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)

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)

While the 2020 racing season at Woodbine Racetrack came to an early end, we look back with gratitude at being able to cover our favourite sport even admist the most challenging of circumstances.

Though many hours go into commuting, capturing content, editing and posting never have we complained about the process. Being a part of the Horse Racing community brings me great joy and it makes me proud that Woodbine Entertainment managed to put together a fantastic abbreviated season, keeping everyone safe and well with some well-managed health and safety protocols.

Though border restrictions did alter the make-up of some of our most high-profile stakes races, one of the greatest things this year was seeing our local jockeys, trainers and owners take some of our biggest fixtures. Sam-Son Farm is one the reasons I love this sport so much, having brought us some phenomenal talent over the years. Stable stars like Dance Smartly, Ruling Angel, Wilderness Song and Sky Classic held Madonna and Michael Jackson-level idol worship from me as a kid. They were my heroes and I couldn’t wait for the weekends to come because I could see my favourite horses at Woodbine.

While I like many others are saddened Sam-Son Farm will be exiting the sport, they do leave on-top taking the Grade I Northern Dancer Stakes in October with Say the Word. I wish the best to the Samuel and Balaz families, in addition to everyone who helped preserve their legacy all these years. I am grateful for all the memories.

2020 came with challenges, but also some bright spots. How amazing was it seeing Woodbine-based star Starship Jubilee beat the boys en route to a Grade I score in the Woodbine Mile? Though Mark Casse would prevail as the meet’s leading trainer, Josie Carroll dazzled us with her phenomental roster of stable stars in a career year, taking all legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the first ever woman to accomplish the feat. Our heart belongs to her trainee, the hard-trying one-eyed wonder Mighty Heart, our 2020 Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes victor. His fast-developing stablemate Belichick just might have a thing or two to say about the award for the country’s top three-year-old male. And while Rafael Hernandez would prevail in jockey standings with 129 wins, Justin Stein made it a thrilling match to the wire with 126!

As I do every year, here is my A YEAR IN HORSES compilation, capturing some of my favourite moments and faces of the 2020 meet. It brings me so much joy to share back to a community that gives so much to me. I hope this year’s edition does them justice.

We are so proud also to be a part of Mr Will‘s story. He tried his best with each start this season and came so close to the win. He will be going in for a minor procedure this week. Please send him and Michelle Love all your positive thoughts for a quick recovery. We will for sure spend time with him over the Holidays to check-in on him. We appreciate all your support!

While we will miss being at the races over the winter, we hope all our friends in the racing community enjoy the Holidays and a well-deserved recharge. We will be unstoppable in 2021.

Happy Holidays!

(Photo/video 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)

While there would be no Triple Crown winner this year, the 129th running of the Breeders’ Stakes would prove what we’ve known all year – 2020 is Trainer Josie Carroll‘s year!

BELICHICK took the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine Racetrack, taking control in the last two furlongs of the race, winning by a widening four lengths under jockey Luis Contreras for Carroll and an owner partnership of NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods. He stopped the clock in 2:32.5 for 1 1/2 miles on a turf course listed as “good” after some rain last evening, paying $8.70 on a $2 bet as the third choice in the race. The three-year-old Lemon Drop Kid colt had gone winless in three prior attempts but always had been backed well in each start, winning his first race ever in style after an improving runner-up finish in the Queen’s Plate. He is named after New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick.

Finishing second was 54-1 longshot MEYER, a recent claim by Bruno Schickedanz and Trainer Martin Drexler from the barn of Mark Casse. 12-1 fifth choice ENGLISH CONQUEROR made a run up the rail to be third.

All eyes were on Belichick‘s stablemate MIGHTY HEART, the one-eyed colt who had swept both the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes last month. A win in the Breeders’ Stakes would’ve made him the first horse in 17 years to win the Canadian Triple Crown. After getting pressured on the lead through quick fractions, the storied colt by Dramedy tired after one mile under Daisuke Fukumoto. Like his only other effort on the turf this March at Fairgrounds in New Orleans, he finished out of the money, this time in seventh place.

Despite not winning the Triple Crown, Carroll has the distinction of winning each leg of the the series, albeit with two different horses.

In a post-race Media scrum, Carroll comments on next plans for Mighty Heart and is asked about the possibility of taking a break. “Not necessarily, let’s see how he comes out of this race. He’s a strong healthy little horse and we’ll see where we go from here”, she says. “It’s a mile-and-a-half grueling race, and we’ll see how they come back.”.

We asked Carroll how different each of her star colts are. She says, “Mighty Heart‘s the littler scrapper. Belichick, he’s just the dude!”.

While it remains to be seen, a potential spot these two colts could face-off again would be the Grade III Ontario Derby November 21, 2020 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Some Snaps from the race:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It was an action-packed day filled with stakes action at Woodbine Racetrack yesterday in what was the final major stakes race card of the season in 2020. The day featured four stakes races, including two Grade I races, the $340,200 Northern Dancer Stakes and also the $600k E.P. Taylor Stakes. A bit of history, Northern Dancer, whom the former race was named after, went on to become one of the world’s most prolific stallions, making his mark internationally as the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He was owned by Windfields Farms, then situated in Oshawa at the time, which was founded by E.P. Taylor. Woodbine‘s world-famous turf course is named after the accomplished Taylor.

Over $6.7 million was wagered on the Sunday race card, once again proving that Woodbine‘s quality brand of racing continues to flourish throughout this Pandemic as American audiences continue to wager north. With the Ontario Government’s announcement of a modified rollback to Re-Opening Stage II, the Track remains closed to the public and is open only for Trainers, Essential Equine Careworkers and select Media.

The headliner E.P. Taylor Stakes was taken by Chad Brown trainee ETOILE, a four-year-old French-bred filly by popular stallion Siyouni and owned by a partnership of Brant, Magnier and Shanahan. The win, piloted by Rafael Hernandez, was her first stakes win on this side of the Atlantic, rewarding her backers with $7.00 on a $2.00 bet as the second choice. Fun fact, her sire is a half-brother to Siyouma whom won this same race in 2012. 41-1 longshot COURT RETURN finished second, ahead of SECRET MESSAGE, who we confirmed was making her final start before being sold at auction as a broodmare prospect.

The Northern Dancer Stakes was taken by Sam-Son Farm homebred SAY THE WORD, who has seen a dramatic improvement in form since changing hands to Trainer Gail Cox. The five-year-old More Than Ready gelding trailed the field and made a bid late to win by a length under Emma-Jayne Wilson, paying $7.80 on a $2.00 bet. Second was SIR SAHIB, owned by Stronach Stables which had a successful three wins at Woodbine this weekend. Third was race favourite Admiralty Pier.

The day reached an emotional high note in the Grade II Nearctic Stakes with Stronach Stables’ SILENT POET taking the $290k turf sprint as the race favourite, under Justin Stein. In second was last year’s victor CITY BOY and third was Graham Motion-trained invader KANTHAKA. Stein on the way to the Winner’s Circle made humbling pointing gestures to the talented four-year-old Silent Name gelding, who has stamped himself the best turf sprinter in the country right now with the score for Trainer Nick Gonzalez. The Conditioner recently had lost his wife and former Assistant Trainer, Martha. Tears could be witnessed as he attributed the win to Martha watching over him and his Team, including current Assistant Trainer Pam O’Connor. Silent Poet‘s groom Phil Hyde also recently lost his mother, hence emotions were high among the bunch who have been through some challenging times this year. Following the race, they all walked back to the barn together united in memory of Martha.

Promising two-year-old colt HELIUM took the $100k Display Stakes. The son of Ironicus, owned by D.J. Stable LLC and trained by Mark Casse swept to the lead at the top of the stretch under Emma-Jayne Wilson to win by just over four lengths as the race favorite, returning $4.80 on a $2.00 bet. Finishing second was GOSPEL WAY, just ahead of DECIMATOR. Team Casse had a fantastic weekend at Woodbine, winning an outstanding eight races!

The third and final jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes, will be contested Saturday, October 25, 2020 at Woodbine! Stay tuned to see if the “one-eyed wonder” MIGHTY HEART will become only the 13th horse to accomplish the feat! Stream the Post Position Draw this Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at noon on Woobdine.com.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Following-up on this success of his victory in the Queen’s Plate “one-eyed wonder” MIGHTY HEART repeated the feat in the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, the $400k Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Racetrack today!

Unlike his wire-to-win earlier this month at Woodbine, Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto had the Dramedy colt, owned and bred by Larry Cordes, rate off the pace today before collaring rival CLAYTON who stalked the lead, at the top of the stretch. The final time for the race was 1:55.5, more than two seconds off the track record for 1 3/16 miles. The betting public bet him down as the favourite at $0.85 to the dollar, rewarding his backers with $3.70 per two-dollar wager. CLAYTON finished second under Rafael Hernandez and DOTTED LINE completed the top three under Justin Stein.

Trainer Josie Carroll, whom last took the Prince of Wales Stakes in 2016 with Amis Gizmo, continues to have a prolific 2020 season. She is poised to take the third and final leg of the Triple Crown with MIGHTY HEART, the race to be contested at 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf course at Woodbine on October 24, 2020. His only attempt on the grass in March at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, resulted in a tenth place finish, although he has improved drastically since then.

See the race here:

A Carousel of images from MIGHTY HEART’S win:

(Photo credit: 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)

One of the the Canadian racing season’s biggest highlights is RICOH WOODBINE MILE weekend, featuring three Win and You’re In stakes races, which earn winners a berth at the sport’s championship weekend, the Breeders’ Cup. Betting on Mile Satuday tallied-in at a whopping $11.8 million.

Bringing it home for the locals this year was super-mare STARSHIP JUBLIEE who continues to be a dream claim for Trainer Kevin Attard, notching his first win in the $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile in his first ever attempt. The seven-year-old mare by Indy Wind was a $16,000 claim in Florida with the helpful eye of Attard‘s father Tino, back in 2017 and with her win in the Mile, took her lifetime earnings past the $2-million mark. In addition to beating her male counterparts, Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year solidified her case for another shot at the title at next year’s 46th edition of the Sovereign Awards, honouring Canada’s best in racing. Justin Stein was aboard for the win for Blue Heaven Farm, winning by a margin of one length over Mark Casse Trainee MARCH TO THE ARCH in a time of 1:32.06, less than a second off the track record set back in 2013 in the same race by Wise Dan.

Female talent were front-and-center on Mile Saturday. In addition to STARSHIP JUBILEE beating the boys, female Trainers Gail Cox and Breeda Hayes also nabbed stakes scores, in addition to Jockeys Sheena Ryan and Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Some snaps below of the joyous festivities.

MARCH TO THE ARCH ran a very credible second for Casse and Live Oak Plantation, under Patrick Husbands.

Favoured WAR OF WILL, winner of the 2019 Preakness Stakes and the 2020 Maker’s Mark Mile finishes a solid third for Casse and Owner Gary Barber.

Also on the card was the $125k Singspiel Stakes, taken by Sam-Son Farm‘s COUNT AGAIN. The five-year-old gelding scored in a 9-1 upset under Luis Contreras, for Trainer Gail Cox.

CREDIT RIVER scored a 41-1 upset in the $135k Ontario Racing Stakes for Trainer Breeda Hayes and Owner Hillsbrook Farms. Emma-Jayne Wilson piloted the sweeping score.

4-1 shot DIRTY DANGLE, a two-year-old daughter of Not This Time, won the $135k Woodbine Cares Stakes under Sheena Ryan for C. DeMizio & Mary Biamonte and Trainer Ralph Biamonte.

Stakes action continued Sunday with the Grade I Summer and Natalma Stakes. Winners from each race will be guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup.

Woodbine-based GRETZKY THE GREAT, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and namesake of Canada’s great hockey icon, took the $300k Grade I Summer Stakes under Kazushi Kimura for Owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber and Trainer Mark Casse.

Roger Attfield Trainee LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE was simply unstoppable under Emma-Jayne Wilson, who capped-off her fantastic weekend with a score in the $300k Grade I Natalma Stakes for Owner Charles Fipke.

Some additional Snaps!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The 161st edition of the Queen’s Plate was run at Woodbine Racetrack yesterday, headlining a stakes-filled card of racing. While the public was not permitted to attend this year, owners and connections were allowed to be present with safety guidelines in-place including mandatory temperature check, face coverings and social distancing measures.

Even without fans in attendance, betting totaled $14.5 million, a very impressive number helped by American fans hungry for the sport amidst this Pandemic. They continue to turn to Woodbine‘s quality product for entertainment.

The marquee race saw top Canadian-bred three-year-old horses facing-off at a distance of 1 1/4 miles for a purse of $1 million, drawing a field of 14 competitors. Winning the race was one-eyed colt MIGHTY HEART under Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto for Trainer Josie Caroll and Owner and Breeder Larry Cordes. While the grandstand has largely been quiet of late with restricted visitor access, cheers were loud for the son of Dramedy, who overcame his physical limitation to run the second-fastest edition of the Queen’s Plate ever at 2:01.98 leading all the way. No cheers were louder though than those of his handlers Siobhan Brown and Renee Dockstader who were overjoyed at the win. It has been a phenomenal year for 23-year-old Japanese import Fukumoto who just earlier this year won his first stake race on another Carroll trainee, Court Return after arriving at Woodbine in 2016. Carroll last won the Queen’s Plate in 2011 with filly Inglorious.

While he still has yet to win a race, NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods’ BELICHICK ran a stellar second at 26-1 odds under Slade Callaghan, giving Carroll a 1-2 finish in the prestigious race.

CLAYTON, who was the morning line favourite for the race, ran third under Rafael Hernandez and Trainer Kevin Attard. He went off as the second choice at 3-1 odds.

The $250k Bison City Stakes for three-year-old Canadian-bred fillies born in Canada, known also as the second leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara, was taken by American-based MIZZEN BEAU under Jockey Steven Bahen. The daughter of Mizzen Mast is owned by Daniel Investment Holdings and trained by Norm Casse and has been spending much time at Woodbine the past bit gearing-up for this Summer campaign with the help of his father Mark Casse‘s Toronto team. She prior had finished fourth in August’s Woodbine Oaks.

Sam-Son Farm‘s RIDEFORTHECAUSE sprung an upset at 22-1 odds in the $250k Canadian Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. David Moran piloted the win which saw her make a big sweeping move at the top of the stretch after exhibiting some nerves in the pre-race. The Gail Cox Trainee is a daughter of Candy Ride and came off another win early August at Woodbine.

Talented Chad Brown Trainee CAMBIER PARC shipped-up for the race and ran a credible second in the Canadian Stakes.

The Ruling Angel Stakes, named in honour of another great Sam-Son Farm filly, was taken by ARTIE’S PRINCESS whom while based in the U.S. under the care of Trainer Wesley Ward, has capitalized off her Canadian breeding running in restricted races, finding success at Woodbine. Finally, she notched her first stakes score in the race under Justin Stein.

Justin Stein also took the King Corrie Stakes earlier on the card aboard Cathal Lynch-owned and trained FRANCATELLI, continuing his red-hot riding streak of late, taking three races on the card.

Leo Salles also took three wins on the card earlier in the day.

While largely quiet this year, some sights from the day including a visit from Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdswell and a visit from retired top Jockey, Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Special thanks to David Dunkley, official Millner of the Queen’s Plate for sending me this elegant mask he designed!

Another stakes-filled weekend of racing takes place next weekend at Woodbine with the Grade I $1 million Woodbine Mile, plus also the Grade I Natalma and Summer Stakes!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)