Down The Stretch Podcast

Not only do we have a spine-tingling call from Chad Rozema of the $1,000,000 North America Cup at Mohawk, but we have the 5 other Stakes on the undercard. Also, must-hear audio from driver Braxten Boyd who came 2nd with a huge longshot. Boyd was mic-ed up for his 1st million-dollar race. After 207 days of recuperation, Emma-Jayne Wilson rode back into the winners’ circle at Woodbine in a race dominated by pussycats. Harness driver, Jason Ryan talks with us about his 2000th win and why all the other drivers call him Ricky Bobby. It’s interesting that jockey Edgar Zenteno won 7 times in an 11-race span at Fort Erie; what’s more interesting is his relationship with agent, Madison Meli. And Brian Bell, the iron man of quarter horse racing in Canada, rang up an historic number Sunday at Ajax Downs.

This podcast goes everywhere. We’ve got the Fury Stakes from Woodbine and 3 eliminations at Mohawk for next week’s North America Cup. Also, Horse of the Year Chantilly in an elim for the Fan Hanover. The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes happened at Saratoga and as a result, we know who will be the 3-Year-Old of the Year in the U.S. We chat with an emotionally charged Todd Ratchford who drove the trotter, Ritchie Rich to a landmark win for his family. We’ve got jockeys in this podcast – Ryan Munger is starting to heat up at Woodbine; the legendary Perry Ouzts just keeps winning as he approaches his 71st birthday and Edgar Zenteno won 4 races in a row at Fort Erie. There were time trials and dead heats at Ajax Downs and when the filly Good Cheer finished 5th at 1-5 in the 11th race at Saratoga Friday, how much show money did she take down with her?

There were 4 Stakes races at Woodbine Saturday and 4 wins for Eswan Flores. We’ve got 5 Grand Circuit races from Mohawk and a Camluck Classic at Western Fair that needed a disqualification to determine a winner. Big thrill for us as we got jockey Umberto Rispoli to chat about his amazing and controversial win on Journalism in the Preakness. We talk with Paul Souter, the next winner of the Avelino Gomez Award and we take in Opening Day at Fort Erie - trust us - jockey Jeffrey Alderson will enjoy our coverage. So will Brian Bell – the veteran quarter horse jockey had a big day at Ajax Downs.

Jockey Ryan Munger had a break out day at Woodbine. We have 3 nice OSS Stakes from Mohawk - Chantilly romped at 1-9, but when Crack Shot at 1-9 didn’t hit the board, we had some interesting prices. John Bianco sent out a winner at a mile and a quarter at Aqueduct and we were really impressed with the time of Bourbon Day. On May 18, Trainer Dale Desruisseaux had what we think was his best day ever at Woodbine and it got even better, because he got to talk about it in this podcast. Colleen Dalos is with us this week, telling us why her dad Ivan is a perfect fit for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and remembering some of the great horses produced by Tall Oaks Farm. Writer Dave McKenna used to cover racing at Pimlico when that track mattered in the 1990s; now he tells us what a disgusting dump the track turned into, before it closed down. And on the 3rd day of quarter horse racing at Ajax Downs, it was good to be J Botello or Ismael Mosqueira.

We feature the Ruling Angel and the King Corrie Stakes from Woodbine. There were fireworks and SBOA finals from Mohawk Saturday, including the 2025 debut of horse of the year Chantilly. Pimlico Racetrack may be falling apart, but that was a pretty good Preakness on Saturday. Veteran Brian Bell was back on horses at Ajax Downs and had a good Wednesday afternoon. We have a great interview with Katie Davis, the mom of 3-year-old Riley; appropriately, she won 2 races on Mothers’ Day at Aqueduct. In the bad beat department, Jim McKenny thought he was home free when the 10-1 shot he bet at Horseshoe, Indianapolis opened up 3 lengths in the stretch, then ejected jockey Luis Contreras from the saddle, and how does a horse pay $236 to win at Gulfstream? We’ll tell you how.

On the 5th card of racing at Woodbine, Pietro Moran inched ahead in the jockeys’ race, Fraser Aebly went inside twice, and apprentice Xarel Forde scored his first win...sort of. We have a feature on Kentucky Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado, who defied odds simply by being on Sovereignty on the first Saturday in May. Rick Zeron, who is 68, steered a trotter to a win at Mohawk and Garrett Rooney crashed through the $10,000,000 barrier at Hiawatha. Jennifer Stein talks with us about how she helps jockeys stay mentally and physically fit. We have every race from a very successful opening day at Ajax Downs. Chantal Sutherland is back on race horses; she rode a pair at Monmouth Saturday and how did Conan O’Brien get in this podcast?

This podcast includes the 151st Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and victories at Churchill Downs by Sovereign Award winning Nitrogen as well as Down The Stretch Owner of the Month, John Bianco. Horse of the Year, Patches O’Houlihan returned in record-setting style in the Thorncliffe Stakes and it was Earhart soaring past her rivals in the Whimsical. Drivers Bob McClure, James MacDonald and Jody Jamieson each won 3 times Saturday night at Mohawk and each took down a Graduate Series Final. Jockey Pietro Moran weighs his chances at winning the next Sovereign Award as Outstanding Apprentice and ubiquitous owner, Bruno Schickedanz explains how he tends to be ignored in the voting even though no one wins more than he does. And Ajax Downs’ Melanie Ferguson tells us what to expect this year at the Quarter Horse races and just what breed of dog will be competing as well.

We have full coverage of the Sovereign Awards, featuring Kevin Attard’s great night, Emma-Jayne Wilson, Roger Attfield and Groom of the Year, Victor James. Two days later, it was Opening Day at Woodbine. Good thing we interviewed the new rider, Brooke Bays. Also, Pietro Moran and Michael Copeland and the first Stakes of the year, the Star Shoot. We created an award – it has no trophy and no cash value, but the MWBACITUSBODAW (Most wins by a Canadian in the U.S. by a Canadian before Opening Day at Woodbine) came down to a battle among Marty Drexler, Micah Husbands and Bruno Schickedanz. Austin Sorrie was not sorry about breaking through the $10,000,000 mark in purse earnings and Dave Palone won 9 races last Wednesday at the Meadows, but how good was he the next day? And Garnet Barnsdale tells us why he got to inform the latest harness racing entities that they are about to be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

This week, we feature jockey Micah Husbands - his great week at Gulfstream and how he is doubly related to Patrick Husbands. One of our favourite guys, Gary Smith, the former colourful NHL goalie, had a huge score at Santa Anita. He tells us why he bet the 12-1 shot and how much he won. On April 24, it’s the 50th Sovereign Awards. Trainer Blaine Wright has two great horses nominated. No other horse in any category has won as many races as either of Wright’s nominees, but he knows his chances of getting a trophy are very slim. Just a few days after Brett MacDonald drove to his 2,000th win, we have his dad, Ronald MacDonald serving up his 1,000th training win (not sure if he had fries with that). A horse named Fleetwood Mac raced at Mohawk, so we went retro for some classic tunes. And have you ever seen a 10-race card at Mohawk that produced winners for 10 different drivers? Neither have we, but it came oh so close to happening Thursday night.

We have Canadians winning at US tracks - Micah Husbands, Jim and Susan Hill and Roger Attfield. Two Kentucky Derby preps; the Blue Grass and the Lexington Stakes, both from Keeneland. Driver Doug McNair had a brilliant Friday night at Mohawk - 4 straight wins, one of which was numerically very special for trainer Dave Menary. We’ve got 69-year-old Doug Brown still bringing in a winner and how much you would have made if you’d bet him. Mark Casse has horses nominated in all 10 racing categories at the upcoming Sovereigns and he’s got a shot at winning as best trainer for the 17th time. We break down every one of his chances. Harness driver Brett Macdonald tells us why he had to go with Saulsbrook Victor to the Oak Grove track in Kentucky to win for the 2000th time. And if you like goofy race calls, we’ve got two – Jeff Zidek describing a race at the Meadows when a pair of geese refused to abandon their sit-in at the head of the stretch and Dave Rodman at Laurel with a pair of tongue twisters in the stretch.

This podcast takes you all around the world – to Gulfstream for wins by Rafael Hernandez, Marty Drexler and Micah Husbands. Then to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the UAE Derby, and a surprising appearance in the $2 million Golden Shaheen by jockey Chantal Sutherland. Also, Kentucky Derby Preps from Aqueduct and Santa Anita and correspondent Ric Chapman tells us how Moira did in a $4 million race down under. The Sovereign Awards are less than 3 weeks away, so we have trainer Bob Tiller musing about Patches O’Houlihan, a lock for the Male Sprinter Trophy, but does he have a shot to be Horse of the Year? James MacDonald did it again – he won 5 on the same night at Mohawk. Jessica Hallett describes the t-shirt she made, with all the proceeds going to the family of Hunter Myers. Horse owner John Bianco pulled off one of the great claims in recent years and he talks about Air Combat and a few other good ones. And huge bombs, one at Aqueduct to kick off the baseball season and another at Mohawk that came close to causing a Longshot Panic.

We have an emotional, yet uplifting interview with Kelly Myers, the mother of harness driver Hunter who died after a spill; even during the worst time of her life, she talks about the good that has come out of Hunter Myers’ life and career. The great Roger Attfield talks about his special Sovereign award, his long-time relationship with Emma-Jayne Wilson and some of the super horses he’s trained. Marty Drexler keeps cashing at Gulfstream. Norm McKnight found the winners’ circle at Oaklawn, and check out what Sofia Vives did in her first career race at Gulfstream. Woodbine’s Bill Ford breaks down the track’s fresh 2-year deal with the HBPA, and 5 weeks from the Kentucky Derby we have the Fukuryu Stakes from Japan, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.

Emma-Jayne Wilson updates us on her rehab, her intention to ride again, her reaction about the special Sovereign Award she is getting, and what she thinks when Down The Stretch called her Canada’s greatest female athlete of the millennium. We’ve got more Canadians extracting Trump dollars in the U.S. - Steve Owens at Tampa Bay, Marty Drexler and Bruno Schickedanz at Gulfstream and Mike De Paulo sending out his 1000th training win. Former trainer, Art Silvera reminisces about a horse called Peterthegross and he tells us why he is now the agent for jockey Omar Moreno, who talks about his new interest in driving standardbreds. We’ve got Kentucky Derby preps from Turfway Park and the fair Grounds. And there were only 10 slots drawn for the Mohawk Million – how much did Kyle and Bruce Northover defy the math to get 2 of them?

We’ve got a winner at Gulfstream from Nick Gonzalez and 2 from Marty Drexler, one of which paid off at 16-1. Two reasons to be at Colonial Downs – Woodbine trainer, Justin Nixon won a $150,000 race and 89-year-old D Wayne Lukas sent out the winner of the Virginia Derby. Harness driver Doug McNair talks with us about being invited to the Elitloppet in Sweden with the terrific trotter, Logan Park. Thoroughbred trainer, Nico Lafond tells about his side hustle – as a stuntman in major film productions. Can the filly, Chantilly do what no filly has ever done – win the North America Cup? Her trainer, Nick Gallucci tells us what he thinks. We’ve got a finish at Gulfstream in which each of the first 2 horses went off at more than 50-1, and horse woman, Jessica Hallett overheard a guy bragging when he should have known better.

March is Women’s History Month and Saturday was International Women’s Day; appropriately, this podcast has a healthy amount of female content: races at Mohawk and the Meadowlands in which all the drivers were women. Melissa Keith is North America’s only full-time harness race announcer. She was invited to the Meadowlands to call several races and she tells us how that happened. Melanie Giddings is a Canadian trainer winning races at Gulfstream. We asked her if she is any relation to the legendary Harry Giddings who won a record 8 Queen’s Plates. Giddings also opens up about the worst moment a horse person can experience. One of our favourite jockeys Katie Davis won a Stakes race on International Women’s Day at Aqueduct. We have Kentucky Derby preps from Dundalk in Ireland and Tampa Bay Downs We go to Gulfstream for another win by Marty Drexler Do you like long shots? How would you feel if you hit a horse that paid $200 to win? Her name is Kalico Seelster and she stressed out the tote board last Friday night at Mohawk. And what’s your favourite horse racing movie? We feature a few that we have enjoyed.

As usual, multiple racetracks, lots of Cancon and compelling people; Bill Tharrenos, Leo Salles, Marty Drexler and Melanie Giddings in the Gulfstream winners’ circle. Kentucky Derby preps from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita. Harness driver James MacDonald hit the 4000-win plateau, won 4 wins on Monday night, but it was all about what happened when he ‘rolled up the rim.’ Brittany Kennedy is a trainer, owner and driver - we talk with her about a great night at the Western Fair Awards Banquet and what it’s like to drive against Natasha Day. And the multi-talented Jessica Hallett tells us about an emotional visit to the industrial zone that used to be her favourite racetrack - Pompano Park.

The Down The Stretch Podcast has been named a finalist in the Sovereign Award Broadcast category. Another nominee, Jennifer Morrison assesses several of the eligible finalists with Peter Gross. We have wins in the U.S. from Bill Tharrenos, Marty Drexler, Bruno Schickedanz and Josie Carroll. Kentucky Derby Preps from Turfway, Tokyo and Oaklawn Park. Longtime horseman and agent Leroy Trotman talks about Black History Month. Lucas House is just 13, but he’s a winning owner at Western Fair. Lucas tells us what he says to dad, Lorne about steering the horse he owns. We go to Laurel Park for a monster of an exactor and to Gulfstream for a horse that not only won, but taunted rivals all the way to the finish line.

Trainer Bill Tharrenos finally broke through at Gulfstream and so did apprentice rider, Rachel Slevinsky. We have the Risen Star from the Fair Grounds as the Kentucky Derby hopefuls stake their credentials. Trainer Nick Galluci expands on Chantilly, the Canadian Harness Horse of the Year and her owner, George Millar tells us how a great horse inspires him, even after serious surgery. And if 85-year-old Don McKirgan keeps winning in the sulky, we’ll keep putting him in our podcast.

In this episode, complete coverage of the Obrien Awards featuring Chantilly, James MacDonald, Doug McNair and George Millar. We found Canadians winning at Oaklawn and a smart looking winner of the Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay. The story of Johnstown Jet defies logic. He won last week at Mohawk for Kyle Bossence, but before that, he was an Amish buggy horse for 6 years. Trainer Carmen Auciello talks with us about the most excellent Points North, the latest horse to hit the million-dollar mark. Do you remember Randy Exelby’s NHL goaltending career – all 63 minutes of it? Exelby’s horse ownership is much more substantial. We’ve got a couple of race callers who got fooled in deep stretch, and songs created by artificial intelligence about your favorite horse racing personalities.

We’ve got Marty Drexler and Sahin Civaci adding to their totals in the U.S. There were Kentucky Derby preps in New York and California - favorites won each of those, but did you see all the longshots at Mohawk last Thursday? We did. We’ve got some make-up audio with Doug McNair after we stiffed him last week when he won 6 at Mohawk. Joe Santos of Acera talks about insuring your racehorse. We’ve got Chevy Chase in this podcast and artificial intelligence could never replace Garnet Barnsdale, but apparently A. I. can sing about him.