredibly-honoured John Ross & Cathy Wong named their new filly after me! Look out in 2016 for “A PIC BY MRWILL” a two-year-old filly by Kentucky Bear x Princess G, by Cee’s Tizzy! Lotsa speed on her dad’s side and a lot of class on her mom’s side, including champion “Bear Now”. This is where things get a little spooky. Look at the registration date here, 10/9 and scroll down my timeline. That same day you will see I randomly got a text from my friend @tripledeadheat that he dreamt I bought a horse. Close! So uncanny right? So much respect for John, the man who developed champions King Corrie, #LexieLou and the top-performing #Brooklynsway. Sending this dark beauty love and luck as she becomes a racehorse this winter! Can’t wait to meet her! #Filly #HorseRacing #Horse #GetintheGame #Yearling #Coincidence #Luck #Woodbine A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 20, 2015 at 3:36am PDT

Although we’re approaching the end, you still can Tweet a Selfie of yourself at Woodbine with the hashtag #OFFTOTHERACES for a chance to win $1k! It’s that easy!

Remember to follow also via @woodbineracing on Twitter.

Don’t forget, the Breeders’ Cup, Horse Racing’s championship days take place this Friday and Saturday and you can watch the races on NBC!  Check local listings!  We’ll be there at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky!

We’ll definitely be seeing you again in 2016!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

This post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack.